Efficiency Loss

Energy Efficiency Improvement Services – EEI Services
High-Performance Retrofits for Existing Homes

Chances are your home could be made more energy efficient, comfortable, cheaper to operate and have less of an impact on the environment – but at what cost? – and how long will it take for those improvements to pay for themselves?

1. The first step toward answering these questions is to TEST how your home performs currently. This is accomplished by a HOME ENERGY AUDIT.
 
2. The second step is to EVALUATE those test results then DESIGN improvements, if those improvements are prudent. The definition of "prudent" is, of course, up to you. It is our job to get you the information necessary to make your determination.

Technically your home operates as a system with many components. These components include your air-conditioner, windows and doors, wall and attic insulation, roof overhangs (that shade windows from direct summer sunlight), lighting and appliances.
Each affects the other and contributes or takes away from your home's efficiency.

With the HOME ENERGY AUDIT results, we can apply the experience we have gained from fifteen years of cutting-edge Green Building and DESIGN the most cost-efficient improvements possible. We are a full service contractor and can complete all of the design and implementation turn-key.

Custom Structures, Residential & Commercial

We design, plan and construct beautiful buildings that enhance, rather than detract, from their environment. There's an inherent authenticity that you can see and feel. The materials complement the surroundings and determine how this structure and site will influence each other in years to come.

Green Building Consultants

BlueHorse Building & Design also offers pre-construction consulting services for:

• Home owners
• Architects
• Designers

We help home owners and design professionals analyze the true benefits and true costs of green building in particular, and construction in general. The volume of information on the internet and in magazines is overwhelming, confusing and, in some cases, misleading. We have hands-on experience with most of the things you are reading and hearing about, and we stay current on material and labor costs.

How Our Service Will Help You

• Make sense of the mass of information available on green/sustainable building
• Advise on ACTUAL costs and timelines
• Advise on ACTUAL benefits to the project - for the client and the environment
• Help the client make informed decisions before money is spent on design or construction

What difference will it make?

In a few hours and for a few hundred dollars we will show you how to achieve what you want, help you verify what you need, and save you thousands, probably tens of thousands, of dollars in the process. Our expertise will help you avoid obstacles in the design phase preventing your project from being affected in the construction phase

Please talk to us before you start your project, and we can quote
our consultancy costs according to the level of service you need.

Below is a list of some of the questions asked most frequently
by customers when we start planning development of their green home.

If you have other questions not answered here, please feel free to ask us through our Contact Us form.

Why should I build a green home instead of a conventional one?
Answer: Green buildings can have substantially lower energy and operating costs than conventional buildings, producing much lower energy costs in the long-term to help protect the value of your real estate investment. They also enhance the health and well-being of your family or office staff by creating indoor environments with better air quality and daylighting.

Is a green home a better investment?
Answer: As a superior product, a green building can yield increased value to the owner; the resale value of green homes is estimated to be 15 percent higher than that of conventional homes. A "green" designation can also increase a building's market value as assessed by appraisers and investors.

How long does development of a green home take?
Answer: Developing a green home requires no more time than a conventional one; a new contruction's development time depends most significantly on the features it incorporates and the complexity of the overall design.

What are some of the long-term benefits of owning a green home?
Answer: Using green strategies, such as designing the home's orientation to maximize thermal benefits, can establish significant long-term benefits and increase your home's durability and market value. Additionally, installing energy efficient mechanical systems that are appropriately sized for the building will yield long-term utility cost savings. Finally, incorporating energy efficient appliances and lighting into a home increases homeowners’ comfort and further reduces long-tem maintenance costs.

Does a green home 'feel' different from a conventional home?
Answer: A home may be constructed so that its green features are essentially invisible to the occupant, and the home cannot easily be distinguished from a conventional home. Alternately, a green home may employ the latest in cutting-edge technology and be recognizably different from conventional residences. The choice is up to you and your architect or builder.

Are there local, state or federal subsidies for green building?
Answer: Some states now mandate that sustainable processes and practices be used in the construction of new government buildings with state funding, and many subsidies are now available from utilities and state and federal governments to offset costs associated with residences designed to green standards.