Casa Verde has won accolades for its energy and resource-efficient homes. Halpin says the city of Austin has documented a 30 to 40 percent reduction in energy costs, compared to conventional homes. The exterior is usually clad in Hardipanel or Hardiplank fiber-cement siding, which helps keep maintenance and repair costs down. Sustainability is further enhanced by the use of steel studs, recycled steel roofing, concrete foundations with a high percentage of fly ash and a deck material made from cedar chips and recycled plastic bags that never needs replacing. Always on the lookout for innovative technologies, Casa Verde recently installed a geothermal heating system in one home, and is in the process of building a straw-bale house.
Most training is done on the job site, but there is a certain amount of class work as well.
Those who have not finished high school can get the classroom instruction they need in a charter high school set up by Casa Verde. We teach math and other credit classes out at the project site. The trainees, who are paid minimum wage, are dual-enrolled in the local community college so that they can earn college credits at the same time they re learning to be builders. We really work on life skills being on time, being responsible, getting along with people, being a good team member things you have to have on a construction job. Graduates of the program go on to work for home builders, electricians, plumbers and building supply retailers.