Winter Sun Construction, LLC
828-342-0873Located in Franklin, NC

Franklin, NC-A MACON county company is ushering in the modern age of housing in the beautiful Western North Carolina. Franklin’s first affordable, third-party certified green home is being built by Winter Sun Construction, LLC. The house, located between Franklin and Highlands in the scenic Cullasaja River community, is tested, rated and certified to Energy Star and Healthy Built Home standards. Energy Star is a federal program which rates many products for energy usage. The Healthy Built Homes program is administered by the Western North Carolina Green Building Council (WNCGBC). “Healthy Built Homes looks at more than just the house and takes into account the total environmental impact of construction,” says Maggie Leslie of the WNCGBC. Mandatory third-party rating, provided by VandeMusser Design of Asheville, ensures their standards are met. “Computer models estimate this home’s annual heating and cooling costs to be $232,” attests Amy Musser, PE.

“Green building goes beyond solar power” explains James Pader of Winter Sun. “With these programs, we look at the whole system.” Advanced construction techniques like Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) walls, closed crawlspaces and passive solar design increase efficiency by reducing consumption needs. Pader adds, “We insulate the house to be like a refrigerator.” Airtight construction demands interior finishes that are free of toxins. Formaldehyde-free insulation complements water-based stains on the floor and no-VOC paints on the walls. “Impact Cabinets by Executive Kitchens is a premier line of eco-friendly cabinetry,” notes Kevin Tague of Suke Enterprises. “Cabinets are made in green certified facilities with special plywood that uses a soy glue instead of a formaldehyde base.” This method keeps poisons out of the air.

Affordable housing remains a critical need for many in this region and energy concerns top most everyone’s economic watch list. Winter Sun Construction is offering a unique solution by building for today’s economy and tomorrow’s dreams. Our mission is to make sustainable equal affordable.