"Green" doesn't work well enough to describe the homes Michael Chandler builds. I think "authentic" gets closer. Certainly his work is authentic in terms of expressing his character as well as the materials that go into the buildings. Things like soapstone fireplaces, shingle siding and gorgeous wood details throughout showcase the materials for their natural beauty. The designs are all very easy to love and easy to live in as a result of the time and care he and his wife put into understanding each client.
What most impresses me most is the build quality and the engineering. They've learned to build very tight and energy efficient homes that are generally 60% better than code standards. Of course, code should be simply unacceptable as a standard for any homeowner today, but this is a commendable achievement.
Michael is also very active in the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Green Building Initiative (GBI). As a caring thinking person, he wants to work for more improvements in building standards across the board. But as a lifestyle choice he limits his team to 4 homes per year. To reconcile that Michael takes a role as co-chair of the GBI educational committee, which gets him out talking to groups of builders who want to improve their practices.
Comments