Did you know that ‘Sylvania’ is Latin for ‘wooded place?’ For someone who respects the environment, it’s the perfect place for a new home. Add that it is near New York, New Jersey, and Ontario (Canada), your family can have a cross-border vacation without going over budget.
For those environmentally-minded homeowners looking to relocate to or within Pennslyvania, we’ve formulated a list of the best green, sustainable home builders in the state.
The Best Sustainable Green Builders in Pennsylvania
There are several sustainable green home builders in Pennsylvania that stand apart from the rest that you should consider, including:
- Fine Line Home Consultants
- Segal & Morel
- DeLuca Homes
- McNaughton Homes
- Hess Home Builders
- EcoCraft Homes
- Alter Eco
- Liberation Tiny Homes
- Greenwood Tiny Homes
So, without further ado, let’s get into the specifics of what each of these builders has to offer.
Fine Line Home Consultants
Fine Line Home Consultants builds sustainable homes across most central Pennsylvania and southern New York, and parts of North Carolina.
The expert home consultants are known for their hands-on approach. Each client is involved in the project’s plan, design, and construction phase.
As per customer testimonials, the company is always available to answer any queries or address clients’ concerns. In addition, the website is constantly updated with new designs and plans that interested users can peruse at their leisure.
Segal & Morel
Segal & Morel takes the cake when it comes to building green and sustainable homes. The contractor specializes in building energy-efficient homes in Riverview Estates West, and every house is certified by the Energy Star program. In addition, each one is produced with high-quality, sustainable materials that are renewable as well.
Each structure built by the contractor has several energy-saving features to reduce overall costs. These include stainless steel dishwashers, low-flow showerheads, rainwater collection systems, and vaulted ceilings, to name a few.
DeLuca Homes
Celebrating more than half a century of quality homebuilding, DeLuca Homes offers highly efficient and creative solutions for eco-conscious clients.
This includes a HERS rating completed by a third party, and the contractors also participate in the PECO rebate program. Therefore, the company can prove that its homes are 20% more energy-efficient than model code homes!
Each space and house is designed strategically, from open-concept living spaces to luxurious master suites and finished basements.
The company offers a range of options. Clients can choose from several floor plans and then customize them according to their taste.
McNaughton Homes
McNaughton Homes made energy-efficient homes before it was in vogue. Since 1997, the contractor has built hundreds of eco-friendly units in Pennsylvania and has won three national energy housing rewards for its work.
Some of the best energy-efficient features of a McNaughton home include PEX plumbing with fixture shutoff valves, insulated ducts, family-sized water heaters, R-11 foundation wall insulation, R-49 attic insulation, fire caulking, and dedicated HVAC returns in each room.
Hess Home Builders, Inc
Since 1964, Hess Home Builders has built sturdy, top-quality homes for Lancaster and York County.
This builder is known for the strict attention to detail for each project and the genuine desire to ensure each family gets their dream home. The basic standard features offered for each home can be upgraded with customizations.
Some of these include solid concrete basement walls poured on-site, subflooring that exceeds industry standards, super seal packaging, roof trusses that Hess Home Builders makes itself, and exteriors that require little to no maintenance.
EcoCraft Homes
EcoCraft Homes has been building energy and resource-efficient homes in Pittsburgh since 2012. The family-owned company has followed a unique building philosophy to build bespoke luxury homes in less than 90 days.
EcoCraft aims to develop greener and more innovative homes by improving its service while ensuring clients are always well cared for.
An EcoCraft home is 100% Energy Star compliant, which means that each structure achieves industry-leading energy scores and runs up half the cost of a traditionally built home after a family moves in.
The company can also build homes with net-zero energy consumption for heating, cooling, and electricity usage. The buildings that meet these energy standards use 80% less energy than traditional homes and boast superior air quality and durability.
Alter Eco
Alter Eco tackles two main concerns homeowners have when making its houses: style and cost. The building firm solves both issues with top-quality construction management and architectural and sustainable consulting services.
The company uses state-of-the-art software and building solutions to design a home virtually and iron out the details with clients before construction starts. This process allows Alter Eco to ensure that style preferences are met and simultaneously reduce project costs.
Alter Eco also strives to create ‘net zero’ homes with on-site renewable energy systems to reduce bills and generate clean energy on property that its clients can consume.
In addition, its unique building system allows it to minimize construction waste, improve energy and water efficiency, and improve indoor air quality.
Liberation Tiny Homes
A small home is not only easier to manage and maintain, but it also produces minimal waste. So it is little wonder why more and more people in Pennsylvania and across the nation are beginning to invest in tiny green homes rather than larger, energy-guzzling houses.
The team at Liberation Tiny Homes is dedicated to creating handcrafted, eco-friendly, tiny homes on wheels that its eco-enthusiastic clients can fall in love with.
Liberation Tiny Homes is located in the heart of Lancaster County and specializes in building compact houses that can be transported across the nation.
What makes the company stand out is its dedication to its county. All of the materials Liberation Tiny Homes uses are sourced from local suppliers and professional businesses.
The company also goes out of its way to reach out to like-minded entrepreneurs who can help them meet client needs.
Greenwood Tiny Homes
Even though Greenwood Tiny Homes specializes in making small houses, their quality is on par with more extensive and expensive homes.
With over two decades of building experience, the team does everything it takes to ensure its clients have a sustainable house that can help them reduce their carbon footprint without compromising their comfort.
The company excels in making green homes that function on renewable energy, reused rainwater, and are made entirely of wood.
In addition, the small size of the home reduces heating and cooling bills significantly, which means more money in your pocket. For example, pipes run behind the trim and cabinets in some plans rather than the exterior walls.
This design ensures water remains at room temperature and the pipes don’t freeze in winter. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry, especially when winter rolls around and your HVAC system has to work overtime to keep you and your family toasty.
Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for a sustainable home builder who can meet your aesthetic needs or a company that follows your floor plans, the ones mentioned in this guide can help.
But don’t jump the gun just yet. Instead, do more research on each builder to ensure you get your money’s worth and a green home that you and your family can live in for years without issue.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. After all, even eco-friendly homes don’t come cheap. A disappointing experience can set you back for years, if not decades.
Also, be sure to check out our lists of modular and tiny home builders in Pennsylvania, as several of the companies featured build houses that can be classified as green and sustainable
