Energy Efficient Homes

Energy Efficient Homes by the Anderson Construction Group

Sustainable homes are energy efficient homes. Further, they reduce environmental impact by designs that minimize energy consumption. These homes employ various strategies and technologies to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainability

We incorporate these features in our builds and our clients love them! Here are some common features and practices used:

Proper insulation: Well-insulated homes improve energy efficiency by reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. These homes have insulation in walls, ceilings, floors, and windows to maintain a consistent indoor temperature.

Energy-efficient windows: Energy-efficient windows are designed to prevent heat transfer, reducing the need for heating or cooling systems. These windows often have double or triple glazing, low-emissivity coatings, and insulated frames.

High-efficiency heating and cooling systems: Designed to consume less energy, the heating and cooling systems are extremely efficient. These systems include Energy Star-rated furnaces, heat pumps, or geothermal heating and cooling systems.

LED lighting: Often these homes are outfitted with LED or other energy-saving light bulbs, which use significantly less electricity and have a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Energy-efficient appliances: Energy Star-certified appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers, are commonly installed in energy-efficient homes. These appliances use less energy to perform their functions.

Efficient Homes Preserve Resources

Solar panels: Many energy-efficient homes incorporate solar panel systems to generate renewable electricity. These solar panels convert sunlight into electrical power, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.

Water-saving fixtures: Energy-efficient homes often have water-saving fixtures installed, such as low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads. These fixtures reduce water consumption and help conserve freshwater resources.

Smart home technology: Energy-efficient homes may utilize smart home technology to optimize energy consumption. This technology allows homeowners to remotely control and monitor energy usage, adjust temperatures, and schedule energy-saving settings.

By incorporating these energy-efficient features, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy consumption, decrease carbon emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Thus, setting yourself up for built in comfort and savings for years to come.

Contact the Anderson Construction Group for your home build. Our superior homes are the trademark of our business and the delight of our clients.

Homes for the Future

Homes for the Future

At Anderson Construction Group, we don’t just build homes; we craft homes for the future. Our commitment to excellence in luxury home construction goes hand-in-hand with our dedication to sustainable and eco-conscious practices. As we look ahead, “Homes for the Future” isn’t just a tagline—it’s our mission.

Firstly, luxury living has evolved over the years. Today, it’s not just about opulence and extravagance; it’s about living in harmony with nature while embracing the latest cutting-edge technology. A home for the future represents the pinnacle of this evolution, seamlessly blending high-end design, eco-consciousness, and the latest technological innovations.

Additionally, sustainability is at the core of our approach. We recognize that the homes of tomorrow must be environmentally responsible, reducing their carbon footprint while enhancing the quality of life for their occupants.

Our commitment to sustainable luxury includes:

Energy Efficiency: We employ advanced building techniques and materials to create homes that are highly energy-efficient. From solar panels to smart home automation, our homes harness the latest and greatest ideas for sustainable living.

Green Building Materials: Our choice of materials prioritizes sustainability, utilizing eco-friendly options without compromising on quality or aesthetics.

What Does a Home for the Future Mean to Us?

These are smart homes in the truest sense: with the incorporation of cutting-edge technology into our designs, Anderson Construction Group works to enhance convenience, security, and energy efficiency. From integrated smart home systems to energy monitoring, our homes are built to make life easier while reducing environmental impact.

Furthermore, our commitment to luxury doesn’t stop at sustainable technology. Every Anderson Construction Group home is made to be a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship. From soaring ceilings to exquisite finishes, we create spaces that are a joy to live in.

Lastly, Anderson Construction Group’s, homes for the future are not just a vision; it’s our ongoing commitment. We invite you to join us in shaping the future of luxury living, where sustainability, technology, and uncompromising quality come together to create homes that are truly extraordinary.

For inquiries about our sustainable luxury home construction services, please contact Anderson Construction Group. Together, we can turn your vision of the future into a reality.

Luxury Home

Luxury Home

As a luxury home builder, the question comes up frequently: what makes a luxury home? A question like this usually isn’t quite as straightforward as you might like.

One attempt at categorization is based on the presence of luxury features. Some people won’t award the title if the home lacks certain amenities. A massive garden tub sure sounds luxurious to me! As does a smart house than can juggle half my chores for me, and heated floors, and a walk-in closet the size of a small house! However, they aren’t what makes a luxury home, at least not to me.

For some, it’s sheer size of home that pushes it into luxury home territory. For others, it’s a beautiful view, perhaps with an exquisitely landscaped garden from which to enjoy it. Once again, sign me up; this house is sounding great!

But, when it comes down to it, the thing that really seals the deal for me? It’s not based on some specific gadget, or hinged upon a set of bay windows. Rather, it’s a feeling. A house could have every amenity in the world, and if I walk in and think, “Hmm, nice,” then that’s no luxury home. I’m looking to be blown back! “Nice” should be the furthest thought from my brain. All the better if I can’t even find a thought!

Walking into a luxury home feels like, well, walking into a luxury home. There’s nothing else like it. Therefore, this is the goal every single time Anderson Construction Group sets out to build someone’s dream home. People deserve all the comfort they can squeeze into this world. At the end of any given day, there are endless tasks to do to care for your home. Accordingly, with the ability to build, and using a builder with goals like ours, there’s no reason your home shouldn’t take just as good of care of you.

Your dream home awaits!

Horseshoe Bay Builder

Horseshoe Bay Builder

Due to the buzz surrounding my current projects, some of you recent followers may be getting to know me as the Horseshoe Bay Builder! Right now, I’m working on two beautiful designs on Ram Rock Golf Course lots and one interior lot. They will be starting soon and move-in ready with my signature building techniques woven through every room, which is what I’d like to talk about today.

The Anderson Construction Group, Inc. style is upscale and spacious while being eco-friendly and easy on the energy budget. We use the finer principles of home orientation to plan the layout. As such, rooms are distributed based on available tree cover and the daily/annual path of the sun. This is one of the primary ways we keep costs down for the consumer. Natural heating and cooling costs a whole lot less than anything man made!

Concurrently, you’ll find special care taken in the insulation of the homes. It’s easy to throw some insulation in the outer walls and call it good, but that’s the story of cookie-cutter, quick-build suburban homes. We all know how well those hold temperature! Adding insulation to interior walls and open cell or closed cell spray foam at rafters and exterior walls is what it takes to keep those bills down, and is another hallmark of an Anderson Construction Group build.

Elegance by Anderson Construction Group, Inc.

Additionally, part of what makes our homes look so elegant is choice of materials. You’ll find stonework, granite and quartz, giving a sense of both depth and flair. Floors are largely premium vinyl and tile. Many people don’t know the full scope of vinyl flooring, and have only seen the cheap stuff or the cheap stuff made to look like it’s not the cheap stuff. Which, we all know, comes out looking more like the cheap stuff than not. The full range of vinyl flooring is incredible, and the higher-end versions are extremely water resistant, incredibly durable, and fit perfectly into upscale design schemes.

These are some examples of how we like to build homes here at Anderson Construction Group. Stylish, yet quite functional! You can learn more about the principles we work from and how we approach material choice in the rest of our blog. Our absolute favorite jobs are with clients who share these values, and want them applied in creative, custom ways.

Our Horseshoe Bay lots and homes for sale:

W28081 Rabbit Ridge Golf course lot

W25051 Buckeye

W7003 Silver Hill

Steve Butler is the realtor for these homes! He’ll be happy to answer questions about their purchase and location, just as I’ll be happy to answer any technical questions about their building.

Please reach out to get started with us on YOUR custom dream home!

Luxury Countertops

Luxury Countertops by Anderson Construction Group Inc

Luxury Countertops

Ever thought about stepping up your countertops with recycled materials? Well, not only are traditional countertop materials considered somewhat passé as design elements, they’re also largely made of nonrenewable resources! This will be a guide to assist you in finding a solution to both problems: a unique countertop piece that can be sustainably produced.

First, let’s look at our options for recycled luxury countertops. 

There are plenty of other eco-friendly choices as well, but just looking at recycled materials we have: reclaimed wood, glass, paper, and plastic.

Wood: can be salvaged from nearly anything, so there’s lots of design potential! It does have a tendency to chip, and needs frequent resealing. Has a wide price range, from sourcing your own to custom cut slabs.

Glass: made of glass pieces mixed into concrete & porcelain, looks like natural stone. No need to seal, nonporous, hard and durable. Notable drawbacks are difficulty to find, and the comparable price to granite.

Paper: a solid slab of compressed paper, sealed with natural resin. As it uses so much paper, this is a very eco friendly option. Easy to keep clean, tolerates heat, and only needs a fresh mineral oil seat every 6 months or so. Budget friendly!

Plastic: a near endless design range can be matched to any space. Very durable and easy to clean, but prone to burns and scratches. Also budget friendly!

As you can see, each material works beautifully for its specific purpose, and none of the workarounds are particularly difficult. To me, some regular resealing is well worth it for the impact of using environment-conscious materials! Earlier, I mentioned there being some eco-friendly but not recycled materials as well, perhaps the best of which is our honorable mention:

Bamboo: the plant grows so quickly without stripping its soil, making this a highly renewable resource. Like wood, it can look a variety of ways, and can be easily sanded down to remove imperfections. Requires regular sealing, and can be incredibly easy on a budget!

Check back next month for more cost-effective and eco-friendly home building tips!

Luxury Bathroom Building Tips

luxury bathroom by Anderson Construction Group Inc

I’ve heard from some folks along the way, “Is a luxury bathroom really worth it?” I’ll set the stage: it’s a chilly fall day, and you’re up early. You wrangle the kids out the door (late), pausing only to clean their cereal milk off every surface in the kitchen. It’s not until wiping lunch’s mess from your sleeve that you see the milk splashed across your sweater! Errands are chaos, and home is only louder, and with smaller people. You drop your soiled sweater in your room and fall through the bathroom door into…

An oasis. 

It’s calm, and quiet. The order and simplicity stand in such stark contrast to your messy day that for a moment, you can’t remember what was so messy. 

That moment (plus the one where you step into the custom-made shower with the water pressure to die for) is what makes a luxury bathroom so incredibly worth it.

As you make each of the countless decisions that shape YOUR oasis, picture what you did just there; imagine you’ve had that day, and design what you see as you fall through that bathroom door.

How does the floor feel under your feet? Choose the flooring that gives you that feeling! Is there light reflecting around the room? From what kind of fixture? You’ll want those, plus the mirrors, countertops, and cabinetry the light is bouncing off of. 

Not every luxury bathroom feature is so obviously visible.

If you’re picturing stepping out of the shower to comfortable warmth, you may want to consider underfloor heating or heat lamps. To really nail that oasis feeling, slightly soundproofed doors may keep the chaos at bay! However, with features like these, be sure to check with your contractor about proper ventilation and mildew-resistant finishes. 

There’s the key: to get your dream bathroom, walk through this exercise, take some notes, and share them! It’s not your job to know which features have what requirements. That takes education and experience. It’s your job to get the best bathroom possible, because let’s face it. There will always be another bowl of cereal coming your way! 

You deserve a refuge from the noise. Be prepared to build it in, and you can count on at least that moment of peace every single day.

Flooring

Flooring

It’s time to talk flooring. This can of worms awaits every home buyer, and ultimately brings the feel of a family into the house. There are so many possibilities, so many types to choose from! If you feel daunted by this task, this guide is for you. Let’s see what some of these options look like.

First, let’s go over the classic flooring choices, plus some newer, more eco-friendly alternatives!

Hardwood: durable, easy to clean, adds to home value, can be refinished, best in drier environments.

Carpet: inexpensive, relaxed feel, sound dampening, don’t forget the stain treatment!

Tile: moisture/stain resistant, easy to clean, more expensive.

Vinyl: extremely water resistant, can fit any design scheme, very durable, easy to install, affordable.

Engineered Hardwood: moisture resistant, can be refinished, looks like hardwood.

Bamboo: renewable material, durable, affordable, looks like hardwood.

Cork: renewable material, sound dampening, easy to clean, easily dented.

What To Do With All This Flooring?

Now, I’m sure you’ve picked up on some themes so far. Some materials are hardier, some more affordable, some more adaptable. With these ideas in mind, I want you to picture your home. Either the one you’re in, or your dream home, or both if you’re lucky! Pick a room, and picture what might happen there over the course of a day. Let’s start with the kitchen. 

Maybe you see yourself standing at the sink, splashing soapy water as you speed through the dishes. Perhaps your spouse is spilling a glass of wine as the dog runs to their food bowl. Do I hear the kids stomping through in yet another adventure for snacks?

As I list possibilities, I find that tile, vinyl, engineered hardwood, and bamboo are standing out most to me. Kitchen floors receive so much wear-and-tear through a day, you need a material that’s up to the task. From this short list, weigh your functional needs and design aesthetics, and the choice should become obvious!

Follow this exercise through your home. See what needs your rooms have, and don’t be afraid to mix and match to suit your family! There are many options when it comes to flooring. Don’t miss the opportunity to set up your home for success!

Rising Construction Costs And How To Beat Them

Rising Construction Costs And How To Beat Them

It’s true that rising construction costs deserve consideration when planning a new build. What’s NOT true is that they should stop you outright! We’re here to talk about ways you can cut costs on your new construction without sacrificing quality.

The primary costly areas to consider are materials and labor. These costs have increased 23.5% since the beginning of the pandemic, and a whopping 17.5% of that total came from 2020-2021. That’s the largest spike since 1970! However, watching the bottom line goes farther than simply shopping around for the cheapest wood and lowest quote.

Beating Rising Building Costs with the Right Materials

Material selection is huge in managing cost, as they dictate the amount of labor needed. For instance, stone siding is expensive, but not only because stone itself is pricy. Siding with stone is not a quick process, nor is it easy work. That’s going to add up to much more than, say, putting up some easy shiplap siding. 

Aesthetic value needs considered too! It is ok to want to cut costs and still have some design elements you wish to keep. That value is for you to weigh! You could even balance the amount of expensive materials. Love a stone finish? Split your exterior walls horizontally, and stone the bottom portion. That can keep cost down while keeping aesthetic up!

Don’t Forget to DIY

In any major build, you’ll need a professional for most of the work. However, if you talk to your builder about things you can do yourself, you might find some cost-cutting ways to be involved. For instance, when sourcing materials! Your builder can always get cheaper materials than you can from a store, and faster too. But, you can find recycled and up-cyclable materials while they’re working! Steel, wood, and concrete can all be recycled while holding great quality, and you can ask your builder about their experience and preferences as well. After all, the most important tip is to find a builder you can trust, and then:

TRUST YOUR BUILDER!

If you come in with a loose (but well-thought-out plan), communicate with your builder, and trust what they know, you’re well on your way to getting your dream house exactly how you want it, rising construction costs or not.

These are just a few tips, but the list goes on. Comment below if you’d like to see a part two!
Don’t forget to check out our other blogs for tips on long term sustainability as well.

Upgrades That Increase Value Pt. 2

Upgrades That Increase Value

Upgrades that increase value make up most of the choices faced by homeowners who are building their homes from scratch. In our last blog post, we covered some of the most common simple upgrades that increase both the value of a home, as well as its eco-friendliness (which also translates to wallet-friendliness)! In this post, we’ll be taking a look at some of the surprising pros and cons of such upgrades, and asking questions to see how well they work for us. For instance:

Is it Really an Upgrade?

There are some “upgrades” that, depending on your circumstances, may not be upgrades at all! Let’s see about a classic choice for home sustainability: Solar Panels. These are often the default when thinking about how to make your home more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

To ensure your home is ready for solar, you have much to consider. If a roof is too small, the panels won’t be able to absorb enough light. If your neighbors have tall trees or houses that shade your roof, they won’t get enough light. Perhaps your roof isn’t on an optimal angle (based on your location), they won’t get enough light. If your roof is angled the wrong direction relative to the sun, you guessed it! They won’t get enough light!

There is a structural aspect that is often overlooked, as well. It is important to determine if your roof is structurally engineered to handle the weight of the solar panels. If not, you may create a major problem without realizing it.

Provided you have the ability to accommodate all these needs, there’s one more important question: how long do you plan to stay in this house? Solar can be expensive, especially if you don’t qualify for the associated incentives and rebates. It can take years to achieve a return on the significant investment of solar panels the old-fashioned way!

However, let’s assume that money is no object. Your roof is ready for solar, and you have a great team standing by to install. According to a study by Zillow, solar panels increase home value by an average of 4.1 percent! Based on this information, you may well get your ROI (and then some) on closing day!

In Closing

As you can see, there are so many benefits to adding upgrades that increase value. From cutting down on costs for yourself, to making some extra money when selling, and even to providing future owners of your home the benefits of eco-friendly living as well! Make sure to assess your budget and the abilities of your builder when beginning a project. You might find that there’s even more in it for you that you think!

Upgrades That Increase Home Value

Upgrades that Increase Home Value

Upgrades that increase home value are a necessary consideration in any home building project. When starting from scratch, you come face-to-face with MANY choices. Handled effectively, these choices can ensure that your home not only saves you money while you inhabit it, but that it also makes you money upon its sale! Let’s take a look at some of the most common eco-friendly and value-adding options for building a home.

Easy Answers

There are some upgrades that, especially when added to new construction, are too good to pass up! For example:

Energy Efficient Windows– to make the most of the benefits of home orientation, choose windows that are designed to regulate temperature. They’ll reduce heat transfer to/from the outdoors, be more resistant to condensation, and prevent air leakage.  

Tankless Water Heater- also known as an “on-demand” water heater, it operates by warming water as it travels through the pipe, rather than holding a tank of water warm for hours on end. It uses FAR less energy, and reduces the experience of running out of hot water to an inconvenient thing of the past!

Attic/Garage Insulation- no matter what materials you use, insulating these often-ignored places can save you big! That said, many natural materials insulate FAR better than fiberglass, and are more sustainable. Simply ask your builder about eco-friendly options for your new construction.

Interior Wall Insulation- speaking of common places to miss an easy (and green!) upgrade, did you know insulating your interior walls could pile onto those savings for you? Rather than just space dividers, these walls make fantastic energy dividers too! Same as above, work with your builder to find the right materials for your project.

The benefits of each of these are so clear, you almost can’t help but include them in your build! In addition to quickly decreasing your energy bills, these are upgrades that increase home value in some very evident ways. However, not all of these choices are so easy.

Check back soon to read our next blog post, where we’ll go over the surprising pros and cons of one of the most recognizable options for an eco-friendly home: Solar panels!

error: Content is protected!!