Tag: green living

Clayton i-house Unveiled in Evans

Posted by Ryan Willis – March 16, 2010

Evans, Colo. –  The new, Energy Star™ rated i-house from Clayton Homes has arrived in the Evans area and can now be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of Evans.  The model i-house – one of only a few nationwide – was built at Clayton’s Albuquerque facility.  

The eco-friendly Clayton i-house, which is now available for purchase, launched nationally at the Berkshire-Hathaway Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Neb. on May 2, 2009 when Warren Buffett showed the i-house to attendees.  Since that time, the i-house has been featured on numerous national cable television news shows and in newspapers and magazines across the country. 

The i-house is Energy Star™ rated, which means the home is at least 30 percent more energy efficient according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Although home buyers are likely to first notice the stylish design, cutting-edge color combinations and modern furnishings, the i-house also features solar panels, a rain water catchment system, high-end “low e” windows, a tankless water heater, low-flow faucets, easily renewable bamboo flooring and many other energy saving items. 

“The i-house will change the way people look at our products and housing in general,” said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes.  “We build these homes in a controlled environment away from the weather, so there’s a huge quality benefit simply because of how we build a home.  We also have far less scrap in our building process than a traditional home, so there are tremendous cost savings we pass along to the homebuyer.”

Built with an exterior of cement board and architectural metal, the home’s most distinctive feature is the V-shaped roof over the primary living space that includes the i-house’s rainwater catchment system and solar panels. The primary living area includes a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and a deck connects it to a separate living area that features a bedroom or den, a full bath and a roof-top patio.

Clayton Homes says the i-house’s energy costs are less than $70 a month, but that figure drops to less than one dollar per day when the optional solar panel system is installed.

The i-house is consistent with the overall environmental focus at Clayton Homes, which is in the process of obtaining LEED certification – the national benchmark for eco-friendly design – at its Tennessee headquarters.  Clayton has cut energy costs at its offices by 28 percent over the last two years, and has already started implementing many of the “green” features of the i-house into its traditional homes.

Although the i-house is expected to be a popular primary residence, it is also drawing considerable interest from people who wish to have a second home or vacation home because of its affordability, unique design and energy efficiency.  The $8,000 first-time homebuyer’s tax credit, is expected to attract many first-time homebuyers, many of whom will be drawn to the modern design and energy efficiency of the i-house. More information is available at http://claytonihouse.com. 

Clayton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, has built 1.5 million homes since 1934.  Clayton homes are precision-built in 35 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facilities strategically located throughout the United States. 

### 

About Clayton Homes:  A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s leader in housing.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com. 

The i-house can be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of Evans, 3455 W. Service Rd., Evans, CO 80620.  For more information call Mike Jansen at (970) 339-5500.

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Clayton Homes Expands Its Energy Efficient Housing Line

Posted by Shane Rhyne – December 8, 2009

claytonehomelogo

New ehome Boasts Energy-Efficient Features in Affordable Setting

Clayton ehome interior

Clayton ehome interior

Maryville, Tenn. (December 8, 2009) – The nation’s largest homebuilder, Clayton Homes, is unveiling a new product in their line of energy-efficient housing, called the ehome. These fully customizable homes feature an Energy Saver Plus package which is proven to save homeowners money.  The Clayton ehome also leverages the environmentally friendly values of off-site construction.  “These homes are built in climate-controlled building facilities, which drastically reduces waste,” says Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes. “Having energy-efficient features is just one part of it; what sets us apart from any other builder out there is the building process.”  Clayton estimates that construction waste is less than half what a traditional site-built home produces.

The ehome also addresses the changing culture surrounding green building. Earlier this year, Clayton Homes launched the i-house and the response was overwhelmingly positive.  Clayton says, “We have confirmed that there is a demand for energy-efficient housing.”  He says the ehome is an extension of that, bringing green features to Clayton Homes’ core customer.  “We learned a lot in the i-house R&D process,” says Clayton.  “We’re taking those best practices and applying them in a more traditional home.”  Clayton Homes has been building manufactured homes since 1934.

The Clayton ehome

The Clayton ehome

From low “e” Energy Star® rated windows to compact fluorescent lighting, the Clayton ehome is equipped with energy-efficient features. “The cost savings that the home owner will enjoy are as much as $600 a year,” says Clayton.  Homeowners can maximize those savings by customizing their ehome, using the company’s online configuration tool.  The homeowner can select from a variety of floor plans, exterior cladding materials, color schemes, kitchens, baths, window placements, and interior design schemes with the click of a mouse.

The Clayton ehome is now available for purchase.  Customers can go to the dedicated ehome website and customize their energy-efficient home.  The price point is lower than the cost of the i-house, starting at under $49,000.  Model homes are open for tours in 100 cities throughout the United States; for a complete list, visit www.claytonehome.com.

Clayton is committed to energy efficiency not just in the homes it builds, but in all aspects of its operation. Its corporate headquarters was recently awarded LEED certification, one of only 14 certified buildings in the Southeast.

###

About Clayton Homes: A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing.  With 35 home building facilities and more than 1.5 million homes built, Clayton is the leading home builder in the country.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com.

Media contact
Mike Cohen
(865) 584-0550
mcohen@ackermannpr.com

Clayton Homes Receives LEED Green Building Certification

Posted by Shane Rhyne – November 23, 2009

ClaytonGreenLogo

Maryville, TN – Clayton Homes announced today is has been awarded LEED certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.  LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green building. President and CEO of Clayton Homes, Kevin Clayton says, “We are very honored to have received this certification, but even more excited about reducing our impact on the environment.  That’s something our team members here at Clayton Homes can be proud of when they come to work every day.”

Today’s certification makes Clayton Homes only the 4th LEED-certified building in the state of Tennessee, and the 14th in the Southeast.  Clayton Homes achieved LEED certification for its existing headquarters by maximizing operational efficiency, while minimizing environmental impacts.  “We use LEED standards as a road map to sustainability.” says Jason Langston, Clayton Homes’ LEED project coordinator.  “Some great examples include our onsite restaurant offering healthy choices called “The Greenway” as well as other environmental and healthy amenities. The result: team member do not have to leave the facility resulting in less environmental impact and healthier people.”

“Clayton Homes’ LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” says Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of USGBC.

Fedrizzi is pleased the Berkshire-Hathaway company is sharing some of its best practices in its Home Building Facilities and Model Home Centers around the country.  “Sustainability is something we’ve been interested in for years now, and we are using some of these same principals in the homes that we build for our customers,” says Clayton.  Clayton Homes is the nation’s largest home builder, with more than 1.5 million homes built.

Clayton-i House 4

The Clayton i-house

Earlier this year, Clayton Homes unveiled the Energy Star™ rated i-house, featuring solar panels, a rain water catchment system, high-end “low e” windows, a tankless water heater, low-flow faucets, and easily renewable bamboo flooring.  Clayton Homes was also recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Systems Building Research Alliance and the Manufactured Housing Institute with five 2009 ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Housing Awards.

Clayton Homes is in good company with other LEED-ED Certified headquarters around the country, including McDonald’s World Headquarters in Illinois, Starbucks Center in Washington and the MGM Tower in California.  “The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” says Fedrizzi.

LEED certification of Clayton Homes was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community.  These features include:

  • Achieved 50% in water savings
  • Achieved overall 33% in real energy savings
  • Recycling 53% of waste stream.
  • Purchasing 60% of materials that include at least 10% post consumer content a sustainable and economical practice
  • Optimizing the building indoor air quality, through measuring and balancing outside air intake
  • Establishing metrics for the impact that our on-site GreenWay restaurant, exercise facility, outdoor amenities and GreenWay-to-Go programs have had on the reduction of carbon emissions from the availability of these enhancements
  • Offering recycling containers for TM’s to bring in their home recyclables.  We have established metrics that account reductions in carbon emissions by offering this benefit
  • Changing to eco-safe cleaning materials and cleaning equipment
  • Produced a complete operations manual (S.O.P.) based on our existing culture of being proactive in all building systems
  • Developed plan for complete site erosion and sedimentation control and complete site maintenance.  202 acres are currently under the GreenBelt Tax designation with 60 acres designated for hay

According to the USGBC, an initial sampling of other LEED-EB certified buildings found that an average return on investment is 2.6 years and annual net savings totaling more than $170,000.  “While the ROI is meaningful, the real reward is in making a difference; no matter how big or small the changes, the more we can make a positive impact on our planet, the better,” says Clayton.

###

Clayton Homes

A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s in housing.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com.

U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBA is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010.  The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity.  Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.  The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.  35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 5.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive.  Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

Revolutionary Clayton i-house Arrives in Atlanta Area

Posted by Ryan Willis – September 21, 2009

Atlanta, Georgia – The new, Energy Star™ rated i-house from Clayton Homes has arrived in the Atlanta area and can now be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of Jonesboro.  The model i-house – one of only a few nationwide – was built at Clayton’s Bean Station facility just north of Knoxville.  

The eco-friendly Clayton i-house, which is now available for purchase,Clayton-i House 4 launched nationally at the Berkshire-Hathaway Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Neb. on May 2, 2009 when Warren Buffett showed the i-house to attendees.  Since that time, the i-house has been featured on numerous national cable television news shows and in newspapers and magazines across the country. 

The i-house is Energy Star™ rated, which means the home is at least 30 percent more energy efficient according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Although home buyers are likely to first notice the stylish design, cutting-edge color combinations and modern furnishings, the i-house also features solar panels, a rain water catchment system, high-end “low e” windows, a tankless water heater, low-flow faucets, easily renewable bamboo flooring and many other energy saving items. 

“The i-house will change the way people look at our products and housing in general,” said Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes.  “We build these homes in a controlled environment away from the weather, so there’s a huge quality benefit simply because of how we build a home.  We also have far less scrap in our building process than a traditional home, so there are tremendous cost savings we pass along to the homebuyer.” 

Built with an exterior of cement board and architectural metal, the home’s most distinctive feature is the V-shaped roof over the primary living space that includes the i-house’s rainwater catchment system and solar panels. The primary living area includes a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and a deck connects it to a separate living area that features a bedroom or den, a full bath and a roof-top patio.

Clayton Homes says the i-house’s energy costs are less than $70 a month, but that figure drops to less than one dollar per day when the optional solar panel system is installed.

The i-house is consistent with the overall environmental focus at Clayton Homes, which is in the process of obtaining LEED certification – the national benchmark for eco-friendly design – at its Tennessee headquarters.  Clayton has cut energy costs at its offices by 28 percent over the last two years, and has already started implementing many of the “green” features of the i-house into its traditional homes.

Although the i-house is expected to be a popular primary residence, it is also drawing considerable interest from people who wish to have a second home or vacation home because of its affordability, unique design and energy efficiency.  The $8,000 first-time homebuyer’s tax credit, is expected to attract many first-time homebuyers, many of whom will be drawn to the modern design and energy efficiency of the i-house. More information is available at http://claytonihouse.com. 

Clayton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, has built 1.5 million homes since 1934.  Clayton homes are precision-built in 35 state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facilities strategically located throughout the United States.  

### 

About Clayton Homes:  A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton Homes builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing and is the nation’s leader in housing.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com. 

The i-house can be viewed, toured and purchased at Clayton Homes of Jonesboro, 8500 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro, GA.  Contact Derrick Black at (770) 478-9942 for more information.

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Clayton Homes and Empire Construction Partner to Create Green Multi-Family Dwellings

Posted by Amelia Daniels – July 28, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. – When searching for an apartment or condominium, options for green living are slim.  High efficiency air conditioning systems and Low E windows are most commonly found in single-family homes, like Clayton Homes’ i-house, while apartment complexes and condominiums usually are built from long-established construction methods, not in climate-controlled building facilities which drastically reduce construction waste.  Recognizing this void in the marketplace, Clayton Homes and Empire Construction are partnering to create a new e-living concept for multi-family dwellings.elivingplaceholder

“We are excited to further expand our multi-family modular capabilities – specifically from an energy efficiency standpoint.  Leveraging Empire Construction’s operational experience with these types of communities will be invaluable,” says Kevin Clayton, President and CEO of Clayton Homes.  “We think the awareness and importance of energy conservation is at an all-time high, so it’s a natural extension of what we already do.”  For example, the response to the Clayton Homes’ i-house initiative was overwhelmingly positive and Clayton says, “We have confirmed that there is a demand for energy-efficient green-living housing, including an apartment or condo.”

For nearly 30 years, Knoxville-based Empire Construction has been in the construction industry, with the past 12 years focused on renovation and new construction of apartment communities and condominiums throughout the United States.  “Renovation allows for the addition of energy-efficient windows and doors, as well as upgrades to the heating and cooling systems, but there’s so much more that can be done when building a new unit,” says Steve Hall, CEO of Empire Construction.  For example, e-living communities will be built from renewable materials.

RaintreeEmpire’s partnership with Clayton Homes could reshape a large portion of the multi-family housing industry.  “Our skilled craftsmen build the units indoors, each focused on their specialized area of expertise. And without exposure to Mother Nature’s elements, we can ensure the highest quality,” says Clayton.  Using the precision building method in this environment, the modular unit produces less than 2% scrap, which is 50% less waste than site-built construction.

Kevin Clayton has been touting the benefits of modular construction for years.  “E-living isn’t just a ‘feel-good’ concept.  The energy-efficient and green benefits are real, but this makes good business sense as well, particularly when you look at the savings associated with the time reduction in construction schedules.”

The first green multi-family dwelling will be located at Raintree Apartments in West Knoxville.  The e-living concept will be applied to a modular building with six units in the first phase.  Five of the units will be occupied by families, with one unit remaining vacant to be used as a model home.

“Not only will the units be built utilizing the green benefits of modular construction and have energy-efficient features inside of them, but there will also be a recycling program on property, which completes the e-living concept,” says Clayton.  The estimated time of completion is December 2009.

About Clayton Homes: A Berkshire-Hathaway Company, Clayton Homes is a national, vertically integrated housing company. Through its family of brands, Clayton builds, sells, finances, leases, and insures a full spectrum of affordable housing.  With 35 home building facilities and more than 1.5 million homes built, Clayton is the leading home builder in the country.  Visit Clayton Homes at www.claytonhomes.com.

About Empire Construction: Empire Construction is a General Contractor that specializes in multi-family renovation and new construction.  Headquartered in Knoxville, TN, Empire has 28 years of experience in the construction industry and serves a nationwide client base of property owners, management companies and developers.  Visit Empire Construction at www.empireconstruction.com.

Developer Contact
Kelly Williams
(865) 380-3000 x5337
Kelly.Williams@ClaytonHomes.com

Media Contact
Amelia Daniels
(865) 584-0550
adaniels@ackermannpr.com

To see and download digital images of Raintree Apartments, including floorplans, visit our Flickr Gallery.