Sustainable Design & Green Architecture

ACM Design is committed to sustainable architecture design as a core value of every project. We think it is just smart to incorporate materials and systems that stand the test of time and lessen the impact on our environment.  While each client sets the tone for the level of green building standards that they want to invest in for their home, as architects and designers, we recognize that our contribution to designing homes that make sense for our clients and our environment is simply the right thing to do.  Here are a few of the green building programs and resources available.

Designing a Gold-Level Healthy Built Home

Green Architecture Programs

These free resources are being provided from informational purposes, they are not verified or warrantied by ACM Design. Clicking on these links you will be taken off of our website.

Energy Star Program

A new home that has earned the Energy Star label has been evaluated through a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the US EPA. Energy Star certified homes typically us 15-30% less energy than other comparable new homes.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes

LEED-certified homes must be designed and built in accordance with rigorous guidelines of the LEED for Homes certification program for green building. LEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high performance green homes that are built to be healthy, providing clean indoor and incorporating safe building materials to ensure a comfortable home. The local provider of LEED for Homes is the WNC Green Building Council.

Duke Energy Progress

Duke Energy Progress is our local utilities provider who offers several rebates and incentives for energy efficient homes that can be taken advantage of by both builders and homeowners alike. These rebates and incentives include the EnergyWise Home (need like for this to their website) which offers credit to electricity bill, solar PV panels, energy efficient HVAC equipment, energy efficient lighting systems, and more.

Green Built North Carolina

Formally known as the NC Healthy Built Home program, the Green Built North Carolina program is a state-wide green home certification program, administered by the WNCGBC. This program offers third party verification, technical assistance, and many other resources for builders to increase their green building expertise. ACM Design has designed several homes that have earned Green Built certification.

US Green Building Council

USGBC is a non-profit organization that administers the LEED Green Building Rating System, providing third-party verification that ensures a building is a healthy place to live or work and is environmentally responsible. ACM Design offers a LEED accredited professional on our staff.

WNC Green Building Council

WNCGBC is a non-profit organization that administers the LEED Green Building Rating System, providing third-party verification that ensures a building is a healthy place to live or work and is environmentally responsible. ACM Design offers a LEED accredited professional on our staff.

Appalachian Offsets

WNCGBC started this program to allow individuals and businesses to offset their emissions by contributing to a community fund that helps make energy efficiency improvements to local schools, low income housing and non-profit organizations.

Going Solar

Going Solar is a resource website of information about using solar energy in your home. Topics include how solar energy works and the cost of using solar energy. There is also information about how panels can be installed and rebate programs at the state level.