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News-Sun photo by Katara Simmons Blake Linville, owner/operator of Adaptive Builders Sustaninable Construction Services, cuts a piece of crown molding during a recent job. Linville is one of two or three individuals in the county certified by a national organization to conduct green energy audits according to a nationwide set of standards and practices.

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published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Think Green, Build Green

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Blake Linville graduated from Sebring High School in 1993, the same year the Florida legislature passed its first piece of legislation aimed at making Florida building codes more weather proof and environmentally sound. So, you might say Linville was born into the new green era.

He is the owner/operator of Adaptive Builders, sustainable construction services, and he specializes in new green construction or remodeling.

Linville was always attracted to construction, and started his career by building sea walls and docks.

Eventually he branched out, and was working as a subcontractor when the housing boom began.

With roughly a decade of practical experience, "I was ready to go up a notch," he said.

By moving up a notch Linville meant more than simply becoming licensed as a general contractor by the state -- he also meant studying cutting edge techniques and technology to become a specialist in sustainable construction.

As the housing market collapsed, Linville used the slow time to expand and enhance his credentials.

He is a My Safe Florida Home participating contractor, and one of the few LEED Accredited Professionals in the county. That means he is certified to conduct energy audits.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a consensus effort, coming from the building industry itself with government input, to create a national set of standards for green construction.

LEED also certifies individuals as inspectors, capable of doing energy audits. Linville is accredited.

To be accepted into the LEED program he had to sit for an 80-question exam. "The state (licensing exam) took two days," Linville said, "and the LEED test took two hours -- but it was closed book and much harder. You need 80 percent correct in order to pass." He said he studied a year before sitting for the exam, passing on the first attempt.

"LEED presents a holistic approach," he said, "starting at the conceptual stage and site selection. The key is good design, it's the most critical way to save energy -- for example, no windows on the west side of the house.

"Green construction doesn't have to cost more, especially as stringent as Florida code is, you can build green at the same cost. Most homes are cookie cutter (stamp outs), the same lot by lot regardless. The waste of energy is huge."

Just weatherizing a home can save thousands over the long term, he said, "a little capital investing for a guaranteed return. Dollars come back in energy savings, like lower bills and rebates from the power company. I strive to reduce the huge obsession on electricity."

There are water heating alternatives on the market, of which solar hot water systems are only one, but their savings can be substantial.

The U.S. Department of Energy, for example, estimates an average household will spend more than $500 a year to heat water with electricity in an 80-gallon tank. Some solar heating systems provide savings of 75 to 90 percent of that.

Linville added that governments continue moving in a green direction.

The Florida Legislature is expected to pass legislation in March calling for new public buildings to be 15 percent more energy efficient.

More than $80 billion from the $787 billion stimulus bill is targeted to spending support (like grants and rebates) and tax cuts for renewable domestic energy, an improved electrical grid, and energy research and programs to reduce the use of fossil fuels -- for example, helping weatherize homes or federal buildings.

But Linville warns the rebates and enticements won't last forever. Ironically, this might be the best time to invest in green to save green.

Either way, there is a growing consensus that making conscious energy saving decisions reverberates positively throughout the economy. With the LEED system in place there is now a way to plan thoughtfully and measure results.

There are several Web sites with useful information: www.usgbc.org for information about LEED; www.dsireusa.org for information about federal incentives; and www.progressenergy.com-- click on balanced future and then on energy efficiency services for information about electricity savings.

Linville can be reached at 381-5126.