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Building Green at Norfolk Homes

February 1, 2023

In recent times, building green and eco-friendly homes has become more important than ever before. From conserving energy to improving air quality, there are so many ways a homebuilder can contribute to providing a high-quality home that is both conscious of the environment and healthy for its homeowners—and we make that our priority here at Norfolk Homes in the Greater Ann Arbor area.

Why it’s important 

Norfolk Homes understands that it’s crucial to build a home that’s built not only for the present—but also for the future. From sustainability to construction integrity, we have a responsibility to the people who will live here—not just the buyers we’re serving now, but the families who will come after them. The Norfolk Homes team believes that every step we take today will have a lasting impact, and we want those to be positive ones. It’s been that way since we started in 1993, and we make it our mission to ensure that this everlasting philosophy continues.

A closer look at our green building practices

At Norfolk Homes, we start with what’s underneath. We use the ZIP System to provide an airtight seal against the elements of water, air, and vapor. This system for sheathing and taping a home prevents drafts that drive up your energy usage, and its multi-layer design also protects against water damage, which can lead to costly repairs.

Your Norfolk Home is also engineered with R-38, blown-in cellulose ceiling insulation. Blown insulation fills in the cracks and crevices that conventional insulation batts might miss. You can expect an estimated 22% improvement in air leakage control over batts.

Every home has countless seams and holes from the construction process. We take another extra step to prevent leaks by sealing all of these gaps with foam and caulk energy seal—once during the framing process, then again after the drywall is installed. This helps limit air filtration in order to decrease energy consumption and increase comfort within your home.

Forward-thinking appliances and systems

An inefficient heating and cooling system is another contributor to wasting energy, and an overuse of water can have detrimental effects on the environment. Recent engineering and technology findings have significantly advanced the performance of both HVAC and water systems, and we believe that new homes should reflect these improvements. Norfolk Homes pays attention to the proven results, which is why we’re proud to include 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) systems, as well as water-efficient faucets and shower heads to help save both water and energy in your new home.

Windows can be another source of energy waste. If you’ve ever touched a window in the middle of winter and felt the cold glass, you can be sure the window is not providing adequate thermal protection. Our homes are built with vinyl windows fitted with low-E glass, which has a special coating. The “E” stands for “emissivity,” meaning the glass does not allow heat or cold to pass through its surface. Low-E glass also filters out UV rays that can damage your furnishings.

Lastly, the new technology and appliances included ensures that your home is going above and beyond to provide the best quality of living while keeping energy consumption at a minimum. Our ENERGY STAR appliances are certified to save energy without compromising convenience, performance, and durability—and our smart thermostats, energy-saving light switches and outlets, and other innovative smart home features allow you to customize how you live while conserving energy and reducing costs.

From the bones of the home to the finer details, we make it our mission to stay on top of the latest trends in energy-efficient practices to help our homeowners save money, reduce their carbon footprint and live an overall healthier lifestyle for years to come.

Build green with Norfolk Homes

If you’re looking for a builder that prioritizes homes that are built to last a lifetime and designed to save you money, look no further than Norfolk Homes. We’re proud to bring families their forever home in our top-rated communities throughout Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Marshall, Saline and Jackson—and there’s no better time than now for you to find the healthy, forward-thinking home that effortlessly fits your needs. Be sure to wander through our selection of move-in ready homes and gallery of floor plans to find the one that’s perfect for you, and for more information, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (734) 336-1912 or contact us online at any time.