Energy Efficiency & Green Building Archives - Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield - HBA

Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield, MO – 417.881.3711 – LOGIN

The Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield recently wrapped up an 18-month long process updating the city’s building codes. Much of that focus has been centered around the International Energy Conservation Code ®(IECC). Outside interest groups were pushing for an immediate full adoption of the of the 2018 IECC, which would add burdensome costs to…

Odds are, if you were asked if you wanted to save some cash, your answer would be an enthusiastic yes. The good news is there are a number of ways to cut down your monthly expenses, the first step being a do-it-yourself home energy audit. This fast, relatively simple solution helps determine how much energy…

Most exterior walls have insulation in between the wall studs, but allow significant energy loss through the studs themselves. Wall studs, both wood and metal, are poor insulators — when they come in contact with the exterior cladding, they allow heat to pass through them (which is called a thermal bridge). Insulated Vinyl Siding is…

We’re willing to bet that you don’t go out of your way to waste water. Even with the best of intentions, however, more than 10,000 gallons of water per family is squandered each year (due to things like small household leaks). Since water is one of our most valuable resources, it’s in everyone’s best interest…

Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances U.S. government has placed restrictions on how much refrigerant can be produced and by 2020 will no longer be produced. As the amount of R-22 refrigerant that’s available dwindles down, the cost of the refrigerant begins to skyrocket. So what should I do? If you have replaced or upgraded your system…

Filed in Codes and Regulations, Environmental, Land Development on August 9, 2016 • 0 Comments The ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) was released in March. This post is the third in a series of eight that will examine what’s different in this new edition – and what’s changed in the world of sustainable…

Zero-energy homes, also known as net-zero homes, produce as much energy as they consume on an annual basis, sometimes producing more energy from solar panels, wind power, or other sources. These homes are far from mainstream, but home builders like South Carolina’s Todd Usher, guest writer for this blog post, are leading the race to…

This new blue hue might help with energy efficiency on buildings! http://hbags.info/296l5U2

Did you know that the largest solar farm in the state of Missouri is located right here in Springfield? City Utilities contracted for the construction of the 4.95 megawatt (AC) renewable energy project in 2013, and began receiving the energy in July 2014. Although this energy is still more expensive than that from traditional sources,…

I seldom meet a chocolate chip cookie I do not like. Occasionally, I come across one that is to “die for.” You know what I am talking about, the ones that are so good they should be illegal – maybe not in Colorado or Washington, but I digress. You would think that all chocolate chip…

Like Us On facebook

To better serve members, the HBA of Greater Springfield has completely overhauled re-launched its official facebook page. The HBA’s enhanced presence on the massively popular social media platform officially launches today (September 10). The HBA’s new and improved facebook page has received a massive overhaul leading up to today’s re-launch. Facebook is a rapidly-evolving medium that…

Greene County has been “green” for years. My Grandmother decades ago told me things like, “take care of the land and it will take care of you. Waste not, want not.” And of course, “Turn off the light when you ain’t using it.” Yes, she said “ain’t” and she also had no “i-de” she was…

The 2012 HBA Parade of Homes opened on Friday, June 15, featuring a strong mix of both custom and spec homes in a number of price points. Reports from builders and real estate professionals staffing the 13 homes on Parade are that traffic was very heavy all three days of the opening weekend, with lots of…

In conjunction with the HBA of Greater Springfield’s 59th annual Parade of Homes, the HBA last week released the 2012 HBA Parade of Homes magazine to the public. The Parade of Homes concludes this weekend, when homes will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 6pm (learn more about the Parade here). The…

The 2012 HBA Parade of Homes opens this Friday, June 15, featuring a strong mix of both custom and spec homes in a number of price points. The event is the 59th annual HBA Parade of Homes, and it runs for two full weekends, June 15-17 and June 22-24: “Builders continue to offer incredible craftsmanship, value and…