So which is better, old or new? Some savvy builders are opting for a little of both in an effort to deliver homes with character. Some are doing so by integrating reclaimed or vintage materials as accents inside or outside the home. Others are faithfully replicating historic architectural styles–down to every last cornice detail, porch column, and gable end–in ways that look authentic, but with products and practices that perform like new construction.

Here are some examples of new or remodeled homes that tell great stories.

Barn Raising
Tommy Sancic’s company, Olde Wood Ltd., recycles vintage wood from old barns and farmhouses that have structurally outlived their use. His personal residence in Malvern, Ohio, which showcases his wares, is arguably packed with more history than some museums.

Clad in random-width pine siding sourced from local farms, the rustic home is topped with an antique slate roof, rusted tin trim, a foundation skirted in reclaimed barnstone, soffits made of old-growth walnut, and exterior support timbers salvaged from an old woodworking shop in Cleveland, circa 1880. (The roof’s slate tiles are 9 pounds each, bringing the total weight of the roof to 80,000 pounds.)

The guest suite is paneled in 18- to 22-inch planks rescued from a demolished historic train station formerly located fewer than 8 miles away. Brick pavers in the exterior landscaping were sourced from industrial buildings in Cleveland’s Flats area.

In addition, the home’s kitchen cabinets, flooring, backsplash, fireplace, support beams, floor joists, stairs, bathroom vanity, and shower tiles are all made from reclaimed materials. All wood available through Olde Wood Ltd. is de-nailed, kiln-dried, and milled as dimensional lumber.

by Jenny Sullivan

http://www.builderonline.com/design/vintage-details-lend-character-to-new-homes.aspx?cid=BLDR100223003&page=1

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Students can earn the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation to jumpstart their knowledge of green building practices.  “That’s yet another sign of the success of this University of Housing program – that it’s considered to be an added value to a traditional university degree,” said T.W. Bailey, a home builder from Frisco, Texas, and chair of the CGP designation task force for NAHB.

Bailey and Purdue Prof. Dale Koehler spoke at a press conference this afternoon at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Students can choose to pursue either the CGP, the Certified Aging in Place or the Residential Construction Superintendent educational designations from the NAHB University of Housing and the Home Builder’s Institute in the Purdue program, which is funded by the National Housing Endowment.

But as NAHB celebrated Green Day today, the focus was on the exhibits, educational sessions and other special events that marked the association’s continuing focus on green home building. The CGP designation, which is based on 24 hours of classroom instruction, industry experience and other requirements, was introduced just 11 months ago and numbers more than 1,900 designees.

In the midst of the housing market downturn, the country’s home builders and remodelers are still preparing themselves for the homes and home projects of the future. In fact, said Bailey, association volunteers are already working with curriculum development experts to create a new “Master” green building and remodeling designation to meet the demand for more advanced training and coursework. The new designation is expected to be unveiled in early 2010.

The phenomenal growth of the CGP is not surprising because of the value the industry places on green, press conference participants noted.

Home builder Greg Ugalde of T & M Building Co. Inc in Torrington, Conn., said the CGP designation adds credibility to his company’s marketing efforts. “It indicates to a customer that the person they are hiring to design, build or remodel their home sees building green as more than just a buzzword or marketing ploy,” he said at the press conference.

Countrywide Bank Senior Vice President Dave Porter of Seattle said the CGP designation is also an excellent idea for suppliers, manufacturers and other home building industry professionals. When he is talking to a builder about energy-efficient mortgages and other incentives, the knowledge gleaned from the CGP coursework gives him a leg up. “As a lender I deal with hundreds of builders, real estate agents and other industry professionals. In these interactions, I often share industry best practices, and of course building green is at the top of the list,” he said.

Source: NHBA/Green Builders Info

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