Green building is no longer simply a philosophical decision; a choice that's made because it is right thing to do for the environment and future generations.  Today, green building is also a financially smart decision. Your decision to "go green" - whether it be through the installation of dual flush toilets when remodeling a bath or through the use of geothermal heating systems as part of a major remodel or when building a new home - will generate immediate and on-going utility savings as well as permanent asset value thanks to certification programs like Minnesota GreenStar. Buildings consume 40 percent of US energy use, yet new, energy efficient systems could bring this consumption rate down to near zero if homeowners act by installing green technology solutions.

DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation is proud to be a MN GreenStar pilot builder.  MN GreenStar is  an independent certification program for builders and remodelers that utilizes a 350+ point check list.  The MN GreenStar program provides third party verification for what DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, as a company, has always practiced.  Certification brings with it, however, public recognition in the form of rebates from lending, utility, and insurance companies who acknowledge the lower operating costs associated with "green" homes and, in turn, the added value that is marketable to future home buyers.  Green building is one of the most prudent investment decisions you can make for your home and, consequently, for your future.

As a company that is committed to improving long-term sustainability, we introduce the following green principles and practices to all projects:

Sustainable Design and Construction

A home is perhaps the one thing a family owns that has permanence and it is this very quality that makes it a family's most valuable investment.  Trendy design, the use of short-lived materials and poor construction practices will, in the long-run, reduce the value of your home.  At DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation we create timeless design and implement Best Construction Practices to ensure that your home and its investment value will endure for generations to come.

Timeless Design Timeless design artistically combines essential, high-function space with a few simple, but well placed, architecturally appropriate details - details that can mean the difference between a project that enhances the value of a home and one that does not.  If a remodel project or new home does not stand the test of time aesthetically, the resources that went into it are simply wasted when removed or torn down to build anew.  The true foundation of our green vision is to build not only for the present day but for future generations who will purchase your home because of its design merit and craftsmanship.

Best Practices for Construction (BPCs) are recommendations made by Universities and third party research labs.  These industry watch-dogs question the status quo of construction methods and new products through testing and develop alternative recommendations when needed.   DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation regularly monitors BPCs; constantly educating ourselves about new products and construction techniques that can improve the life of our projects.

Composite Materials combine wood fibers with cement and plastics - often from recycled sources that, with high tech binders, result in products with vastly superior construction properties and performance.  Unlike their wood counterparts, composite materials require little or no maintenance and use small, fast growing trees as inputs thus removing pressure on diminishing old growth forests.  Hardi siding is an excellent example.  This cement and wood fiber product will last virtually forever, will resist moisture uptake, and hold paint over three times longer than wood.  Why use anything else?  

Energy Efficient Solutions  

Energy efficiency is about reducing or eliminating the use of non-renewable fossil fuels.   At DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, we encourage the use of low or zero energy systems, such as Icynene insulation, tankless hot water heaters, and photovoltaics, to improve the efficiency of all new homes and remodels.

Icynene Insulation is the first step towards reducing utility bills through heat conservation. Icynene (spray foam) insulation expands, fills, seals, soundproofs and insulates in a manner far superior to conventional fiberglass insulation. Spray foam insulation, combined with high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, can cut natural gas usage nearly in half with a 6-10 year pay back period. And that's at current fuel prices!

Tankless Hot Water Heaters heat water as needed.  They outperform tank heaters by providing endless hot water and cutting fuel usage by about one third.  The additional up-front costs of these hot water systems are recovered in as little as three years time.

Photovoltaics are improving - making the zero energy home a reality (meaning almost no utility bills for the life of the home!) At current electric costs these systems have 20-25 year pay back periods. However, we expect that as technology improves and energy costs increase, these systems will become the norm in Minnesota homes. In the meantime, they are outstanding "green for green" choices that we would enjoy discussing with you. We will gladly prep your home in low-cost, prudent ways for the future installation of these systems.

Geothermal heating makes use of the earth’s constant 56 degree temperature (think of a cave) as a source for cooling in summer and heating in winter.  So sure are all the major furnace manufacturers of the Geothermal systems that nearly all feature a Geothermal heat pump furnace as a model in their basic offereings (eg. Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems). The current ROI (return on investment) for a typical new home installation is about 8-9 years.  As natural gas prices double, the pay back will approach four years, making geothermal installations a likely standard in Minnesota.  Homes without Geothermal will be penalized in the market place as heating costs come to rival mortgage payments.  The technology and ROI – as of today – suggest that building a new home without Geothermal would be less than imprudent.  To learn more, don’t take our word for it – visit the GeoExchange website.

Responsible Resource Use

Responsible resource use is about utilizing long-life products and materials from renewable and recycled sources and about reducing up front fossil fuel usage associated with transportation by sourcing products locally.  To accomplish this, DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation uses sustainably-harvested lumber, engineered wood components, dual flush toilets and many recycled products as responsible and committed stewards of resource use.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) -certified wood is harvested from lands that are responsibly managed for environmental, social and economic sustainability.  FSC is an exceptionally successful worldwide, third party certifier that allows logging companies to receive a slight market premium for the use and verification of FSC practices.  We use only FSC-certified framing lumber (framing is the largest component of construction) as well as FSC-certified sheet goods for our millwork and cabinetry where possible.  And, because we believe so strongly in FSC and its mission, DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation absorbs all additional costs associated with using certified lumber.

Engineered Wood Components are manufactured from recycled wood by-products or small, fast-growing trees replacing products that could once only be cut from old growth forests.  They are stronger, lighter and more consistent than their milled counterparts and consequently have improved the way homes can be designed and built.  The best example of engineered wood components is the I-joist.  We use these without exception.

Dual Flush Toilets use half the water of their conventional counterparts by adjusting the flushing volume to the need.  And with toilets being the biggest user of water in a home (yes, more than baths) these energy-efficient products can save over 6,000 gallons of water per year.  We encourage their installation. 

Recycled Job Waste is an important component of green building and remodeling.   We strive to recycle as much job-site waste as possible by partnering with Atomic Waste of Minneapolis to minimize land-fill contributions. This company built a 4-million dollar sorting facility designed to recycle approximately 60-70 percent of all job-site waste such as: aggregates (concrete, block, brick); wood; metals and cardboard.  This means that all of our projects are "green" from the day construction begins.  

Products from Recycled Materials, such as glass, rubber and wood are the most visible way to "go green" in a home.  At DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, we work with professional suppliers such as Natural Built Home and regularly scour the marketplace for new eco-friendly fixtures and finish products such as tiles, solid surface countertops, flooring, hardware, decking and even yard mulch.  We enjoy helping clients incorporate these green finishing touches where appropriate to the design of their project.  

Local Suppliers are an important component to sustainability and the greening of homes. At DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, we believe it is important to economically support our local communities and artisans while at the same time, to trim fossil fuel usage through reduced shipping and transportation. We work closely with local artisans and companies, such as Artistic Visions Cabinetry, Lightworks and Motawi Tileworks - all of whom produce supreme products right in our own backyard. Lightworks, for instance, is a husband and wife team that creates custom, Arts & Crafts-era reproduction light fixtures by hand using forged metals and reclaimed glass. We are proud to work with these and other local suppliers.

For more information about MN Greenstar and the building techniques we regularly put into practice, visit MN Greenstar and Contact Us. We'd enjoy discussing the many options associated with green building and helping you reach a comfortable decision based on your values, goals, architectural preferences, and budget.  And, as a MN GreenStar Pilot builder and remodeler, we'd be happy to help you obtain recognizable certification for your project. 

Contact us for more information on our custom homes, remodels and home renovations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and through out the Twin Cities.

By choosing DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation you're living green by design.