Earth Advantage fits the profile for Stone Bridge Homes NW at 2012 Street of Dreams

By PHIL FAVORITE

Building a high-performance home takes more than a wink and a nod to energy efficiency and sustainability. It takes a company-wide belief in delivering the best possible product for your buyers.

That's why Stone Bridge Homes NW is the perfect builder for the 2012 NW Natural Street of Dreams, to be held July 25 through Aug. 26 at The Vineyard in West Linn; a home tour event showcasing million dollar custom homes.

"The Oregon Dream" House #3 Concept Drawing

All seven of the homes at this year's Street of Dreams will be built to Earth Advantage standards for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility — standards Stone Bridge Homes NW meets in every home it builds.

In fact, "The Oregon Dream" House #3 will be built to the same Earth Advantage Silver standards met by every newly built home by Stone Bridge Homes NW, a local Oregon company with a reputation for building sustainable, healthy homes.

Peter Brown, Earth Advantage

"The builders that do it in 100 percent of their homes are the true believers," said Peter Brown, director of residential services for Earth Advantage Institute. "They want to build the best home possible, and Stone Bridge Homes NW is one of the largest companies to make that 100-percent commitment to Earth Advantage."

Earth Advantage Institute is a locally based, non-profit organization that works with the building industry to help implement sustainable building practices and promote healthier living environments for new-home buyers. The program educates builders on responsible land-development practices and various ways to limit wasted materials, water and other resources.

According to Earth Advantage Institute, less than 20 percent of new homes built in Oregon are Earth Advantage certified.

Kelly Ritz, Stone Bridge Homes NW

"As a company, we always want our homes to be as good as they can be," said Kelly Ritz, president of Stone Bridge Homes NW. "By the nature of the beast, it's best to standardize the sustainable features so you can deliver a home that 's more cost-conscious."

For Stone Bridge Homes NW, that meant bringing its lead contractors up to speed on the Earth Advantage model through classes in sustainable home practices. There they learn how things such as jobsite recycling, selective landscaping, energy-efficient appliances and low VOC indoor paint can make a huge difference for both the environment and the health of the homebuyer.

Over the course of a few years, Stone Bridge Homes NW has become a statewide leader in Earth Advantage building.

"One thing that has set Stone Bridge Homes NW apart is how they have everybody on board from the top down," Brown said. "They are constantly innovating and have become a market leader.”

Such is the case at the 2012 Street of Dreams, where Stone Bridge Homes NW can demonstrate the benefits of Earth Advantage building on a large scale with its entry, “The Oregon Dream” House #3.

“Huge homes like those at Street of Dreams are sometimes not thought of as sustainable, but why shouldn’t these homes be efficient, too?” Brown said. “These homes can potentially use more recycled products than a smaller home.”

"This fits our philosophy. We want well-built homes," Ritz said. "These standards help us always be a little bit above code. Whether it's an 1,100-square-foot ranch or a Street of Dreams house, we want them all to include energy-saving features that will benefit our buyers."