Oakridge Communities - Green Building

Oakridge Communities assist local news station in explaining balloon framing from the 40's vs. today's new homes.

Raising Standards Magazine - Winter 2006

Press Release

OAKRIDGE COMMUNITIES
GREEN BUILDING

What is “GREEN BUILDING” why are you hearing about it and how does it affect you and your new home?

First, it’s nothing mysterious at all. In this geographical area – Northern Virginia – it translates into three basic concepts - renew, recycle and re-use – which focus on three main goals:

Lower energy consumption
Generate less waste by using recycled products and recycling during construction
Use products that produce lower VOC emissions (volatile organic compounds)

The two questions you need to ask yourself are

‘how green do I want to be? and ‘ how green can I afford to be’

Remember- it cost more to use less

Let’s break these concepts down into some areas for discussion:

The easy ones that we already do

On-site we use low waste products such as Oriented Strand Board (OSB) for walls, roof and floor sheathing and truss joist systems (TJI) for floor joists. Both of these products are made by using chips of wood which, in turn, use less material than the more conventional products. We use quite a bit of factory-built products, such as roof trusses, to reduce on-site waste and improve efficiency. We already recycle most of our trash. Our trash subcontractor removes all the dumpster material and recycles as much as possible (cardboard, drywall etc). Low flush toilets and water saving showers are standard, and we use much more efficient heating and air conditioning units from just a few years ago. Your basement is fully insulated whether it is finished or not and the insulation in the attic is rated at R-30. Additionally, as we implement the next round of changes to the international building code, “Low E” insulated window glass will become standard.

Your choices

We offer higher efficiency heating systems, programmable thermostats, and zoned heating/cooling systems, all of which help to reduce your energy consumption. You can select higher rated appliances, optionally. GE offers a complete line of Energy Star appliances. For example, tankless water heaters only use energy as you need it, thus forgoing a traditional water heater, which is one of the largest energy hogs in today’s homes. And, a front loading washing machine uses approximately 1/3 the water of traditional washer. Also, we offer a complete line of flooring that is certified green. After you move in to your new home, some other items for consideration are using compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) which save a huge amount of energy over incandescent light bulbs, and the use of window coverings (drapes, shades, blinds) can have an energy-saving impact on the overall efficiency of your home.

The next level

Other things that you could consider doing - move the water heater from the basement to the second floor, but, remember, we have to take the space from someplace else in order to have it fit. Adding POS (point of service) water heaters under the vanities provides hot water to the bathroom sinks almost instantly. Add some “switched plugs” so that you can turn off TV’s to keep them from being ‘on’ all the time and add dimmers on the recessed lights and motion sensor switches for closets and pantry.

Then we have what I refer to as ‘infinity and beyond’!

Two stage flush toilets, foam insulation, low VOC paints, hot water piping that is looped to bring the cold water back, rain barrels at the downspouts to save water for watering plants, recycling gray water to flush toilets, yard sprinkler systems with rain sensors. There are all kinds of ideas available on the WEB or even the National Association of Home Builders web site, nahbgreen.org.

So what should you do?

Upgrade the appliances, furnace, or water heater now. You can get the CFL, motion detectors or dimmers at Wal-Mart or Home Depot. Use VOC paints when you repaint your home. Add rain barrels as you modify your landscaping. These are choices that you can make, and we are willing to work with you on each of these. I want to thank you for choosing Oakridge Communities; we look forward to building your new home.

Michael J. Gorman, President
Oakridge Communities
Certified Master Builder
NVBIA Builder of the Year 2005
NAHB member

Press Release

AWARD-WINNING VIRGINIA HOMEBUILDER TO UNVEIL NEW NAME
AND TWO NEW COMMUNITIES ON NOVEMBER 1ST

Leesburg, Va. (October 25, 2005) - Oak Ridge, Inc. announced that it will lay to rest its current trade names, Oak Ridge Builders and Southport Homes, on Halloween Day as it drops those two names in order to form Oakridge Communities.

The company will officially begin operations as Oakridge Communities on November 1. The new name reflects a recent focus on creating communities by buying raw land, developing it and then building homes and creating neighborhoods. Also on November 1, Oakridge Communities will re-enter Loudoun County after a three-year absence as it starts to build The Reserve at Belle Terra and Hamilton Meadow.

The Reserve at Belle Terra is a community of 43 moderately priced single-family homes in Ashburn, Va. The homes in the Village Series, including the Ashby, Hampton and Morgan models have four bedrooms and two- and one-half baths, or in the Ashby, three- and one-half baths.

Hamilton Meadow features eleven large single-family homes on quarter-acre lots in the Town of Hamilton, Va. The Estate Series includes the Charleston, Nantucket and New Haven models. These four bedroom homes have three- and one-half baths or four- and one-half baths. Options include a finished attic space with a bedroom, bathroom and playroom, as well as an optional finished basement, giving homebuyers the option to have more than 5,500 square feet of finished space on four levels.

"Over the past fifteen years, our company has grown and evolved to focus on creating the neighborhoods that people desire," said Mike Gorman, president and chief executive officer of Oak Ridge, Inc. "As we lie to rest both Oak Ridge Builders and Southport Homes, we are thrilled to embrace Oakridge Communities and welcome homebuyers to our two new communities in Loudoun County."

Oak Ridge, Inc. is currently building two communities in Prince William County - Kettle Run Estates offers country living at its best on ten acre lots, while Middlebrooks Garden appeals to those who desire a more traditional neighborhood. Both communities, now marketed as Southport Homes, will make the conversion to Oakridge Communities on November 1. Homebuyers can visit Oakridge Communities' regional showcase home - a Nantucket model with four finished levels - on Vint Hill Road in Prince William County, south of Manassas. For more information, call (703) 257-1221, or visit www.oakridgecommunities.com.

About Oak Ridge, Inc.: Founded in Leesburg, Va., in 1990, Oak Ridge, Inc. is a community builder that designs and builds creative and innovative homes and neighborhoods throughout Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier and Fairfax Counties in Northern Virginia.

Press Feature

RAISING STANDARDS MAGAZINE - Fall 2006
THE BUILDING INDUSTRY'S RESOURCE FOR "OPTIONS" KNOWLEDGE

The FALL 2006 question for [raisingeyebrows] is:
"What Do You Believe The Next 6 To 12 Months Will Bring, Based Upon The Current Real Estate Market Conditions?"

"It looks as if the decline in sales of new homes in the Washington Metropolitan Region is starting to flatten out somewhat. While there is still an abundant inventory on the resale market, inventory of new homes has decreased considerably in the first half of this year, mostly due to aggressive and innovative marketing. We expect second half sales to be below the previous two record-setting years, but still fairly strong. Job growth in the area is consistently above the national average and population growth here is projected to keep rising for the next twenty years. Simply put, we're in a downturn - we've been through them before, we'll certainly get through this one. For the consumer, it's a great time to buy a home."
- Mike Gorman, President/CEO, Oak Ridge, Inc. (Oakridge Communities- VA)

Press Release

OAKRIDGE COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS
PRESIDE AT RIBBON-CUTTING FOR HAMILTON MEADOW

LEESBURG, Va. (May 11, 2006) - Oakridge Communities held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to formally open Hamilton Meadow, a new community in Loudoun County. Local officials, including town of Hamilton Water Superintendent Harold Lemarr, Town Council Member Ray Whitbey, and Project Manager Don Hope joined together with Oakridge Communities employees to celebrate the official opening.

"Hamilton Meadow exemplifies our mission, to build elegant homes and create welcoming neighborhoods that exceed expectations," said Mike Gorman, President and owner of Oakridge Communities. "We were pleased to join together with Town officials to mark the official opening of this desirable community."

Hamilton Meadow features eleven large single-family homes on quarter-acre lots in the Town of Hamilton, Va. Homebuyers may choose from one of three home models in the Oakridge Communities' Estate Series - the Charleston, Nantucket or New Haven.

These elegant homes feature deluxe kitchens with adjoining breakfast and family rooms, first-floor studies and powder rooms. Each house type also has both a main and rear staircase to the second floor, which has four bedrooms and three or four baths, depending on the model chosen. The luxurious master suites boast a sitting area, walk-in closet(s) and bath with soaking tub and European shower. Each home also has stairs leading to the attic, which can be finished as another bedroom, full bath and playroom. With an optional finished basement, the homes offer more than 5,500 square feet of finished space on four levels.

The Nantucket and New Haven models feature a three-car, side-entry garage, while the Charleston offers a two-car, side entry garage. In the Charleston, an optional one-car garage can be added, and the space above it can be finished to become a private retreat off the owner's suite.

The homes are priced from the $700s. For more information, call (703) 777-5435, or visit www.oakridgecommunities.com.

About Oakridge Communities: Founded in Leesburg, Va., in 1990, Oakridge Communities is a community builder that designs and builds creative and innovative homes and neighborhoods throughout Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier and Fairfax Counties in Northern Virginia.

Press Feature

RAISING STANDARDS MAGAZINE - Winter 2006
THE BUILDING INDUSTRY'S RESOURCE FOR "OPTIONS" KNOWLEDGE

The WINTER 2006 question for [raisingeyebrows] is:
"Do You Feel That The Correction In New Home Pricing Has Been Enough To Regain Sales Momentum To Allow The Market To Rebound?"

"In our area, much of the success in the new home market relies on the resale market to turn over at a much quicker rate than we have seen in the past year; however, that it not happening yet. Homeowners who have refinanced and cashed out over the past five years find themselves with little or no equity to use in the bargaining process when presented with offers considerably lower than they had anticipated. Consequently, not only can they not sell their current home, they can't buy the new one they contracted for some months earlier. Those new homes, plus those which investors purchased but have been unable to sell (or rent), have produced the remarkably high inventory we are slogging through still. Now, having said that, I do believe that the conditions that got us to this point have begun to turn around. After a very spotty summer, we are seeing more prospects through our model homes, visiting our website, calling in response to advertising and, the best sign, coming back on subsequent visits to write contracts. The rebound? Yes, it's on the way, but I think all of us in this business are fairly realistic in our expectations as to how it will look. Prices won't be as high, volume builders will have less volume and, yes, negotiations will continue."
- Mike Gorman, President/CEO, Oak Ridge, Inc. (Oakridge Communities- VA)

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