The Blue Horse Team is experienced with many proven aspects of Green Building.
What follows is a list of some of the materials and methods we use to build our homes.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

• ICF wall systems
• Appropriate sizing of HVAC systems
• Rainwater collection
• Passive solar energy use
• Photovoltaic systems
• Radiant hydronic heating
• Regional and re-claimed materials

ICF wall systems
An ICF wall system is a solid concrete wall of uniform thickness constructed by a concrete-forming system that incorporates stay-in-place formwork, such as foam plastic insulation. These systems offer homeowners and builders very effective insulating qualities, rapid installation, and consistent quality (minimizing waste).

Appropriate sizing of HVAC systems
A home with a tight, well-insulated shell and windows designed for the climate should also have a well-designed Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refigeration system. Your HVAC equipment size should be based on calculations and factors in building size, layout, and orientation.

Rainwater collection
Rainwater collected from the roofs of buildings on residential property may be stored and used for indoor needs at a residence, outdoor irrigation, or both, in whole or in part.

Passive solar energy use
Passive solar design uses the sun's energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. The building or its elements takes advantage of the natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun. Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, and require minimal maintenance and require no mechanical systems. Two examples are operable windows (windows that can be opened) and a material's thermal mass (the degree which it can store heat energy for extended time).

Photovoltaic systems
A photovoltaic system uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Residences use photovoltaic systems primarily as the electrical power source to reduce the need for a utility provider's electricity. The hidden costs associated with large utilities include damage to the environment caused by the sourcing of fuels (coal, oil, nuclear, natural gas), processing, transporting, using, and disposal aspects of a power source. Photovoltaic systems pollute far less than other fuel choices.

Radiant hydronic heating
Radiant hydronic heating is a heating method that uses hot water or steam instead of air. With hydronic heat, you get two types of heat delivery: radiant heat and convected heat. Radiant heat warms you directly, just like the sun's rays. Convected heat is carried by warm air circulating in a room. Hydronic heat lets you choose from several different devices that use these two heating processes. Hot water from can be piped to radiant tubing hidden in the floor, to slim baseboard radiators, or to stand-alone radiators. Hot water can also be circulated through a coil in your central air-conditioning unit to heat other living spaces with warm air. Hydronic heating allows double-use of the hot water already being produced for cooking, washing, hot tubs, swimming pools, etc.

Regional and re-claimed materials
The use of regional materials eliminates transportation costs and conserves fuel resources. The use of re-claimed materials, such as wood salvaged from barns 75 to 200 years old, gives the builder access to high-quality hardwoods such as oak, chestnut, white pine, yellow pine, hemlock, poplar, and maple while conserving the living resources currently available.

Construction Methods: The Choice is Yours
Blue Horse has flourished on the cutting edge of building technology. Our combination of creative energy, knowledge of implementation, and problem solving ability continually facilitate the melding of the many elements of complex projects. We can help you create the home you want.