Green Justified

What can I expect from my “green” investment?

SUBJECTIVELY…
Have peace of mind from knowing that you are reducing your “carbon footprint”onour Plant Earth, and have comfort – and pride – knowing youare demonstrating your commitment by example. With Your Home.

AND…
Green homes feel good AND they look great

Modular home

Significantly improve your environment with better air quality and more comfortable living

We know objectively (visit Media & Downloads and Green Home Building) that when more high-performance (e.g. ENERGY STAR®) systems & components are used, comfort levels increase with the reduction of hot/cold spots, draftiness, and mold-inducing humidity.

OBJECTIVE VIEW ON HEALTH & COMFORT…

Asthma has skyrocketed since 1994 from more polluted indoor environments. My hunch is neurological disorders (autism, ADD) and cancer are on the rise from exposure to the same toxins. Is spending incrementally more for actual natural finishes worth having a healthier, more comfortable environment? Your answer cannot be quantified, but the real-world benefits are yours for the taking. That’s a fact.

We also know from studies that when you move up to LEED® or NAHB GBS certified levels of “green”, sustainable design, your air quality improves greatly when you reduce or eliminate building materials and finishes that emit or “off-gas” VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) like formaldehyde, among other suspected and known toxins.

OBJECTIVE VIEW ON TRUE COSTS…

Generate quantifiable financial returns on your “green investment” with renewable/alternative energy systems & energy-conservation building strategies:

DSIRE logo

Maryland Incentives for Renewable Energy

BGE Logo

BGE’s 
Energy Calculator

energy advisor logo

Online ENERGY
AUDITING Tool

Green lightbulb

Compact Florescent Lightbulb CFL Savings CALCULATOR

Electric meter

Online SOLAR COST Estimator Including Rebates/Incentives 

How can I find out what plans fit my

total project budget?

LOT DEVELOPMENT Costs

In addition to the cost of the building Lot, add:

  1. Site Plans – detailed design plans by a licensed Civil Engineer for the Lot that include everything required for your builder to apply for a building permit (for home itself). Costs vary from $7K-$17K.
  2. Site Work – this is the actual work done by your builder, as prescribed in the Site Plan. Work includes lot clearing, utilities connections, storm water management features, excavation and grading, and can range from $5K to $75K and more for difficult sites.
  3. Permit & Impact Fees – these fees vary wildly depending on County and/or local jurisdiction requirements. Range: $1K (Balt Co as of Aug 2020) – $43K (Montgomery Co as of Aug 2020).
  4. Tap Fees – most public sewer and water utilities charge a one-time fee for connection to their infrastructure. Range: $4K-$25K.
  5. Private Septic & Water – if you don’t have access to public sewer and water, you’ll need to establish costs for Nitrogen Septic System installation and water well drilling cost: $18K-$25K and $5K-$15K, respectively.
custom modular home costs

You can get a rough idea of what your home might cost by using this simple method. Determine the approximate size of home you want. Find the rough cost per square foot (SF) based on the upgrades you want. Construction of the modules starts at $200 per square foot. This includes a ready to finish basement, most site work, and upgraded finishes. Multiply the two and you will have a “ball park” price.

Every home, every project, is unique, which is why we call ourselves Custom Home Builders. From a budget saving standpoint, we’ve found that by building out basement and attic spaces we can increase the livable space while simultaneously reducing the cost/SF. Use the figures above as guidelines only. Contact us for a preliminary estimate of the modular home you want to build based on your specific needs. BUT, you must be specific!

VERY IMPORTANT

Please note that every home is different and it is not possible to price a home without having a completed Site Plan and accounting for all the variables that are unique to every site. What type of soil the home is on, the foundation, the wind or snow load requirements, the distance the home must travel to reach the site and dozens of other factors affect the price of each home. These modular home price guidelines are provided so that you will have some rough idea of the costs involved. They are not intended and are not offered as a quote for home construction.

Example of Immediate Return On Investment (ROI):

1. Figure your Energy Savings/Green INVESTMENT = $10,000 (typical cost of our ultra-upgraded insulation and windows)
2. The PAYMENT on $10,000 (30yrs at 6%) = $59.96
3. Energy Savings on our typical 2500SF 2-story home = $100.00 >>> you are cashflow positive on your investment!

Mortgage Calculator

The most objective cost-justification for your “green investment”

  • For every $1 reduction in annual utility costs achieved via energy efficiency retrofits, the market value of a home is estimated to increase by $10-$25.
  • Given the geo-political instability of U.S. energy supplies, costs for oil, natural gas and electricity will RISE in the short term. Your return-on-investment will accelerate.
  • Given what scientists tell us about the quality of air in typical new home (25-100 times more polluted than outdoors) a small investment now will pay long term dividends in your health & well being.