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Positive Designs

Health  |  Community  |  Thoughtful


Designing & Building
places to
Live, work, and play


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Arcadia

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greylock

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metacomet

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monadnock

What makes our homes sustainable?

Sustainable means to last. When building a new home, the ecological footprint of the home, the overall health of the occupants and the cost to maintain the home all need to be considered.

The products we put in our home are thoughtfully compared to traditional products. The environmental impacts of manufactured products are analyzed through a Life Cycle analysis and various energy assessments programs. In Massachusetts, the HERS rating system, which is an energy assessment of the home is used. It compares and quantifies the energy use of all products of the home. We strive for a tier 3 HERS rating, which is the top HERS rating, indicating our homes are at least 45% better compared to the 2012 baseline home.
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Recycled Aluminum Shingle- Engineered to be permanent with a 50-year non-prorated warranty. Perma-Lock Roofing Systems from Aluminum Shingle Company have been manufactured since 1948 in Salt Lake City Utah. It provides distinctive beauty with unmatched durability. www.aluminumshingle.com

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Huber “all-in-one ZIP System® R-Sheathing panel provides a new approach to sealing and insulating the building envelope. One panel delivers thermal, air and moisture resistance, while providing excellent strength and durability.”
www.huberwood.com/zipsystem

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LP Smart Siding- “delivers all the warmth and beauty of traditional wood, plus the durability and workability of engineered wood. Engineered for strength, performance and protection against fungal decay and termites.” Their “approach to the environment can be summed up with three words: conserve, create, and renew.” For the homeowner it is reduced maintenance and long life. 5/50 year transferable limited warranty. www.lpcorp.com/smartside

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House insulation: Combination of closed cell foam, blown cellulose and High performance faced and unfaced batt insulation, achieving a R-50 in the ceilings and R- 28 in the walls.

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Mechanical and Interior products:
  • RinnaiTM Tankless water heater
  • Mitsubishi Hyper Heat pump split air conditioning
  • Venmar Kubix HRV air exchange
  • CFL and LED lighting
  • Appalachian prefinished wood floors
  • Forbo Marmoleum floors
  • Sherman and Williams GreenSure Paints

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