It’s one thing for a company to state that it is committed to sustainability and another to put those words into practice. At Woodmeister we take very seriously our promise to reduce our company’s carbon footprint. In 2009 we hired a Chief Sustainability Officer and created a corporate Green Mission Statement, which articulates and cements our pledge to meet ten sustainability standards.

Sustainable Building:

At the core of Woodmeister’s green commitment is building the most energy efficient houses possible. That means first creating an extremely tight envelope with superior icynene foam insulation and high performing windows and doors. Our goal is to minimize infiltration, or the leaking in of outside air. Every project includes a blower test to certify the home’s tightness. Highly efficient mechanical systems control ventilation or fresh air intake, ensuring a constant exchange of air and an even temperature throughout the house.

Depending on the homeowner’s individual goals and feasibility of the building site, we will incorporate alternative energy systems into the home design, including geo-thermal heating and cooling, passive solar, and photo-voltaic cells. For all new construction, we are committed to obtaining, at a minimum, an Energy Star rating and an NAHB (National Green Building Standard) silver certification. For all renovation projects, we aim to achieve a 20% reduction in energy consumption as determined by the HERS rating system. We also work with homeowners, architects, and designers to achieve LEED certification for residential projects.

Once the home’s envelope is tight, we look at interior finishes and materials to ensure a healthy indoor air quality. Our on-site painters now use exclusively low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes, eliminating the odors and toxins associated with off-gassing. Factory finishing of cabinetry and millwork is done in highly controlled conditions in the Woodmeister shop. We use the best, environmentally-friendly products available that do not compromise the durability expected with a factory finish. In addition, our millwork craftsmen use only FSC-certified and sustainable wood products. Finally, we work with homeowners and designers to specify carpets, drapes, wallpapers, and other materials with low toxicity.

Recycling:

Woodmeister employees practice conservation on a daily basis through our comprehensive recycling program. Working with Waste Management, Inc. we collect sawdust produced in our shop and transport it to a local generation plant where it is used to produce electricity. In addition, employee-initiated and managed single stream recycling throughout the company includes collecting bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, batteries, laser cartridges, and more. We also donate to charity used appliances and cabinets collected from job sites, cell phones, and computer accessories.