Introducing Charlotte’s Premier Green Building Businesses

At Urban Home, we have a commitment to bring you pertinent information for your building, remodeling and decorating needs. One subject that is particularly important to us is global warming and environmental change.

The issues impacting our planet are real and not political hype. If you are building or remodeling, there are many options for your home that are not only good for the environment, but good for your home.

We have teamed up with the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) to bring you a series of informative articles on local businesses that are leading the way with energy efficient building practices and materials. Look for future editorials in each issue that provide in-depth overviews of these businesses. Naturally, there are many more businesses that are active in this space—additional resources can be found at the web sites listed.

We hope you enjoy learning about these businesses and the resources that are available through the NCSEA.

NCSEA Overview
The NCSEA works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency through education, public policy and economic development. By increasing market demand, working with the building community and removing barriers to implementing green building solutions, NCSEA is working to create a market for high performance and green building development in North Carolina.
The term “green building” encompasses several key areas:
• Community and site planning and development
• Resource efficiency
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency
• Indoor environmental air quality

For more information on the NCSEA, visit www.ncsustainableenergy.org

Carolina Foam Solutions
www.carolinafoamsolutions.com
704-400-6488
One hundred percent water-blown and environmentally-friendly, Icynene® is sprayed into walls, ceilings, attics, and floors and then it expands 100 times its initial volume in seconds to create a soft foam insulation. It is an effective air barrier and with this unique air-sealing ability, Icynene® delivers high-performance solutions for efficient building envelopes, thermal comfort, and a healthy living environment – all of which are integral components of green building and design. Icynene® works as an insulation and air barrier to keep the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Its ability to control airflow also allows for rightsizing of the mechanical system and can also save building owners up to 50 percent in heating and cooling costs.

Banister Homes
www.banisterhomes.com
704-634-4667
Banister Homes, Inc. is a custom builder specializing in new homes and dramatic renovations in historic Charlotte neighborhoods. Banister is an Energy Star Partner and certified Green Builder in the North Carolina Solar Center Healthy Built Homes program and builds both Energy Star™ and certified North Carolina Healthy-Built homes in the Charlotte area since 1999. Some of the items in Banister Homes certified green homes include rainwater collection and management, radiant floor heating systems, formaldehyde-free spray foam insulation, reclaimed building materials and passive solar. Banister Homes, Inc. is a North Carolina general contractor with unlimited residential and commercial licenses.

PTI Design
www.projectlivegreen.com
704-483-9923
PTI Design is a comprehensive design firm, orchestrating all elements of residential and commercial interior and exterior design and specializing in green design. From initial color consultation, through architectural planning and project coordination, our design solutions are distinguished by the inspired intermingling of materials, imaginative use of color and resources, and painstaking attention to detail. Exterior finishes that blend harmoniously with the landscape, or interior environments that reflect the client’s individuality, PTI Design gives every project incomparable attention. Working with the Green Team of Pippin Home Designs, Inc. and Spivey Construction, PTI Design can offer a complete green solution, from incorporating a few green elements to creating a completely green home environment.

Charlotte Glass Tinting
704-333-3636
www.charlotteglasstinting.com
Charlotte Glass Tinting is the local dealer for the 3M window film line of products. With today’s homes designed to introduce sunlight from all angles, 3M window films protect the interior of your home, add privacy, improves comfort and safety and helps reduce energy costs for your home. By reducing the heat, you can also reduce your air conditioning costs. With 3M’s new Nano technology, window films have the added feature of blocking up to 63 percent of the sun’s heat and reducing glare and 99 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The result is greater comfort, less eye fatigue, less interior fading and lower energy costs.

Southern Energy Management
919-836-0330
www.southern-energy.com
Southern Energy Management is the largest sustainable energy services company in North Carolina. They provide high performance energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to the residential, commercial and industrial markets. Clients range from homeowners and niche green builders to production builders and large multi-national companies. Staff includes engineers, building scientists, plumbers, electricians, solar specialists and home energy raters who work together to provide clients with the most cost-effective and reliable energy solutions available. Serving all of N.C., S.C. and Va.

Beaver Brothers, Inc.
704-637-9595
www.beaverbrosinc.com
Beaver Brothers is a heating and air conditioning company who specialize in both traditional heating and cooling products as well as the latest innovations in green building. Committed to providing customers with the latest technology in high quality and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, the team’s specialties include geothermal heat pumps, solar energy systems, radiant floor heating systems, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems with indoor air quality features. Beaver Brothers, for three generations of Beavers, has been serving the Piedmont area since 1919 with factory trained and certified technicians for installations, maintenance and service.

Pippin Home Designs
704-895-0000
www.pippinhomedesigns.com
Jennifer B. Pippin, AIBD of Pippin Home Designs, Inc. is an award-winning custom home designer with a focus on green design, based in Cornelius, NC. Her firm’s capabilities include new homes, renovation/additions, feasibility studies, construction plans and design/build construction management. Pippin is a certified Green Builder in the NC Solar Center’s Healthy Built Homes program and a graduate of NC State University’s Green Building Diploma Series. She is currently pursuing her diploma for the Renewable Energy series and taking classes for LEED H, as well. Pippin’s enthusiasm for pairing her unmatched creativity with exceptional green design allows her to create homes that reflect the homeowner’s personality, needs, and desires.

BRAE, Blue Ridge Atlantic Enterprises
800-772-1958 / 704-307-4317
www.braewater.com
BRAE Complete Rainwater Harvesting Systems uses rain as a valuable water resource for commercial and residential buildings. BRAE rainwater harvesting systems will flush the toilets and supply rainwater for laundry in the new Home Depot Smart Home on the campus of Duke University as well as the new Cherokee Mainstream GreenHome, a pilot for the National Association of Homebuilder’s Green Building Guidelines. Whether your project is big or small, requires storm water runoff, increased water efficiency or requires other green building objectives, BRAE is an industry-leading regional solution provider for rainwater harvesting systems.