Female-owned custom homebuilder Greenbrook Homes' latest project in Dallas, Texas, awarded LEED Gold certification by USGBC for achievement in green homebuilding, design

Michelle Rivera

DALLAS , October 7, 2011 (press release) – Greenbrook Homes, a female-owned custom homebuilding company founded in 2008, has proven that building high-level LEED homes doesn't have to break the bank. Recently, Greenbrook's latest project, 6218 Llano in Dallas, TX, was awarded LEED Gold certification by USGBC for achievement in green homebuilding and design. LEED for Homes is a green home certification program that rewards homes that are designed and built to be energy and resource efficient and more healthy and durable for the occupants. LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live.

Owner Angela Branan states, "By building homes that are achieving high-level LEED certifications in line with market comparables in the Dallas neighborhood of Lakewood Heights, we have shown that having a dark green home isn't just for the elite anymore."

"People think dark green construction can't be achieved at market cost," says Scott Branan, President of Greenbrook Homes, "But it can -- you just have to study how all the pieces fit together.

"Our vendors have dubbed us the mad scientists of green building because we are achieving efficiencies that no one thought were possible with the materials that we are using. For example, we were able to achieve the same stats of a very expensive, fully foam-encapsulated home, but achieved this using a more cost -effective hybrid approach. In addition, our extensive product knowledge allows us to provide our clients with green options at price points similar to traditional materials."

In addition to building highly energy- and water-efficient homes at market cost, Greenbrook also builds homes that fit in with the style of the neighborhood. "By building a craftsman style home, we wanted to prove that green doesn't necessarily mean building a strange, ultra-modern home out of soda bottles and tires," says Angela.

Scott and Angela are passionate about building dark green homes that are not only energy efficient and environmentally friendly, but are also healthier for their clients. "The air people breathe inside is so much more polluted than outside air due to the chemicals and VOCs in traditional homes, which leads to all sorts of medical problems. I have an eleven month old...this stuff matters," states Angela.

"We spend 90% of our time indoors, and where we live and work has a significant impact on our health and well-being," said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development, U.S. Green Building Council. "By achieving certification, 6218 Llano in Dallas is a home that a family will truly love to come home to, because it's a healthier, high-performing place to live."

6218 Llano was built as a spec home, but sold almost immediately after completion. "While demand for traditional residential construction is slowing, the green housing market continues to grow, and 6218 Llano is a great example of why this is," said Kredich. "LEED-certified homes are healthier places to live, produce lower utility bills, have better air quality, and leave a smaller environmental footprint behind."

"If you can live in a healthier, more efficient, and more environmentally conscious home without paying more than the home down the street, why wouldn't you?" Scott asks.

About Greenbrook Homes

Founded in 2008 by Scott and Angela Branan, Greenbrook Homes has quickly become the market leader in building dark green, energy-efficient homes in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. Greenbrook Homes was founded with a unique combination of experience in new home construction, real estate, and personal training. The couple wanted to build cleaner, greener homes for families in the Dallas area, homes that were better for the environment as well as their clients' personal health. Greenbrook Homes also has a thriving remodeling division.

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