This is a text-only page for the visually impaired and screen readers. Click here for the full graphics site: www.VandeMusser.com Page 1 - Welcome to VandeMusser Design, PLLC! Headquartered in beautiful Asheville, NC, VandeMusser Design provides technical consulting and certification services for green residential construction to builders, architects, developers, and homeowners in Western North Carolina and the surrounding areas of Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Please contact us at: Page 2 - Our Services Overwhelmed by all the parts and pieces of green building? We completely understand and are here to help you! We are here to assist you with all of the steps in the green building process, regardless of whether you are renovating or adding on to an existing home, designing a new home, or certifying the construction of a new home. Read on to learn more about how we can help you with every process along the way - from initial design all the way through to the completion of your renovation or new home! Section A - Existing Homes Home Energy Audits are available to owners of existing homes who are concerned about the energy performance of their home and would like an independent analysis of their options. The process is specifically targeted toward energy performance, but since houses operate as a complex and highly integrated system, many homeowners also obtain insights and feedback that improve comfort, indoor air quality, and combustion safety. There are three levels of audits that can be performed: A level 1 audit typically includes walkthrough and visual inspection of key existing conditions. At the completion of the audit the homeowner will be given a menu of possible improvements and recommendations. A level 2 audit typically includes a Level 1 Audit plus diagnostic testing using a blower door and duct blaster to measure airtightness of the ductwork and building envelope. This can be useful for the do-it-yourselfer or for homeowners who would like to have diagnostics performed prior to scheduling air sealing work. Documentation given to the homeowner will also include the test results with a short guide on how to interpret them. A level 3 audit typically includes walkthrough and visual inspection of existing conditions, including measurements of existing building surfaces, and computer energy modeling. The homeowner will receive recommendations and a menu of possible improvements, as well as a Home Energy Rating Certificate for the home, with estimated energy usage and carbon emissions. The documentation for this level of audit can include cost payback analysis for improvements and information necessary for energy efficient mortgage programs. Thermography: Thermal imaging can be added to any of the above packages for an additional fee. Thermal imaging can be useful to visually identify defects in insulation performance, other building components that contribute to heat loss, and can sometimes show routes of moisture entry and help diagnose the extent of moisture problems. Thermography is most effective when there is a 20 degree temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, so we will try to schedule that with you at a time when that can be achieved. The thermography package includes a report that contains your photos and a brief description of what is being shown in each. Once we have identified the issues in your house and how to fix them, we promise not to leave you high and dry to figure out who to hire to fix them! We have a large network of qualified professionals we work with who can assist you with any energy-related improvement projects you may want to tackle after having an energy audit done. As a third-party consultant, we have no issues with making multiple recommendations so that you can get competitive prices, allowing you to get the most for your money. We do understand that each house is unique and different combinations of tests and inspections may be necessary to identify specific problems – we are more than happy to tailor our approach to your needs and/or budget. Section B - The Energy Star Homes Program The ENERGY STAR Homes program allows builders to provide a "miles per gallon" sticker for their homes (also known as a HERS rating), and is an important way that builders can demonstrate that they are building quality homes. More information is available at the Energy Star for New Homes website. Section C - The HealthyBuilt Homes Program HealthyBuilt Homes (HBH) is a statewide program in North Carolina that provides a certificate for builders who meet "green home" guidelines. These guidelines emphasize comfort, health, energy and water conservation, site preservation, and renewable energy use. This certification includes ENERGY STAR certification plus inspection of additional items specific to the HealthyBuilt Homes program. More information is available at the NC HealthyBuilt Homes website and the Western NC Green Building Council website. We are trained and certified to provide the third-party, independent inspections and verifications required for ENERGY STAR and HealthyBuilt Homes, which include (but are not limited to): design review, modeling using REMRate software,thermal bypass/framing inspection, insulation inspection, testing for leakage in the HVAC duct system, testing for airtightness of the building envelope, and various site inspections for the HealthyBuilt Home checklist. Section D - LEED for Homes LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. LEED for Homes is designed to provide national consistency in defining the features of a green home and represents a consensus standard for green home building developed and refined by a diverse group of national experts and experienced green builders. Due to the intensive nature of the LEED For Homes certification process, it may or may not be the ideal certification for a particular new home. It is intended to be the "gold standard" of green certifications, and because of this, can be more expensive than other certifications like EnergyStar and HealthyBuilt Home. Please let us know if you are interested in the LEED for Homes certification process - we can answer any questions you may have! More information is available at the USGBC LEED For Homes website. Section E - NAHB Green Certification VandeMusser Design is trained and certified as an NAHB Green Verifier. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has come up with their own green certification. There are three green home certification levels available in the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. (An additional Emerald level will be available in the National Green Building Standard.) The green levels and certifications address seven key green construction areas: Site, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Homeowner Education, Global Impact. It also includes an online scoring tool and a wealth of educational tools and resources for home builders and home buyers. Like LEED For Homes, the NAHB Green certification is a nation-wide program that allows builders from all across the country to be judged by a national green standard. More information is available at the NAHB Green Certification website. Section F - Modular Housing Plant Certification As third-party modular plant certifiers, VandeMusser Design can assist modular housing manufacturers in certifying their facilities as ENERGY STAR-compliant plants. The ENERGY STAR Modular Home Qualifying Program is designed to take advantage of and leverage the quality control and building methods already used in modular construction. Highlights of the program include:
Section G - Design Consultations We have extensive experience and expertise in building energy analysis and building envelope design, and can assist during the design phase to help make a house as efficient as possible. We can work with homeowners, architects, or builders to assist in making design decisions including: insulation type / strategies, building materials, heating / cooling strategies, or passive solar performance. Manual J / D Calculations: While often done in-house by your HVAC contractor, we are also able to provide heating and cooling calculations using "Manual J" software. A Manual J analysis ensures properly sized cooling equipment, which provides better moisture control. A Manual D computer analysis ensures properly sized ductwork on a room-by-room basis, providing improved thermal comfort and airflow. This goes hand-in-hand with the Manual J analysis to ensure that a properly-sized mechanical system is specified for your house. Page 3 - Frequently Asked Questions We certainly understand that many people who contact us are new to the process of green building. There’s a lot of information out there, and it can be overwhelming. Our goal is to make sure you understand why we make the recommendations we do. The last thing we want to do is to leave people in the dark as to why they should be making specific improvements to their homes! While the best way to get your specific questions answered is to call us directly, some of the more common questions are listed here. Section A - General Questions What are your primary services? What is a "third-party" rater and why is this important? Why should I choose you as my green rater? Audits For Existing Homes - What is involved? Which type of audit is right for my house?
We do understand that each house is unique and different combinations of tests and inspections may be necessary to identify specific problems – we are more than happy to tailor our approach to your needs and/or budget. Once you have identified the problems, am I left to figure out how to fix these things on my own? Certifications for New Homes - What does ENERGY STAR home certification involve? How is ENERGY STAR different than HealthyBuilt Homes? Should I do them both? What do the results of the energy model mean? Will these certifications add to the cost of building my house? Will it pay itself back in energy savings? Page 4 - About Us VandeMusser Design is focused on providing all of our employees with an in-depth education in the field of residential energy analysis. Every employee has been exposed to the process of doing an energy audit for an existing home, running the tests necessary for an Energy Star or HealthyBuilt Home certification, as well as inputting and processing that data to generate the reports that are given to the clients. We feel that when everybody has been exposed to all the different facets of the business, there is a better understanding of why everyone in the office is important. We have been fortunate to hire great individuals to work for us in the office. Take a moment to learn about the people who keep this place running on all cylinders! Amy Musser Amy is co-founder and principal of VandeMusser Design, PLLC, founded in 2002. Amy received her Bachelors and Ph.D. degrees in Architectural Engineering and an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. She is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and has previously held a faculty position in Architectural Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and as a researcher in the Indoor Air Quality group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD. Matthew Vande Matt is also a co-founder and principal of VandeMusser Design, PLLC, and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree and an M.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Matt has extensive experience in the building and designing of energy-efficient homes. When not hugging trees, Matt can often be found hiking in the mountains around Western North Carolina with Bear and Amy. Jeff Minor Jeff is VandeMusser Design's Field Technician and comes to us via Hawaii and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which makes sense considering his love of fishing. Jeff hasn't given us a picture for the website yet, so we decided to use "The Dude" from the Coen Brothers' film "The Big Lebowski" as punishment. We still aren't sure if Jeff likes White Russians and bowling, but who doesn't? Emily Boyd Emily is VandeMusser Design's Office Manager and most recent hire. Coming on board in December of 2008, Emily has a lot of passion for green building. She is a member of the WNC Green Building Council, and is licensed as a home inspector and general contractor. Her past work experience in residential construction makes her a very knowledgeable addition to our staff! Bear Bear is Morale Coordinator for VandeMusser Design, PLLC, and received his education from Kayleigh and Buddy, who retired from service in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Bear is currently licensed by the City of Asheville as a dog. He has previously held licenses in Ohio and Nebraska. Bear's scope of services includes sleeping, barking at cats, and begging for food. Unlike Matt and Amy, he does not charge for his services. |