Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a licensed General Contractor?
Yes. I have an NC Unlimited Building License #63110.

What type of construction do you do?
The primary focus of my business is custom, residential home building. I have begun to focus on “High Performance” and “Energy Efficient” building, utilizing what I call “Smart Green” methods.

What is “Smart Green”?
Green Building encompasses a wide spectrum of building issues (refer to: So what is Green Building? link on the navigation bar to the left). “Smart” Green looks at the feasibility and cost of a particular application. I then evaluate the actual value as well as the intrinsic value of the application to see if it fits the job at hand.

Does it cost more to build a “High Performance” energy efficient home?
This is where the concept of “Smart Green” comes into play. There are many things you can do to make a home more energy efficient that add very little to the overall cost of construction, such as building the home tighter and air sealing where ever possible. There are also categories of improvements that do have added cost; however, they have a relatively short payback period. Using spray foam insulation is more expensive than using traditional batt fiberglass insulation, but is a better insulator and will decrease heating and cooling costs. This is an evaluation process that every new homeowner needs to go through. We have the knowledge and understanding to help you make the “Smart Green” decisions.

Are there any tax incentives available to me for building “Green”?
Yes, and they seem to change daily. Visit www.dsireusa.org to learn about the current North Carolina and federal incentives. With our current administrations push for higher energy efficiencies, now is the best time to integrate some of these technologies into your next project. Consult your tax advisor about the availability of any specific tax credits to you.

Why should I choose Riverbanks Construction as General Contractor for my project?
There are certainly many builders in the area to choose from. We are one of the few builders that focus on “High Performance” building in our area. With energy prices at all time highs, and predicted to raise even higher, energy efficiency is more important now than ever before.

If I decide to build “Green”, do I have to integrate some of the extreme ideas I have seen on TV on shows like HGTV?
No. Programs like the NAHB Green Builder and the NC Healthy Built Home offer flexibility as well as different levels of “Green”. The NAHB program offers Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald levels. Each level requires you to hit certain benchmarks to qualify. It can be somewhat confusing, but as your General Contractor, Riverbanks Construction will walk you through the process and determine that “Smart Green” level that is right for you and your project. If you just want to get your feet wet, a good program to follow is Energy Star.

What is Energy Star?
Energy Star is not a “Green” building program. It is a federal, Department of Energy program that was established to promote a higher level of energy efficiency. In fact, by definition, Energy Star homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to current building code standards. For more details on this program, visit the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov.

Why shouldn’t I just build to current building code standards? Isn’t that good enough?
Building codes are established to give builders the minimum acceptable level allowed, or in other words, the worst possible construction method allowed by law. Is this an acceptable level to build? Yes: it is where many contractors are building today. Is this where you want to be? This is a personal decision Riverbanks Construction can help you decide. Given our current cost of energy, Riverbanks Construction recommends you consider building to Energy Star standards at a minimum.

How long does a Home Energy Audit take?
It usually takes between 4 -8 hours.

How should I prepare for an audit?
Not much preparation is needed on your part. Prior to the audit, we conduct a pre-audit homeowner interview. This can be done the day of the audit. You will need to prepare a list of specific concerns you have with your home’s performance. Issues such as comfort levels, high-energy bills and indoor air quality should be addressed. On the day of the audit, you may choose to be present if you like. We need clear access to your attic and crawl space, so make sure any storage items in this area are put aside to allow us room to do our work. None of the testing we do will affect your indoor pets. If you have any special concerns, just let us know.

Can I get a tax break for having an audit done on my home?
Possibly. Visit www.dsireusa.org for more information on the tax benefits.

Can you save me money on my energy bills?
Yes, but how much money you can save depends on how leaky your homes air barrier is. When we conduct a Blower Door Test, we quantify just how much air, and therefore energy, is leaking from your home.

Just what can I expect from an Energy Audit?
The purpose of a Home Performance Energy Audit is to help the homeowner get a handle on their home’s energy use. On our visit to your home, we begin by gathering and assessing data about your home’s current performance. Our goal is to improve comfort, lower utility bills and improve the air quality in your home. We look at your home as a system and, based on our comprehensive assessment, recommend solutions to help this system perform more efficiently.

I have a newer home that is built to building code standards but still have high energy bills. Can you tell me why?
While current building codes are getting better at addressing energy efficiency, they have a long way to go before catching up to the level of current building science. It is possible to have a well-constructed new home with severe thermal bypasses. Our audit will define the size of any bypasses and pinpoint their location.

Exactly what do you do on an audit?
Each audit is somewhat unique since each home we visit has different attributes. We try to develop an audit strategy based on our initial homeowner interview. This strategy may include a number of testing procedures based on homeowner concerns. Typical testing includes whole house pressurization testing using a Blower Door. While the Blower Door has the building depressurized we conduct Pressure Pan tests on your HVAC duct system to determine system tightness. If further duct testing is warranted, we can perform duct pressurization testing using a Duct Blaster. We also use the latest infrared camera technology to help us detect thermal bypasses. If you have combustion appliances such as water heaters or furnaces, we can conduct combustion safety testing to determine if your appliances are performing properly. We can also conduct moisture testing on building materials and humidity level testing. Major electrical appliance energy usage metering is also part of most home audits.