Due to increasing numbers of Americans suffering from allergies and asthma, the American Lung Association® developed the Health House® program to help individuals learn what they could do to improve air quality in their indoor living environments. The program sets rigorous standards for construction and ventilation of the entire house and garage, including moisture control, reduced use of carpet, a central vacuum system, and low-VOC levels in paints, finishes and furnishings. McStain’s Discovery House was the first non-custom home in Colorado to qualify for Health House certification. And we’re working to bring the ideas from the Discovery House into all our homes.

Made from old newspaper and other recycled paper products, blown cellulose produces an insulating value (or R value) that’s 25% greater than that of fiberglass. And when we combine it with the other elements of our advanced air-sealing system (such as 2 x 6 exterior wall studs), the R value goes even higher. Also, since blown cellulose is treated with a boron-based fire retardant, it is 22% to 55% more fire resistant than fiberglass—making it one of the safest materials used in home construction.

McStain was one of the first homebuilders in Colorado to qualify for the Energy Star program. This meant our homes had to meet a standard of energy efficiency that was about 30% higher than the state building code standard. It also meant that a third-party energy rating firm was randomly testing 15% of our homes. But beginning in January, 2005, we became one of Colorado’s first homebuilders to test and certify 100% of our new homes. So when you move into your new McStain home, you’ll know exactly how energy efficient your home is and the kind of savings you can expect. In this day of rapidly rising energy costs, that extra assurance means a lot.

This material occupies the six-inch space under the concrete foundation floor, both supporting the floor and protecting it from expansive soils. It’s an interlocking lattice made of Styrofoam, so it performs much better than its cardboard predecessor that can decay and cause mold problems. If soil beneath the foundation floor expands, the GeoVoid compresses. This lets the GeoVoid continue to support the floor without putting upward pressure on the floor

Air leakage from improperly sealed duct systems, like those sealed with duct tape, contributes to energy loss in forced air distribution systems. Duct mastic is a flexible, not-toxic sealant that can move with the expansion, contraction and vibration of the duct system components.

Standard household paint releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, creating a potential health risk. In fact, 9% of the airborne pollutants creating ground level ozone come from VOCs in paints. That's why McStain uses low-VOC products for its paints and many of its other finishes and adhesives.

This kind of lumber employs laminated wood chips or strands in the production of framing components. It's stronger and straighter than traditional, solid-sawn lumber. And because the wood usually comes from faster-growing plantation trees, it saves old-growth forests.

Wherever there is the possibility of soil expansion due to the presence of bentonite or clay, we use a six-inch-thick, reinforced, cast-in-place, structural concrete slab over a six-inch void that allows room for the expansion to occur. This contributes to the long-term durability of your home and makes finishing your basement a worry-free option.

This composite of wood fibers, plastic milk jugs and plastic grocery bags provides a strong, maintenance-free alternative to traditional redwood decking. And, needless to say, it saves redwoods.

Every McStain home has a full, weatherproof housewrap that acts as a secondary defense against water intrusion by providing a continuous exterior drainage plane around the home.

McStain uses only ENERGY STAR-qualifying, double-pane, low-e, vinyl windows. Low-e (low emissivity) glass has a special metal oxide film coating that reflects long-wave heat energy, while passing shorter-wave, visible light. In the winter, long-wave radiant heat is reflected back into the house. In summer, outside heat energy is reflected away from the house.

The ENERGY STAR label indicates 90% efficiency or better—which means the furnace is about 15% more efficient than standard models. Every McStain home is heated by an ENERGY STAR-labeled furnace.

They seal the combustion process from the indoor environment so that flue gases don't ever mix with the air that you breathe inside the home. This is the standard for all gas-fired appliances in McStain homes.

Over 400 studs are used in the average house today. That means up to half a billion studs are required annually for residential construction. This is why McStain is constantly pioneering and testing new manufactured wood products and advanced framing techniques that make more efficient use of wood.

Advanced fixture designs--such as 1.6 gallon/flush toilets and 2.5 gallon/minute showerheads--reduce flow rates while maintaining a soft, strong spray. Conserving has never been so . . . comfortable.

Every McStain home is designed to be exceptionally energy efficient and to minimize the consumption of natural resources. But the McStain Home Studio offers ways to make a home even friendlier to the environment. Solar electric systems, recirculating hot water and reclaimed flooring are just a few of the options available through the Home Studio.

Historically, air exchange in a house was a function of air leaks. But McStain's ultra-tight homes have eliminated those leaks and replaced them with an advanced, mechanical ventilation system that you control. So you can keep the air in your home fresh while saving money on heating and cooling.

These choices include fast-growing, cultivated bamboo; lyptus hardwood, a eucalyptus hybrid grown on high-yield Brazilian plantations; and reclaimed timber, salvaged from deconstructed buildings