Greenbuilt Principals
Lot Preparation and Design – Prior to the foundation being poured, we will carefully plan to reduce the home’s impact on the trees, vegetation and soil of each homesite. Such preparation will provide long-term performance and significant value to the homeowner, the environment, and the surrounding community.
- Resource Efficiency – Advanced framing techniques and home designs will effectively optimize the use of building materials. Careful material selection will reduce the amount of time and money needed for home construction and future maintenance. Resource efficiency also involves important waste management concepts to be utilized by Starhill builders during the construction process itself.
- Energy Efficiency – This is the most quantifiable aspect of green building. It is our goal to create a more energy-conserving building envelope and incorporate more energy efficient mechanical systems, appliances, and lighting into each home in StarHill. Long-term benefits include utility bill savings and increased comfort for the homeowner as well as wiser use and conservation of the earth”s resources.
- Water Efficiency/Conservation – Stewardship of water is one of the paramount principles at StarHill. The whole development is designed to use innovative and creative rainwater management practices. Each individual home site will have onsite capabilities for rainwater retention, absorption and possible reuse. Fresh water from individual wells on each homesite will be conserved through the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures. Native landscaping practices will be encouraged to minimize the need for onsite irrigation and fertilization to promote the overall health of the Peach Mountain/Huron Creek watershed.
- Indoor Environmental Quality and Comfort – Each home will be designed for effective management of moisture, ventilation, and other issues to create a more comfortable and healthier indoor living environment. Building materials and interior finishes will be selected to minimize or eliminate the introduction of VOC”s, and other toxic chemicals.
- Operation, Maintenance and Education – Our co-creative process will involve the Homeowner and the StarHill Development Team to create a well thought out home. This upfront collaboration, together with written maintenance procedures will give the homeowner guidance on how to effectively operate and maintain their new green home.
The StarHill Process
All homes at StarHill will be designed and constructed using the most sensitive, up-to-date, time-tested and cost-effective building practices, materials and technologies. Each individual home will be the result of a co-creative process that starts with the land itself and the personal intentions of each Homeowner. This combination will be skillfully and professionally blended with the base principles of StarHill’s development team and involve their expertise and guidance as architects, designers, contractors and craftsmen. Listed below are the basic steps we desire to follow to realize this vision:
- Establish the Homeowner’s preference for lot selection.
- Discuss the desired home style, spaces needed and ideal relationships between inside and outside spaces, views, needs for privacy, community, etc.
- Review StarHill’s Sustainable Design Principles to establish consensus agreements between the Homeowner and the StarHill Development Team (StarDT)
- Review the topography and natural features details of the lot plan.
- Prepare Schematic Site Diagram for the lot.
- Prepare Schematic Plan Diagram for the house.
- Establish Preliminary Budget.
- Develop the Preferred Design for lot and house.
- Update Budget.
- Adjust design and budget as necessary for balanced fit and Homeowner/StarDT agreement to proceed.
- Prepare Construction Documents and finalize the Contract for Construction.
- Establish Construction Financing vehicle with lending institution as required.
- Submit to Township for Building Permit.
- Commence Construction.
- Periodic reviews with Homeowner and status reports by StarDT during Construction Phase.
- Anticipate Date of Substantial Completion, review punchlist of fininshing details to Homeowner satisfaction.
- Obtain Certificate of Occupancy from Township, start Commissioning Phase to test and prove all house systems prior to move-in.
- StarDT (and members of the StarHill Community as it evolves) to assist Homeowner with move-in and Welcoming Party.
The above outline is to assist the Homeowner in understanding the unique process of co-created development at StarHill. We intend to secure the satisfaction of each Homeowner by designing and building each house one at a time, so that the Community will grow organically and root itself gracefully and durably into its land. We invite all members of the StarHill Community to support and embrace this vision and intention.