Joe Wackerbauer, president of Okanagan Custom Homes Ltd., builds luxury houses that delight his clients and often provide great benefits to the environment.

As a registered Built Green builder, he incorporates eco-friendly elements into high-end homes in Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton and Naramata. According to the company web site, “Green building, first and foremost, is a method of designing buildings in such a way that resources are used responsibly, focusing on the protection of the environment and occupants’ health, while ensuring the building’s long term profitability”.

From the foundation to the roof, Wackerbauer employs construction techniques geared to conserve water and energy. His homes feature everything from footings that have been “bagged” or wrapped in plastic to create a moisture barrier, to insulated concrete foundations, to an airtight building envelope.

These all contribute to high energy efficiency. Versa-Lam studs, laminated veneer lumber wall framing, provide strength without warping or splitting. Besides their functionality, they help to preserve a dwindling commodity.

“The Versa-Lam framing system is more expensive than conventional lumber,” says Wackerbauer. “But it’s a higher quality product and produces less waste, which saves money in the long run.”

Sustainability makes an appearance even on the roof, where he relies on eco-roofs made of 100 per cent recycled materials. They’re generally aluminum and guaranteed to last for 50 years.
The rain water is collected off of the roof of the home and is directed into an underground filtered rain water recovery system before it is used for irrigation purposes. Grey water from inside the home is also recovered, and it flows into a tank in the crawl space or basement and it is reused to flush the toilets.

“We also install black water sewage systems that consist of a series of tanks,” he says. “The septic field can be reduced by up to 75 per cent. The water that flows into the ground pits is actually safe to drink and can be incorporated into an irrigation system.”

To ensure that the air is exchanged within the house, Wackerbauer installs a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). In fact, it can change all the air in a green home in a three hour period. It also reduces the energy needed to warm outdoor air. “It removes air-borne particles from the home, thus making it a healthier environment for the occupants,” he says.

 Wackerbauer is also exploring the upsides of solar power. In one of the homes he is constructing, it will heat the water, the pool and the floors.

“I am working toward self-sufficiency in power and water,” he says. “In essence, I’m trying to build homes with less impact on the environment and closer to being off the grid.”

With over 35 years of experience in the construction industry, Wackerbauer is well-versed in the myriad of technologies available and builds his homes well above the code requirements.
He started learning the family construction business from his father, a master carpenter and cabinet maker, and from his uncle, a master finisher. He received his journeyman carpenter status in 1985.

“I’m a member of the Canadian Home Builders Association”,” he says. “I’m also a licensed residential builder with the Home Protection Office (HPO). I have kept pace with the changes in the industry by routinely attending seminars offered by the HPO and other courses outside of that organization.”

His dedication to each project is evident in its detail and elaborate finishing. The home warranty highlights his unwavering standards. Clients receive a two year warranty on labor, five years on the building envelope along with a 10 year structural defect warranty.

“I treat every house as if it were my own,” says Wackerbauer

www.okanagancustomhomes.com

For more information contact:

Joe Wackerbauer – Okanagan Custom Homes
“We build the Custom Home of your Dreams”
http://www.okanagancustomhomes.com/
We can build the Custom Home of your Dreams in Kelowna,Naramata, Penticton, Summerland and Peachland
(250) 809-9519

Benefits across the board

Home Builders recognize that building according to eco-friendly criteria may appear expensive at the outset. This is because start-out costs in the green building approach are generally determined from cost analyses of a project’s entire life cycle. However, once construction is completed, the lower daily operating costs, being actually much lower than those of “traditional” constructions, compensate largely for the initial cost. For homebuilders on a limited budget, nothing prevents the introduction of just a few eco-friendly elements which can be done without significantly raising the costs. Everyone benefits in the end: operating costs are lower, the house and its occupants are healthier, and of course the planet benefits too.

The characteristics of green architecture

Constructions are said to be “green” or “eco-friendly” when they are built according to certain principles relating to choice of site, building materials and architecture.

Material efficiency

Qualities to look for when choosing materials for green architecture have to do with the efficiency of the material itself, maintaining good interior air quality, ensuring energy efficiency, saving and re-using water, and overall affordability. Compliance with these criteria in a green building means working with materials that are beneficial to the owner, to the environment and to the building’s occupants, due to:

• Lower maintenance costs throughout the building’s lifetime
• Optimization and conservation of energy
• Better health for occupants and higher productivity levels
• Low-cost, efficient configuration of space
• Flexible design

With a little planning, you can do a lot for the environment and reduce your building costs at the same time. Rooms designed on multiples of 4 feet, for example, conform to standard-sized wallboard and plywood sheets and therefore optimize the quantities of materials used. Oriented strand board, made from engineered wood sheets and which does not require the cutting of mature trees for its manufacture, is a durable, resource-efficient material used in the roof and wall construction of most new homes.

Materials should be chosen for their ability to provide a comfortable environment inside the home, whatever the outside temperature. The secret lies in installing windows and doors made from intelligent, high-efficiency glass, capable of filtering the sun’s rays to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. Durable roof coverings, such as steel or fibre cement, reduce the frequency of roof replacement. There are now also solar roofing products that integrate materials such as asphalt shingles, slate or concrete tiles.

You can also reuse and recycle materials salvaged from building demolitions or from the current job site. There are various materials made from recycled products intended for the structural elements of a home, as well as materials designed for the decorative aspects too. For example, some contemporary floor coverings made of rubber or polymer mimic slate admirably – and are also lighter in weight and easier to clean. Other materials manufactured for countertops, walls and floors are composed of 75% recycled glass and 25% concrete.

Wood is also often used in green architecture; it is an essential material in construction and renovation in general and is appreciated for its warmth and decorative charm. There are a number of new wood products on the market, and innovations are constantly being developed in response to the need to protect the earth’s forests. Lumber from endangered forests is increasingly being replaced by that of sustainably managed forests. In the same way, fast-growing species are being increasingly used; bamboo, for one, is enjoying a surge in popularity due to its aesthetic appeal and durability. Locally produced materials are also an excellent choice.

Recycled wood and plastic composites offer excellent resistance, are easy to clean and contain no harmful or toxic elements. Alternative flooring solutions include laminate, natural-fibre carpet or linoleum.

Vinyl is an excellent choice for exterior siding because it is low-cost and requires little maintenance. Fibre-cement siding is water-resistant and carries a 50-year warranty.

Walls, floors and ceilings are built with new types of insulated panels made of rigid Styrofoam insulation sandwiched between wood boards. These new products are recent arrivals on the building market but have already proven their worth as energy efficient products.

Joe Wackerbauer – Okanagan Custom Homes
“We build the Custom Home of your Dreams”
http://www.okanagancustomhomes.com/
We can build the Custom Home of your Dreams in Kelowna,Naramata, Penticton, Summerland and Peachland
(250) 809-9519

We can build the Custom Home of your Dreams in Kelowna,Naramata, Penticton, Summerland and Peachland.

Structural Insulated Panel or SIP is the new buzz-word in building construction industry as 21st century “green” building material. SIPs can be used in the construction of exterior walls, floors and roofs of residential and commercial buildings offering advantages of low cost and energy conservation over traditional wooden frame construction. SIP addresses two major concerns while building “green” home – energy efficiency and diminishing natural resources.

The general characteristics of all SIPs are two exterior skins sandwiching a rigid foam plastic core made up of low cost expanded polystyrene material. The skins most generally used are oriented strand boards (OSB), plywood or gypsum board. The resulting sandwich panel is exceptionally solid, cost effective and energy conserving which can be used as load bearing walls, partitions and roof insulation.

When used as a load-bearing wall or roof insulation, the two skins act as lean columns constantly supported by the rigid core to resist buckling and compression. When bending is applied to the panel due to a live or a wind load, the skins take most of the compressive and tensile forces and the core offers resistance to shear. Skins and rigid core acts internally to provide exceptional strength to the structure.

The most important characteristic of Structural Insulated Panel which has led to rapid growth in its demand is excellent energy efficiency and improved thermal performance. Today, one of the major challenges for any home owner is to control increasing energy costs. SIPs are practically airtight panels due to the nature of material used and fabrication process. This results in less cooling during winters and less hitting in summer! Hence buildings made with SIP panels require less expensive cooling and heating systems than a normal building saving more energy and costs. A building constructed with SIPs takes less time than the one with wooden frame. This saves you labor and wastage at the job-site. Overall building a home with SIPs can save you energy, costs, time and labor too!

Design of Structural Insulated Panel requires good amount of structural drafting & design services.

To know how we can help you design SIPs for your home email us at info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com
or visit http://www.outsourcestructuraldrafting.com/

About the Author

Richard Bose is certified structural engineer at OSD – a leading Structural Drafting firm based in India providing quality Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) design services to its offshore clients based in US, UK, Canada and Australia. For further details email us at info@outsourcestructuraldrafting.com

For a review of your green custom home build call:

Joe Wackerbauer
President
Okanagan Custom Homes
250- 809-9519
http://www.okanagancustomhomes.com/

We can build the Custom Home of your Dreams in Kelowna,Naramata, Penticton, Summerland and Peachland

Pre-Construction Services:

The pre construction phase is one of the most critical phases of a construction project. During pre-construction, we will explore and /or advise on the theme of the style of construction for your specific project, establish a budget, and scheduling.

From this we develop a plan for work to be implemented during construction and advise both clients and trades as to the best use of resources to provide the best value without compromising quality.

Okanagan Custom Homes works jointly with clients, design professionals, and construction trades to develop this path for success of your dream home.

What we provide is a ten step Pre-Construction Service:

1. Meetings with client to assimilate project overview
2. Develop concept design and Master plan
3. Preliminary drawings
4. Develop a list of specifications with our clients
5. Breakdown construction components to achieve and accurate budget number
6. Advise on implementing alternate strategies for Built Green construction techniques
7. Review and advise on conditions of construction site, (riparian issues, accessibility, etc.)
8. Site mapping: optimum positioning of home on site, layout, survey
9. Provide building estimates
10. Set tentative timelines and implementation dates

At this point a full contract may be tailored to your specific project.

Joe Wackerbauer
President
Okanagan Custom Homes
250- 809-9519
http://www.okanagancustomhomes.com/

Window liners and Trim
Interior and exterior custom door installations
Crown moulding
Custom Stair cases and railings and ….

so much more….. a picture is worth a thousand words

Book your appointment today: Call Joe Wackerbauer@ 250-809-9519

Joe Wackerbauer
President
Okanagan Custom Homes
250-809-9519
http://www.okanagancustomhomes.com/