S+H Green Building Program.

S+H Construction is committed to the Green Building movement and is proactively developing and incorporating green projects into our award-winning company.

In 2007, we launched a company-wide program to train our employees and subcontractors to utilize green building practices whenever possible. This initiative is continuously updated and expanded to incorporate the latest green building techniques wherever possible.

S+H is committed to efficient and clean building practices and to reducing job site waste. Many of these practices are being turned into standard company policy, while others require the approval and cooperation of home and business owners.

Our S+H Green Building Group meets regularly to develop and disseminate the information and resources needed to build green across the company, including:

• Reusing and recycling demolition waste on jobs (sorting waste metals/food trash/cardboard/clean wood rather than putting everything into a dumpster)

• Planning to use recycled bio-diesel to run our big trucks and equipment

• Choosing suppliers that are close to New England to minimize the use of fuel for transport

• Using low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, floor finishes, and caulking

• Using non-urea formaldehyde plywood

• Buying materials made with recycled content

• Encouraging tight building design, geothermal, solar, and other green practices to minimize energy usage

• Performing site work that minimizes environmental impact - both during construction and throughout the life of the home

In cooperation with several suppliers, including Sterritt Lumber, we encourage the use of Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber for new home and renovation projects. Forest Stewardship Council is a growing and well-known organization that tracks the chain of custody of lumber and certifies by third party that the lumber originates in approved sustainable forests.

LEED Certification and Energy Star Audits

S+H Construction advises homeowners who are contemplating a new home or large renovation to have their projects apply for LEED® for Homes certification by the US Green Building Council.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nationally accepted third-party certification for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

The federal government's Energy Star rating system is familiar to most of us as a benchmark for energy efficient appliances, but there is also a rating system for energy efficient houses! Like LEED, Energy Star includes a third-party energy audit and building performance test.

S+H Construction can assist with the process for both LEED and Energy Star certifications. We're excited about building your project to meet these standards!

© 2005-2008 All Rights Reserved.