What does it mean to be Earth Advantage® Certified?

Earth Advantage scores homes based on a worksheet that covers all aspects of construction. Builders earn points by choosing more sustainable construction methods and materials over less sustainable ones. The categories include interior air quality, environmental responsibility, energy efficiency and resource efficiency. The standards Earth Advantage has created target an energy usage of at least 15% less than a home built using the minimum building code. To be Earth Advantage Certified a home must score minimum of 90 points. That qualifies it for a Silver rating. To earn a Gold rating, a score of 120 points, and for a Platinum rating a total of 140 points must be earned. To see the points worksheet Click here.

What is the cost to build a Silver level home? What about Gold and Platinum.

Most builders should be able to attain a Silver level for about $3,800 in labor and materials. Much of it can be done for very little money by considering the Earth Advantage standards in the design process. Things like implementing a waste management plan, reducing house size and taking care to cover the construction site with erosion control materials are examples of low cost solutions.

At Miranda Homes we choose to build to a minimum of a Gold level certification. Reaching this level takes more planning and some better material choices. Some of how we reach a Gold level is by using Insulated Concrete Forms for our foundations and Spray Foam Insulation to seal the home against weather. We also use engineered steel studs, advanced framing systems, a home-run plumbing distribution system and an air management system to maximize energy usage and improve the quality of the interior air. We include a conditioned crawl space, rigid foam exterior insulation, a heat pump and run all heating ducts within conditioned space. The additional expense for these items and the other quality, energy efficient products we use comes to about $14,000 over a code built home.

Platinum level certification is the highest award Earth Advantage offers and Miranda Homes will build to this level based on customer requests. To reach Platinum level Miranda Homes includes all of the items used to reach Gold level certification as well as additional landscape planning. The location of the property and its proximity to shopping and public transit must also be considered. To reach this level adds approximately $18,000 in cost over a code built home.

At Miranda Homes we work hard to offset these extra costs through efficiencies in engineering, purchasing and processes.

But we don't do all of this for the certificate. We take these steps to give our customers homes that:

• Reduce carbon footprints - Our Platinum homes produce approximately 5.3 tons less carbon per year than the average home. (Click Here to see what a ton of carbon looks like)


• Reduce utility costs - Our Platinum homes reduce energy bills by an average of 50% over traditional homes.


• Increase the life of the home - All of our homes are estimated by The Office of Sustainable Development to last 100 years longer than a code built home.


• Bring a higher resale value - Earth Advantage homes are proven to shorten time on the market and bring higher prices. (Read a story HERE)
  


• Reduced waste in landfills - Our recycling program diverts 75% of construction waste to reuse. (approximately 7,500 pounds per home)

As you'll see from the points worksheet, there are many ways to reach the different Earth Advantage levels. Some are more expensive than others but some have a much higher payback in reduced utility costs and improved lifestyle benefits. Every builder of an Earth Advantage certified home has completed the points worksheet and most will be glad to share it with you.

To learn more about Earth Advantage and the certification process for new homes click here. For more information about how Miranda Homes reaches Gold and Platinum levels call us at 503-658-4818. We'll be glad to show you our points worksheets.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

“Built-In” versus “Bolt-On” Performance

You may have heard the saying, “You can’t un-ring a bell.” Sometimes you just can’t go back and change things.

When a fruit grower decides to grow organic fruit they change their whole way of doing things. There’s no way to make fruit organic after the fact. There’s no “Bolt-On” alternative to doing things right from the start.

When Toyota created the Prius they didn’t start with a Corolla and bolt on an electric motor. They started from scratch to build a whole new car. It has new wheels, a new transmission, a new computerized dashboard, and a new drive system. Every component was reconsidered with the whole vehicle in mind. The result is the most popular hybrid car on the market and the rest of the automotive industry has begun to follow.

The same is true when building homes. We can’t start thinking about energy efficiency, lifespan, health and comfort of a home after it’s built. There are certain essential components that just have to be built in. It starts with a clean slate and reconsideration of every component with the whole house in mind.

Solar panels can be bolted on and energy efficient appliances can be installed but after a furnace and duct work have been installed in the garage it’s not feasible to move them into conditioned space. An insulated foundation, without vents, that includes an earth slab and vapor barrier cannot be installed after the fact. Replacing traditional batting insulation with spray foam insulation would require gutting the inside perimeter of the house. There is simply no alternative to doing things right from the beginning.

We call it, “Built-In Performance” and we don’t build homes without it.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Miranda Homes Announces Free Energy Performance Evaluation

Home Builder will team with Earth Advantage to give home buyers tools for comparison.

Miranda Homes has teamed with Earth Advantage to put together a unique offer for home buyers. For a limited time, prospective home buyers can receive a free Energy Performance Evaluation of their current home for comparison against other homes they are considering.

Similar to the MPG sticker in the window of a new car, an Energy Performance Evaluation gives home shoppers a way to compare homes they are considering against each other. Earth Advantage evaluates energy efficiency and carbon output of a home by taking into consideration insulation, windows, fixtures, design and several other factors. The evaluation takes a few hours and normally costs $500-700 to complete.

The offer from Miranda Homes provides the first ten responding Oregon residents with a free evaluation on their current home, as long as it is on the market or they have a mortgage pre-approval letter from a bank.

For more information about Earth Advantage visit their website at www.earthadvantage.com . To schedule a tour of one of Miranda’s homes and to take advantage of this offer please call Miranda Homes at 503-658-4818 and ask about the free Energy Performance Evaluation.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

The True Cost of Home Ownership

Today, more than ever, it’s vitally important to take all of a home’s costs into account when considering which one to buy.

Your mortgage broker can calculate your monthly payment quickly and easily. Property taxes and hazard insurance tend to go up over time, but generally not too drastically. There are some expenses however, that home buyers often underestimate; energy is one.

Energy costs have been increasing faster than incomes over the past few years. The newer methods for generating electricity, although “greener”, are not any less expensive. There doesn’t seem to be any near term relief in the cost of a unit of energy but if we can reduce how many units we use we can relieve the strain on the infrastructure and our own wallets. That’s where conservation comes into play.

By choosing a home that uses half, or less than half, of the energy a typical home uses, a family can regain control over the amount they spend on energy.

How do you determine which houses are efficient and which aren’t?

Just like the MPG sticker in the window of a new car there’s a scoring system for homes that gives consumers a way to compare. It’s called an Energy Performance Score or EPS. It was developed by Energy Trust of Oregon. You can learn more about it HERE.

Energy Trust of Oregon can arrange to provide an EPS on any home, old or new, but most builders should be able to provide you one for any home you’re considering buying.

Just as you wouldn’t consider purchasing a new car without knowing what its fuel mileage is, you should consider a home’s EPS before you make your final decision.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Turns Out that Size Really Does Matter.....

When it comes to house size, statistics say that, for most people, smaller is better. As the glut of homes over 2,500 square feet languish on the market buyers are flocking to smaller, more efficient homes, just like the people who used to drive Hummers are looking at smaller more efficient vehicles. People’s thinking is shifting from square footage to carbon footprints. Pride of ownership is shifting from excess to efficiency.

As the status symbols of the last 10 years are changing they are opening the doors for advancements in technology as they relate to sustainable building. Alternative energy sources are being introduced, insulation is getting better, foundations are improving and off gassing from paints and adhesives are being reduced, just to name a few.

Miranda Homes’ goal is to be at the forefront of these technological advances while keeping an eye on attainability. “Green” homes with price tags that are 30% higher than other homes cannot become main stream because most people can’t afford them. At Miranda Homes we applaud and encourage all builders who raise the expectations of their customers by providing durable, comfortable, sustainable, efficient homes that are low maintenance and long lasting at prices that they can afford.


Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes
Attainably Sustainable.

The Importance of a Clean Furnace

You may have never considered what a furnace can go through before you ever live in a house. It is commonly used by subcontractors to help dry out the inside of the home and to speed up the process of sheet rock mud, tape and texture. The problem is that during construction there is a substantial amount of dust and debris in the air. Sheet rock dust is especially fine and stays airborne easily. When the furnace is running it sucks all of that matter into return vents, through the furnace and out through the ducts. Unfortunately, it leaves dust behind that the homeowner has to deal with for a very long time.

The furnace should never be used until the home is completed. All registers also need to be sealed with a durable material to keep construction debris and dust out. The furnace itself should be sealed in plastic to keep it clean as well. The best way to tell if you're looking at a furnace that wasn't subjected to construction debris is to pull a couple of the register vents out and look inside. The ducts should be clean and free of sheet rock scraps or other debris. You should also pull the filter out of the furnace and look inside for dust.

Using the furnace during construction may seem like an unimportant shortcut but it can have a long lasting negative impact on interior air quality for the homeowners.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Electricity Versus Gas

There are really only two common options for energy in today's homes; natural gas and electricity. Several factors contributed to our decision to standardize on electric appliances as opposed to gas. Arguments exist supporting both fuel types as being more environmentally friendly, however we believe the future will increasingly favor electricity as a means of tapping renewable sources. Even now, gas is almost entirely fossil-based. Electricity, on the other hand, already has several renewable technologies employed.

This is why homes that are "off grid" are largely electric. The technology exists for on-site generation of electricity in sufficient quantities to make it possible for a home’s production to exceed its consumption. Similar technology for natural gas is decades away. As the requirements approaching "net zero" or "zero carbon" homes are implemented over the next 20 years, we think homes will be forced to utilize electric fuel from renewable sources at ever increasing rates. This part of the country already has abundant, cheap, relatively clean electrical power generation. Building our homes with this in mind will put our customers in a better position to take advantage of future technological advances.

Electricity is universally consumed and unmatched in its capacity to fulfill all the energy demands of the house: heating, cooling, lights, cooking, and electronics - whereas, a home with a gas furnace will still need to have electricity to run the blower. Being entirely electric improves efficiency because we deal with fewer utility companies and our customers will have the convenience of fewer bills each month. Additionally we can eliminate the minimum meter rental charge that gas companies apply to each home whether or not any gas is used in a month. This charge is typically around $13 per month for an average household. Selecting the 100% renewable energy option through Portland General Electric will add $9 to the average household electricity bill.

Some customers may insist that they prefer gas appliances, and it will be simple to accommodate them – at an environmental cost. But to set a standard for a high performing home, all electric is simply better.

Loren Hanson - Miranda Homes

What Should Be in Every New Home and Why --Part 7-- Hidden Details

Many aspects of a home and its construction are covered up with the finishes. Sheetrock and carpet hide floor decking, fasteners and poor quality materials. What's under the cosmetics is very important to the longevity of your home and the comfort and security you'll experience while you live there.

Ask the builder: Was this home built from architectural plans or from engineering plans?
Historically, homes have been built from a set of architectural plans. These plans are a two dimensional guideline. It is similar to trying to build a car with a photograph and some notes. There is a significant amount of room for errors in translation by builders. Engineering is done in a three dimensional environment. Every aspect of the construction is completed on the computer prior to building. In a three dimensional environment designers are able to look at a home from every angle on the computer which exposes issues before they’re experienced on the jobsite.

Ask the builder: What is the thickness of the floor decking?
Floor decking is what’s under the floor covering. Most builders use ¾” plywood. You’ll notice a big difference with 1 1/8” tongue and groove plywood. It provides a more solid surface and is quieter than thinner decking. If you want to check for yourself, look at the crawlspace access door. You’ll be able to see from the profile exactly what is being used. Many builders will use less expensive materials here because they don’t think you’ll ask or that you’ll check for yourself.
(While you have the crawlspace access door open, look inside to see if there is a concrete slab or just a plastic sheet over dirt.)

Ask the builder: What types of fasteners were used to build the home?
Did you know that screws provide 30% more strength than nails? They also tend to squeak less. Look for builders who use screws rather than nails as fasteners.

Ask the builder: What measures have you taken to ensure the roof doesn’t leak?
There are many new products available today that help ensure a better sealed roof. Starting with the felt paper, (which is the base layer of the roof) better builders use improved staples that include a plastic cap. The cap helps seal the hole created by the staple and minimizes the possibility of the felt paper tearing at the entry point.

Roof valleys are another particularly susceptible area and can be improved with the use of an ice and water shield between the felt paper and the metal flashing.
Mark Mecklem- Miranda Homes

What Should Be in Every New Home and Why --Part 6-- Contractor / Subcontractors

At the surface, it may look like most homes are built by professional homebuilders. In truth, most home construction is run by a contractor but built by 20 or more subcontractors.

Ask the builder: Was this home built by a single professional builder or by many subcontractors each completing a small part of the process?

Subcontractors (or “Subs”) tend to be concerned with their own piece of the process. They don’t generally worry about the other subcontractors or how their work affects the work of others. Shoddy work has to be dealt with by the trades that follow. It is common to see a jobsite sit for days at a time with no one working on it because one sub is waiting on another, who is waiting on another, etc. That wasted time can add several months to the process and is transferred to the home buyer as extra costs in the form of interest and insurance payments made by the developer or construction loan interest by the homeowner.
By contrast, a professional builder efficiently schedules, completes, and takes full responsibility for every aspect of the home. It is a common impression that faster construction equates to lower quality. In fact, organized building processes reduce build time, increase quality control, and reduce costs. You’ll notice that homes built by professional builders are completed much more quickly (45 days or less) because of the control they have over scheduling. The assembly crew completes every part of the process. Any shoddy work they pass on is to themselves, so it is in each individual’s best interest to complete each task correctly.

Ask the builder: Who do I call with issues or questions?

It is common for contractors to refer questions to the subcontractor who completed the specific task in question. Often times it is not clear who the responsible party is. Subcontractors point fingers at each other leaving the homeowner powerless and the issue unresolved. When homes are built by a single responsible professional homebuilder issues can be resolved quickly and efficiently.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

What Should Be in Every New Home and Why --Part 5-- Siding / Exterior Insulation

Home construction has evolved over time. As we understand more about the environment and how the materials we use affect livability, new technologies have been introduced that have the added benefit of longevity with low maintenance.

Ask the builder: Was exterior insulation used?
The best way to boost the insulating value of your walls is to reduce the impact of temperature differences before they get to the structure. Builders who use a double vapor barrier exterior insulation have taken the extra steps to seal your home against weather.

Ask the builder: What were the conditions the home was painted in?
Many homes are painted on site under whatever conditions were present. Maybe the home was painted on a dry, overcast 70 degree day. Maybe not. Look for builders who use long-lasting cement based siding that was painted in a factory under controlled conditions. Ask about guarantees too. You should expect a finish that doesn’t need to be repainted for at least 15 years and siding that’s guaranteed for at least 30 years. When a manufacturer has a 15 year finish guarantee and a 50 year materials guarantee it says something about their confidence.
Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

What Should be in Every New Home and Why -- Part 4-- HVAC

The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System (HVAC System) of a home has a huge impact on comfort and air quality. It consists of much more than an efficient furnace or heat pump. It’s an entire air management system that regulates fresh air, efficiently moves conditioned air, and ensures proper evacuation of “dirty” air.

Ask the builder: How is air quality managed?
Air quality management consists of temperature control, moisture control, introduction of fresh air and evacuation of “dirty” air. This doesn’t all happen by accident. Look for builders who consider all aspects of air quality management by incorporating active systems with monitoring and control over air quality and exchange.

Ask the builder: Do all of the air ducts run within conditioned space?
Air ducts simply perform better when they’re within conditioned space. Metal is a great conductor of heat so metal ducts will quickly transfer temperature. When they’re in unconditioned space the difference in air temperature greatly affects the efficiency of your HVAC system. Any heat transfer the ducts allow should be within the space you’re trying to heat or cool so that the energy being used isn’t wasted. Sometimes you'll see an attempt to insulate ducts that run in unconditioned crawl spaces or attics. It’s a bandage that treats the symptom rather than the root.
Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Next: Exterior Insulation and Siding

What Should be in Every New Home and Why -- Part 3-- Insulation

Homes that conform to new code are better than last year’s homes, but do you want a home that just conforms to code or one that takes advantage of technology, considers energy conservation, raises livability to a whole new level, and does so affordably?

Ask the builder: What type of insulation is in the home?

Fiberglass batting and blown-in fiberglass insulation have been the choice of most home builders for the last 50 years. More recently, other types of insulation have gained popularity as we study how fiberglass fails when outside temperatures fall below 45 degrees. According to a study at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, funded by the Department of Energy, the printed “R” values of batting insulation are inaccurate.
The study states that:
• “R-19” labeled fiberglass batts have an actual R-value of 17.4 before they are installed.
• “R-19” fiberglass batts have an actual R-value of 17.0 when installed “perfectly”
• “R-19” fiberglass batts have an actual R-value of 13.7 when installed as commonly found in actual walls. This represents a 28% loss in the actual R-value versus what is printed on the label.
(Read the details of the study at http://envirosealfoam.com/fiberglassbatts.pdf)

Make sure any home you’re considering uses open cell spray foam insulation. Open cell spray foam insulation expands during its application which helps it find and fill every crevice that might leak air. Batting leaves gaps around its perimeter in every wall cavity and at any seams. It’s impossible to squeeze it into all of the possible air leaks even if the installer can find them. In addition, open cell foam does not allow moisture transfer as fiberglass batting does.

Ask the builder: How many air changes per hour in this home?

Air Changes per Hour (or ACH) are calculated using a blower door test where all of the doors and windows are closed and the front door is replaced with a sealed fan that creates a controlled negative pressure inside the home. A gauge measures how many times the air inside the home is completely changed in an hour under this negative pressure. The ACH score of a home reveals how tightly sealed against outside infiltration it is. A lower score represents a more tightly sealed home.

The typical house, built to current code, usually scores 10 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). To qualify for the Energy Star rating a house can score no higher than 7 ACH. Look for a score of under 3 ACH for homes that are 70% better than standard homes. Infiltration typically represents 25-30% of the heating and cooling cost of a house so its ACH score is important. Lower energy usage is better for the homeowner and for the environment.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Next: Part 4 - Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning

What Should be in Every New Home and Why --Part 2-- Framing

Part 2 - Framing
Your walls play a huge part in energy efficiency. If your home is built in the rainy season, make sure it’s with materials that can stand this environment. If it’s built with lumber, understand its limitations.

Ask the builder: What material was used for framing?
Why does it matter?
Many builders today use wood for framing homes. It’s easy to find sources of wood and it’s relatively easy to find people who can work with wood. But, wood has its shortcomings. When it gets wet it holds moisture for a long time; far longer than most builders are willing to wait before finishing the interior of a home. It can take weeks, months, or even longer for wet wood, sealed inside walls, to dry. In the mean time, mold and rot have the perfect environment to establish a foot-hold; warm, damp, organic material. When it does dry, wood doesn’t remain the same size and the same shape as it was when it was wet. So, as they dry, wood walls change shape resulting in visibly noticeable warping and cracked sheetrock. Get close to the wall and look down its length. If it’s wood, and it isn’t warped yet, it may not be dried out.

Builders may tell you that they avoid these problems by using kiln dried lumber. If so, ask them what steps have been taken since it left the mill to ensure that it stayed perfectly dry. As soon as wood is exposed to moisture it begins to absorb it. It's a natural property of trees. Without it they would not be able to draw in water and nutrients to survive. Cutting down a tree and drying it doesn't change its tendency to absorb water.

There’s a reason commercial buildings are framed with steel and it’s not because it’s cheaper. Builders of commercial buildings understand the benefits of steel. It has a longer lifespan than wood, does not retain water, remains dimensionally stable and creates less waste than wood framing. It is not susceptible to insects, rot or mold and it’s not combustible. Most of the steel used in framing is 100% post-consumer recycled material as well.

Ask the builder: Where was the framing done for this home and what are the benefits?
Framing homes on-site is quickly becoming a method of the past. In fact, 47% of homes built on the East Coast today are framed in a plant. By framing in a plant and delivering completed wall sections to the jobsite for assembly, builders can ensure their quality. In a plant environment jigs and fixtures can be used to build walls that are perfectly square, windows can be installed and sealed, waste can be properly managed, and strict quality control measures can be employed. Walls can be built in a plant in less time, under better working conditions. When they are delivered to the jobsite they can be assembled in a matter of hours rather than days.

Ask the builder: What is the Quality Control process you use?
Every builder should have a written quality control process. Ask to see it, as well as the QC Inspector’s sign-offs for the construction of the home. If the builder has them they will be proud to show you. Look for detailed sign off sheets for each wall that show they were inspected for proper assembly and quality of materials.
Builders may try to convince you that the local building inspectors ensure they meet requirements. But, keep in mind, local inspectors are charged with inspecting for health and safety aspects of a structure. They are not responsible for accuracy, aesthetics or quality.

Ask the builder: What is your waste management plan during construction?
Every builder should have a waste management plan. According to the Office of Sustainable Development, four pounds of waste are created during construction for each square foot of a typical home. That means, in a typical 1,700 square foot house, 6,800 pounds of waste are created. That adds up quickly in a neighborhood of 100 homes. Make sure your builder is doing everything possible to reduce that amount of waste and recycling everything they can. Look for a plan that targets 1 pound per square foot with 95% of that being recycled.
Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes
Next Post: Part 3 - Insulation.

What Should be in Every New Home and Why --Part 1-- Insulated Foundation

Preface - The Builder and the Realtor
Usually, when looking at new homes, you’ll be dealing with the Realtor. A Realtor can be a valuable ally during the transaction and with facilitating your home shopping. But, in many cases, the Realtor won’t be able to adequately answer the tough questions you’ll want to ask if they weren't involved in the build process. If they can’t, ask to speak directly with the builder of any new home you’re considering buying. If the Realtor stands in the way, there’s a reason. The builder doesn’t want to deal with you.

Part 1 - Insulated Foundation
Your foundation should do more than just hold your house up. It should contribute to the energy efficiency of your home. It should be able to deal with moisture, reasonable earth movement, resist pests, and control outside environmental effects. If all of this is done, it allows the designers to utilize space they couldn’t otherwise and allows the home owner to access space they were uncomfortable entering before. It also adds to the comfort and longevity of the home.

Ask the builder: Does this home have a sealed, insulated foundation?
By using insulated concrete forms builders can eliminate the vents that let in insects, rodents and cold moist air. By adding a concrete slab that covers the dirt floor of the traditional crawl space and introducing conditioned air the “stack effect” can be eliminated as well. The stack effect is most severe when heating the home as the warmer indoor air rises up through the building and escapes through open windows or ventilation openings. The rising warm air reduces the pressure in the crawl space of the building, pulling cold, moist air through the foundation vents and into the home. As the air works its way up through the home it deposits moisture in the insulation under the floor, the carpet, the furniture and the inside of the walls. That moisture shortens the lifespan of your home, reduces the quality of the air you breathe and makes the home less comfortable. An added benefit to sealing and insulating the foundation and introducing conditioned air is that air vents and plumbing can be run underneath the home without being subject to outside air temperatures. By keeping these systems in conditioned space, energy consumption is greatly reduced.

Ask the builder: Does this home have foundation drains?
All homes should be built with foundation drains. Not all homes are built with foundation drains. It’s a shortcut that saves the builder a little time and a little money but that has a huge negative impact on the quality and longevity of your home. Without water management around the base of your home it is subject to more earth movement, erosion and water in the crawlspace. At a minimum, the builder should use a drainage system around a home but, even better, is a footing form that includes water and radon gas evacuation. By using a footing form drain, water is managed on both sides of the foundation wall and under the concrete slab.

Ask the Builder: Is this a monolithic pour foundation?

A monolithic pour is when all of the footings, foundation walls and earth slab are poured at one time. The biggest benefit of a monolithic pour is its strength. When all of the concrete is poured at the same time it all becomes one cohesive piece. Many builders set up plywood forms for the footings one day, and then come back the next day to pour concrete. The day following the footing pour they return to strip the forms. Later, they come back and repeat the process for the foundation walls. If they pour an earth slab, it is done in a third step. This method creates a foundation with a break between the footing and the walls which is not as strong or tightly sealed as a monolithic foundation. In addition, because a monolithic pour is completed in a single day, it requires the crew to drive to the job site one time rather than about ten times, and the concrete pump truck to travel to the jobsite one time rather than three. So, a monolithic pour makes a stronger foundation and does so with less environmental impact. Why wouldn’t every builder do it that way?

Ask the builder: Does this foundation take advantage of the thermal energy of the earth?
By excavating to the proper depth, the foundation of a home can take advantage of the constant 55 degree temperature of the earth. That means that when it is 25 degrees outside you have a head start on heating your home as the foundation collects that 55 degree temperature. Conversely, when it’s 90 degrees outside, you have a head start on cooling your house. It’s part of the energy efficiency of a home that many builders overlook.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Next week: Part 2 - Framing.

What Should Be in Every New Home and Why

Can you imagine buying a new car without seatbelts? They just aren’t available because certain features are demanded, by law and by consumers, as essential in every new car. So, what should be demanded as essential in a new home?

New homes should be:

• Efficient – They should use energy sparingly and wisely.
• Attractive – They should have the features that give you pride as a homeowner.
• Comfortable – They should give you complete control over temperature, humidity and air quality.
• Long Lasting – They should last 100 years or more.
• Pest Resistant – They should use materials and methods that inhibit rodents and insects.
• Easy to Maintain – They should not require excessive time or money in upkeep.
• Environmentally Friendly to Build – They should not create excessive waste or environmental disruption during construction.
• Safe – They should be fire resistant, mold resistant and not create harmful off-gasses.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be publishing some key features that you should look for when deciding on which new home to purchase. You’ll be armed with the information most builders don’t want you to know. You’ll be able to ask the questions that will eliminate the poorly built homes from your list of possibilities.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Map to Bella Ponte Cino - Lot 4

Below is a map to a home we're building in Clackamas. The address is 14056 SE Sierra Drive, Clackamas, Oregon 97015.

If you would like a personalized tour please call Larry Quilliam at 503-970-7061.

Miranda Homes Uses Game Changing Technology

Miranda Homes poured the foundation today on what promises to be a game-changer in the housing market. This foundation is just the beginning of a development of highly energy efficient homes being built in Clackamas this summer.



Not only are the homes highly energy efficient, they are being built to be affordable. Owner, Rob Boydstun, said,”We have developed methods and materials that allow us to create comfortable, attractive homes that are environmentally conscious and that are priced competitively with traditionally built homes.” Their methods and materials also allow Miranda to deliver completed homes fewer than 60 days from ground breaking.

Energy efficiency for this home has been projected at up to 50% over a traditionally built home of the same floor plan.

Larry Quilliam of Windermere Realty was on site for the pour. According to Larry, new homes built in 2009 in the Portland, Milwaukie, Clackamas, Oregon City and Lake Oswego areas total 255 (price range between $200,000 and $500,000), but only 99 actually exist or are under construction. “Citing data from the RMLS”, Larry said, “99 homes represent only 1.1% of the market. It is hard for those people who want to see something new in that price range to find a house to look at today.”



The home started today has already been sold. Two more homes using different plans will start within 30 days. Miranda Homes will be building a total of 50 homes in the development which will be available starting in mid September.

For more information please contact Mark Mecklem at 503-658-4818 or mmecklem@mirandahomes.com
Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Read About us in the Oregonian

We are in the Oregonian today. You'll find us on the cover of the Homes and Gardens section.



Here's a link.

"Junked Cars Morph into Green Homes"

Stay tuned for more....