 indows are a prime cause of heat loss. They are also a source of light, warmth and views, so we think your home should have lots of them. In order to minimize the heat loss and maximize the advantages, using top quality windows is a must.
 WINDOWS
We use Pella's Smart Sash III triple glazed wood windows in our homes. These are premium windows in every sense of the word. They are very low maintenance and are twice as efficient as standard thermo-pane glass. The exterior aluminum cladding eliminates maintenance and the interior wood makes for a beautiful interior accent.
MECHANICAL HEATING SYSTEMS
 In-floor radiant has become the heating system of choice for most of our customers. Tubes placed under the floor circulate heated liquid. Each room has its own thermostatic control for effective zone heating. This system is durable, clean, quiet, and comfortable and is well worth the extra cost.
Forced air heating is more economical and offers options not possible with radiant heat. You can use air filters or humidifiers with such a system. A forced air system can be operated using the fan without the furnace to destratify the air by drawing warm air from the ceiling and distributing it through ductwork to the floor. This feature makes such a system particularly attractive for two-story homes, or homes with high, vaulted ceilings.
 BUILDING METHODS
When building a home, a builder can do several things to further increase energy efficiency and to reduce infiltration. Our plans specify these additional materials to make it easy for the builder to tighten up your home. For example, homes often leak at the joint where the wall meets the floor. Sill seal is an insulating product we specify in our plans which insulates this space in order to solve this problem. We've tested homes with and without sill seal, and the difference is significant. We also provide expanding foam with the panels and specify that joints be filled during construction. Wrapping the home with Tyvek is another energy saving technique. Including these products in the specifications of our homes makes for a better finished product.
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