Our Zero Net Addition is featured in the current issue of Washington Home and Garden Magazine. The feature on our projects begins on page 64 (in the online version).

Two of our projects are being featured here - both carefully built to save energy costs. Over the years we've received feedback from our clients and the numbers show that their energy usage has remained steady. There couldn't be a better time to make improvements of this type and start reaping the benefits now.

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There is a common belief that to go green costs more green. While this notion is not necessarily false there isn't as much as a gap between the cost of building (or renovating) green and not building green. The gap was much larger when the green building movement was just getting going but that gap has decreased considerably as the movement has grown and products and supplies have become more mainstream. In addition to this decrease is the money that is saved over time by building, renovating, and adding on green, or just incorporating more green practices into your life.

Kelli B. Grant at Smartmoney.com wrote an article recently on the subject.

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Design For Life Montgomery is Maryland's first voluntary certification program for accessibility and visitability of single family detached and attached homes in Montgomery County. The program applies to new construction and the renovation of existing homes.

Unique Features of the Design for Life Montgomery Program

1. One program with two optional standards of accessibility.

2. Voluntary: follows National Association of Homebuilder's
guidelines that support voluntary programs.

3. Targets new construction and renovation of existing homes*.

4. Successful informal partnership of county, building/business
community and advocates.

5. Administered by the County as part of the regular permitting
process, not a special process:

• A checkbox for review and certification is on the standard
application for permit.

• There are no additional permitting costs, beyond the
standard fees.

6. County Council Zoning Text Amendment provides by right the
use of setback areas for access as an element of the full
program.

See the Design For Life Montgomery webpage at www.montgomerycountymd.gov for more information.

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