Thoughtforms Corporation | Specializes in building high-end custom homes and unique institutional buildings in eastern Massachusetts

Expansion of Residential Green Building Market Expected by 2016

2012-02-16T19:25:19Z

Thoughtforms takes a large interest in green building and we are always happy to hear of improvements and advancements in the market. We were especially excited to read in an article in Builder Magazine that the residential green building market is expected to expand by 2016 at high rates. Building green custom homes and remodeling with green intentions is something we highly emphasize and we are thrilled to see the trend continues to increase.

The residential green building market is expected to grow by 2016.

According to a recent study, green homes made up 17 percent of the overall residential construction market in 2011. However, this number is expected to jump to anywhere between 29 and 38 percent by 2016. The study also surveyed numerous professionals in the business who predicted that green home remodeling will increase as well. The study polled various professionals and found that approximately 34 percent of them expect to only be building green custom homes and renovations by 2016. This is a 150 percent increase over 2011 construction.

There are many factors that contribute to growth of green building. One of those factors is suspected to be the lowering price of building green homes. It has been reported that the extra expenses of building sustainable homes is now at 7 percent, which dropped from 10 percent in 2008 and 11 percent in 2006. In addition, 46 percent of the builders who were polled said it is easier to market a green home in a down market.

Building a green custom home is a wonderful way to help the environment while also save money with energy efficient features. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

Photo from Free Digital Photos

Branch of Boston Library Awarded LEED Silver Certification

2012-02-13T20:22:48Z

Thoughtforms greatly emphasizes the importance of building sustainable custom homes and renovations and is thrilled whenever we see local organizations doing the same. Recently, the Brighton branch of the Boston library was awarded an LEED Silver certification and we couldn’t be happier. Seeing different organizations and buildings around town partaking in green building practices is great news!

Brighton Branch was recently awarded an LEED silver certification.

On Tuesday, February 7th, Mayor Thomas Menino announced that the Brighton branch of the Boston public library had been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nation’s leading program for all things sustainable design, construction and operation. The renovation completed on the building created new spaces that had better lighting, new furniture and a new teen area as well as a new community space.

The Brighton Branch was able to achieve such a wonderful award for a wide variety of reasons and elements. Energy use, water, lighting and material use all contributed to the LEED silver certification of the building. Brighton Branch is able to use less energy, which also saves money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. By creating a space that helps promote a healthier environment for residents, the Brighton Branch building was able to achieve LEED silver certification.

Jim Hunt, Boston’s Chief of Environment and Energy, notes how important sustainability is to the city of Boston:

“Mayor Menino continues to keep Boston at the forefront of green building policy and sustainable investments in our neighborhoods. Congratulations to the Boston Public Library for developing such a high-performance green facility for the people of our city to expand their knowledge and simply enjoy.”

Bringing the efforts of the city of Boston into your own home is a wonderful way to get involved with sustainability. Building a custom home or renovation with green intentions is a great way to save money and give back to the environment. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings

Photo from Free Digital Photos

Boston Ranked on Top Markets for Remodeling List

2012-02-07T14:39:37Z

Now, more than ever, homeowners are choosing to invest in remodeling projects instead of searching for a new home. Considering investing in a renovation is a wonderful idea if you want to get more out of a home without buying a new one and it looks as though Boston is one of the top places to invest in a renovation. According to an article in Remodeling Magazine, Boston was recently ranked as a top 20 performer out of the top 100 markets for remodeling.

Boston was recently ranked as a top performer for the top 100 markets for remodeling.

Boston was ranked as one of the top 20 cities out of the top 100 markets for remodeling and was placed in the “Tortoise and Hare” category. This category recognizes cities that have made a steady climb among the top 100 markets over the years. The folks at Remodeling Magazine noted that Boston has been consistent over the years in being a popular remodeling market. The steadiness of the remodeling market in Boston can be attributed to the job market that is more stable than others across the nation.

While some neighborhoods of Boston are often more financially conservative, more homeowners in those areas are seen investing in renovations in order to either prepare a home for the market or in lieu of buying a new home. In addition, homeowners in the Boston area are slowly beginning to regain trust in the economy and are now deciding to follow through with those renovation plans they had set on the back burner a few years ago.

Investing in a remodeling project could be just the thing you need. Whether you are wanting to freshen up your home before you put it on the market or you just want something new, Thoughtforms can help. Remodeling is happening more and more everyday and living in the Boston area is just the place to do it.

Photo from Free Digital Photos

Areas to Focus on When Building a Sustainable Home

2012-02-03T18:03:16Z

Building a green home can be a difficult process. On top of the regular stresses of home building, you have added factors to consider. However, when you work with Thoughtforms and have a few tips under your belt, building a sustainable home can be far less stressful. We recently came across a few key areas to focus on when building an eco-friendly home. Take a peek at some hints for areas to focus on when building your green home:

Building a green home can be stressful. Take a look at a few key areas to focus on.

Walls: When looking at a home that is wasting a large amount of energy, chances are you will probably find walls to be apart of the problem. In order to ensure that you are building a home that is sustainable and energy efficient, be sure to properly insulate the walls by designing them to have a deeper wall cavity. It is also important completely seal the wall cavity to avoid any energy escaping through small crevices.
Roof: The roof can also play a large role in a home that is wasting energy. Similarily, the roof is also a large factor in ensuring that your home is an energy efficient one. Most of the energy lost in your home occurs through the roof. In order to ensure you are creating an energy efficient home, it is crucial adequate insulation is in your attic and roof. This will make sure energy is not escaping through these areas and going to waste.
Windows: While selecting energy efficient windows is significant in creating a sustainable home, the placement of the windows is also greatly important. In order to cut down on energy and get the most out of your windows, it is best to avoid placing them in direct sunlight. Put them an area where they will have access to sunlight but shade as well.

Even after learning of a few tricks to building a green home, you may still find yourself with a few lingering questions. It’s okay if you are still a bit unsure of what parts of the home you should focus on when building a sustainable home, Thoughtforms is here to help. Contact Thoughtforms for more information on all things green building.

Photo from Free Digital Photos

Subscribe to Our Blog

2012-01-31T22:10:22Z

Checking our blog on a regular basis is a great way to stay connected to all things Thoughtforms. However, there is an easier way to learn about our most recent blog posts; subscribing to our blog! When you make the decision to subscribe to the Thoughtforms blog you are gaining the ability to learn about new blog posts instantly through your very own email inbox.

Subscribe to the Thoughtforms blog today

Subscribing to our blog is easy! It works like this; simply head over to the home page of our blog and look to the left of the screen. You will see a box titled, “Get Our Posts in Email.” and a blank box directly beneath it. All you have to do is enter your email address into the box and hit “Subscribe.” You are now instantly subscribed to our blog and will begin receiving updates about our blog posts in your inbox.

Subscribing to our blog is a great way to stay connected to us as well as learn about new things concerning building. Now that we told you a little bit more about subscribing to our blog, we want to hear from you. Why do you love being subscribed to the Thoughtforms blog? Leave us a comment and let us know.

Learn more about all things commercial and custom home building by contacting Thoughtforms today for more information on how to get started.

Photo from Free Digital Photos