102: The Technical Side of Building Green

Matt is a co-founder and principal of VandeMusser Design, PLLC. He is a certified HERS rater, LEED accredited professional, and licensed architect with extensive experience in the building and designing of energy-efficient homes, as well as numerous LEED-certified commercial buildings.
Matt is a co-founder and principal of VandeMusser Design, PLLC. He is a certified HERS rater, LEED accredited professional, and licensed architect with extensive experience in the building and designing of energy-efficient homes, as well as numerous LEED-certified commercial buildings.

Matthew Vande and partner Amy Musser created VandeMussser Design to help with ‘the technical side of building green’.

They found a great problem when they moved to North Carolina – builders who wanted to do right thing, but didn’t know what the right thing was. Matt, Amy and their team now help builders and their clients to find the most cost effective and easiest way to make energy efficient buildings. They help builders to avoid a costly ‘trial and error’ approach.

What is the Technical Side of Building Green?

Their services include using computer modelling to test the design for energy efficiency, providing recommendations on how best to construct the building, and then verifying the quality of the construction. Finally, the VandeMusser team also use their building experience to tune the building, kind of like commissioning a commercial building.

The motivation for building Green

The biggest motivation for building green is usually financial payback. There’s always a budget, as Matthew says.

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How Green is the Code?

Matthew says that the code just represents “the worst house you can legally build”. On the plus side, the code in North Carolina is slowly improving, so the builders who are asking the right questions now, will be well place to deliver the high quality homes of the future.

VandeMusser Design offer a range of design, consultation, verification and certification services.
VandeMusser Design offer a range of design, consultation, verification and certification services.

Top Three Tips for Building Green

  1. Consider tankless water heating, to avoid standing losses of keeping all that water hot.
  2. Energy efficient lighting has the best rate of return on investment.
  3. Fibreglass insulation is very cost effective.

Find out more

Get in touch with the Vandemusser team at http://vandemusser.com/. Amy also has a blog here.


Comments

4 responses to “102: The Technical Side of Building Green”

  1. Elion Technologies & Consulti Avatar
    Elion Technologies & Consulti

    Thermography Audit and Thermography Analysis by elion.co.in using Thermal

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    1. mcutlerwelsh Avatar
      mcutlerwelsh

      Good to know.

      (Am I reaching an Indian audience?!)

  2. Matthew Vande Avatar
    Matthew Vande

    Had a blast doing the interview. Thanks for contacting us, Matthew!

    1. mcutlerwelsh Avatar
      mcutlerwelsh

      Pleasure Matthew. It’s great work you’re doing and I hope others (including myself) can find similar problems to solve.

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