(NAPSI)—There’s good news for those looking for a way to build homes that are beautiful, light-filled, green and can withstand severe weather. A company is using proprietary technology to build architect-designed, precision-built, environmentally friendly homes.

Severe Weather Solution

As Hurricane Sandy and other severe storms have demonstrated recently, it is in a homeowner’s interest to build a structure that can handle all types of extreme weather—hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes and more.

In this case, homes made by a company called Blu Homes are engineered to withstand wind gusts of up to 110 mph—this is the mid range of a category 3 hurricane—and can be custom engineered to withstand wind loads of up to 150 mph—well above a category 4. Its homes can also be outfitted with high-performance, hurricane-resistant windows and are also designed to be fire resistant—a real benefit in areas vulnerable to forest fire.

Steel Framing Is Key

What some may find surprising is the building material that’s key to the home’s construction-structural steel framing. The company reports that its structures, which are all constructed in its own factory, can be built in as little as six months, from initial design to final move-in date. This type of building process eliminates weather delays entirely. The company also provides a suite of complete project management services, which it says will simplify the home-building process even further.

Virtual Tours Present Choices

By visiting the company’s online 3-D Configurator, a buyer can personalize and take a virtual tour of the home before building. The builder believes this makes it easier for a home buyer to add roof decks or other extras to the design or to select finishes, colors, floor coverings and fixtures.

Home buyers can select from eight distinctive home designs, ranging from single-level studios and cottages to two-story, four-bedroom homes with light-filled living rooms that feature 16-ft. windowed walls.

After the home is built, it’s shipped to the site selected by the customer, where it is lifted onto the foundation, unfolded and sealed—a process that typically takes four to six weeks.

A Wide Range Of Uses

The builder believes its structures can be used by individual home buyers and building developers in a number of ways, including:

• As single-family homes, vacation homes or cottages

• As accessory units to an existing structure, such as master bedroom, home office, media room, art studio, in-law apartment, game room or exercise studio

• As a retirement home, providing independent living for seniors and empty nesters

• As faculty housing or other buildings for educational facilities and institutions

• As part of a green housing development

• As investment properties for spec builders.

A Commitment To Green

Solar ready and LEED Silver certifiable upon leaving the factory, standard green features in the company’s structures include:

• recycled structural steel framing

• radiant heat flooring

• high R-value walls and

• energy-efficient appliances. Plus, Blu Homes can achieve net zero energy status, Energy Star rating, and higher LEED certifications with the inclusion of other available green elements.

Built to Last

“We believe the most sustainable thing we can do is build our homes to last for generations,” said Bill Haney, the company’s founder and CEO. “Structural steel framing and advanced building science make it possible for Blu’s homes to withstand extreme weather and seismic conditions and give homeowners peace of mind that their families and investments are safe.”

To learn more, visit the website at www.bluhomes.com/weather.

 

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)