Green Building

While we are proud of the innovate designs of our craftsman-style homes, there is much more to our story. For instance, we were one of the area's first green builders. From the beginning, it has been part of our building process and our culture.

Our homes are built to keep energy costs down, reduce waste during construction and improve indoor air quality. We focus on solid construction, sound use of space and ecological responsibility.

Potterhill Homes' are built to save energy and, in turn, save money on heating and cooling. But that is only one part of the story. Green building is a holistic approach to building to minimize your environmental footprint by building in a socially, economically and ecologically responsible manner. In the end, when you buy a Potterhill Home, you are buying a house that meets Meridian Mark Management Green Seal standards, is ENERGYSTAR® rated, uses fewer resources for heating, cooling and operation the home and is built creating less waste. Click here to take our green building pop quiz.

Green is not a fad. It is a responsible way to build and Potterhill Homes is committed to the cause for the long haul. Some day, all homes will be built to this standard. But, with Potterhill Homes, “some day” is today.

Click here to watch video of an interactive green Potterhill home tour

92% high efficiency furnaces

help lower utility bills. Most builders use an 80% furnace as standard.

 

Blown cellulous insulation

Made from recycled newspapers saves on heating and cooling and improves indoor air quality by inhibiting mold growth.

 

High-rated MERV filters

remove particulate matter out of the air and improve indoor air quality. The higher the MERV rating, the more particulate matter removed from the air.  Dust, pollen and other pollutants aggravate allergies, asthma and other breathing conditions. MERV filer ratings range from 6 – 16. Hospital filters range from 14-16. Most builders use a filter with a rating of 6 but Potterhill uses a minimum of 9.

 

Low-e windows

minimize the UV that enters the home. They keep heat out during the summer and in during the winter and also acts as a sunscreen for your furniture and upholstery.

 

Low volatile organic compound (VOC's) paints

Reduce the cancer-causing toxins and other pollutants released by traditional wall paint. Using low VOC paints improves indoor air quality and minimizes the potential health risk.

 

Programmable thermostats

cycle to automatically adjust the temperature for the most efficient heating and cooling.

 

A Geothermal Heating and cooling system

while not standard, is a popular upgrade. And for good reason.  Geothermal systems use the earth's constant core temperature to heat and cool your home.  The result is an environmentally friendly system that saves you up to 60% on your utility bill. The upgrade cost adds about $80 a month to your mortgage bill, but the energy savings is almost $140 a month so the system saves you from day one. Ask a Potterhill Homes representative for more information on how geothermal can save you thousands.

 

All Potterhill Homes are ENERGYSTAR® rated

Potterhill Homes Average HERS rating: 68 A HERS rating is a measure of energy use in a home. A HERS rating of 100 represents the energy use of a home built to the American Standard Energy Code from 2006. A HERS rating of 0 indicates taht the building purchases no net energy (A Net Zero Energy Building). The lower the rating, the more energy efficient the home. Potterhill Homes range from 50 - 85. It is important to note that the 2006 Energy Code is not a requirement. Most builders in Cincinnati are not building to meet that code. New Potterhill Homes built after 2008 exceed the code by 50% or more on heating and cooling use. And we certify every home to prove it.

 

Infill locations are considered green because they reuse land and prevent suburban sprawl

Potterhill Homes seeks out communities where we can reuse land and revitalize older communities. These urban developments are pedestrian friendly and close to shopping and other necessities, minimizing pollution caused by transportation.

 

Seek out vendors who have taken steps to be environmentally friendly in their manufacturing process.

For example, Potterhill purchases black top from a company that uses a solar-powered plant and our kitchen cabinets come from a company that has earned environmental awards for their manufacturing processes.

 

Local vendors help reduce emissions produced by transporting materials to the job site

Potterhill Homes seeks out local and regional vendor partners to reduce our impact on the environment and to support local economies.

 

Have active recycling programs

in our offices.

 

Green Building training programs

Are mandatory for our staff, vendors, and contractors.