At Georgetown Development, we’re committed to providing our clients with products that have been created using recycled materials or with products that can help save energy throughout the home. But, what does all of that really mean?

Many times, our clients want to know what going green really means for them. How will it save money in the long run, or how will it really affect the environment? There are a number of questions that homeowners should always ask when looking into green or sustainable products and we want to make that as easy on you as possible.

Check out this list of the top 12 questions to ask when looking into purchasing a green product and then call us, we can take it from there.

Georgetown Development can help you plan your next renovation or luxury home design, green or not!

For more information, please visit www.georgetowndevcorp.com.

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Every once in a while, we hear about programs that totally jive with what Georgetown Development is all about. When we heard about a new program from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), we wanted to share it.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design or LEED…you hear this term a lot more than you used to, but what does it really mean and how does it affect your home? LEED certification was established by the USGBC as a way to measure how sustainable a building is; are there bike racks so employees can bike to work, rather than drive, are the lights on timers so they aren’t being used when rooms aren’t in use? These are just a few of the elements that LEED certification measures.

This measurement used to be mainly for larger structures, but not anymore. The USGBC and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation have announced the Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program. The program awards financial and educational resources to help remove barriers towards the pursuit of LEED for Neighborhood Development projects which include affordable green housing components in their neighborhood plans. The grant program is open to developers and related public agencies that choose to pursue LEED for Neighborhood Development certification and demonstrate a commitment toward strengthening existing communities by providing affordable green housing to citizens with a range of income levels. To learn more about this new program, and how you can get your community involved, click here.

At Georgetown Development, we are committed towards designing homes that embody the same principles as the USGBC and LEED certification. Georgetown Development strives to provide homeowners with products that are made from recycled materials and systems that are energy-efficient.

To learn more about green building in the Washington, D.C. metro area and how Georgetown Development can help you design your next custom green home or green renovation, visit www.georgetowndevcorp.com.

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There you are, driving down the street in Bethesda, MD or McLean, VA and you see one home that just looks a little out of place, something is different, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. What makes that home look different? Solar panels on the roof!

More and more homes today are having solar panels installed and the government is finally taking notice. The growing demand for solar panels on residential homes has forced Congress to look into a climate legislation that includes a provision that, if passed, could make it financially more feasible for solar system suppliers and their business partners—including builders—to extend lower-cost leasing options to homeowners. Click here to read all about it.

At Georgetown Development, we are committed to providing our clients with the latest in sustainable home design. From using recycled products to helping you with a luxury home design that’s also energy-efficient. To learn more about our commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious design, please visit us at www.georgetowndevcorp.com.

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Typically trade shows are a mad house. Everyone is rushing from booth to booth to see what’s new, what’s on trend, what the next big thing is. This year’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) convention last month in Miami wasn’t really any different. While the number of attendees might have been smaller, the abundance of new products made up for it.

From sleek solar panels to decorative windows made from bamboo, this annual green conference displayed products for everyone. Click here to view some of the highlights.

Georgetown Development has worked on increasingly green homes throughout the Washington, DC metro area and would love to help you with your next green project. From one room renovations to custom home designs, Georgetown Development has been helping homeowners create their dream spaces for over ten years.

For more information Georgetown Development and to view some of our work, please visit us at www.georgetowndevcorp.com

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It’s summer in Washington, DC so you know what that means; heat, humidity and a nice cool shower. But with new Water Sense guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are your cold showers coming to an end?

As water conservation becomes increasingly more important for many areas across the U.S., and because showering accounts for approximately 17 percent of residential indoor water use, low-flow showerheads (or other conservation-minded plumbing products, for that matter) are not going away.

So, does this mean that your high-blast shower has to come to an end? Not necessarily. Click here to view some new, water saving shower heads from manufacturers all over the world. At Georgetown Development, we understand how important it is not only to install products that compliment each home design but are also in compliance with DC regulations.

Want to see what else we can do for your home renovation or custom home design?  Visit us at www.georgetowndevcorp.com

We all know the song “Stairway to Heaven”, but our reality is really “stairway to the kids”, or “stairway to the bathroom that needs to be cleaned”. But, what if you could create a stairway that didn’t make what was on the other end seem so bad?

When you’re designing your custom home or if you’re working on some home renovations, Georgetown Development can’t help you design every element from the front steps to the basement steps.

Click here to check out a number of new and innovative stairway ideas from Builder magazine. From stairways that use sustainable materials to steps with a Spanish flare, Georgetown Development can help you create the stairway and the home you’ve always envisioned.

To learn more about how Georgetown Development can help you with your custom home or renovation project, please visit us at www.georgetowndevcorp.com

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Washington, DC metro area homeowners aren’t exactly known for having multiple wind turbines in their backyards in Bethesda, Md. or Mclean, Va., but more and more homes today are putting smaller green touches in their homes, inside and out to save energy and help the environment, and Georgetown Development is helping lead the charge.

We wanted to share this article in the June 2010 issue of Builder magazine that highlights four projects around the U.S that has achieved the net-zero goal by using an array of technologies, including straw bale construction, foam insulation, and wind turbines.

Net zero homes are those that produce as much energy as they use, and we think that we’ll be seeing more and more of these homes in the years to come.

So even if you aren’t ready to go solar, Georgetown Development can help you with smaller touches to help save energy and green your home from custom home design or home renovations.

For more information about how Georgetown Development can help you, please visit www.georgetowndevcorp.com.

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Remember shag carpet? Sure it was fun to look at and comfortable to lay on, but how stylish was it really?

Today’s options when it comes to flooring are a far cry from the days of orange shag carpet and can complete the look to any room, from kitchens to baths to living rooms, if you have the vision, there’s a flooring style to match it.

When we saw all the new materials that can be used to create an amazing space, we were well, floored! Here at Georgetown Development we look for accents that make each living space unique whether you’re re-designing your space to be more green or if you’re creating a custom home from the basement up.

Take a look at some of these unique styles, from cork to bamboo; we can help you choose the best floor for your home.

For more information on Georgetown Development or to take a look at some of our work, please visit www.georgetowndevcorp.com

Every think of adding some color to your kitchen? How about a home that incorporates your kitchen as part of your home rather than a room that you disappear into and then emerge with tasty treats?

If you’ve ever had these thoughts, then you aren’t alone. In fact, you’re on trend with many of the designs that emerged out of the 2010 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Chicago back in April. Over the last month, Georgetown Development has written about some of the cool new gadgets that emerged out of the show and today we’d like to show you 10 of the top trends in kitchens and baths.

From kitchen beverage stations to artistic bathroom fixtures, click here to take a look at some of the newer ideas in kitchen and bath design.

Georgetown Development can help you with your kitchen and bath re-design or your new custom home. To learn more about what Georgetown Development can do for you, take a look at our portfolio at www.georgetowndevcorp.com

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Ladies and gentleman, take a look at what’s behind door number one! You remember the show; the door would open and an amazing prize was waiting behind it. At Georgetown Development, we kind of feel the same way. You open the door to the bedroom or the living room and there it is - the room of your dreams.

What if the real treat was the actual door? What if guests were amazed at the craftwork of you custom made interior doors made with translucent resins that use a variety of materials such as grass, paper, metal, fabric, or even recycled glass.

Take a look at these new doors from the Simpson Door Co. and envision how they could transform any room in your home and how Georgetown Development can help you do it. If you’re in the market for a home renovation or working on a custom home design, we can help you do it.

For more information on Georgetown Development Corporation and to take a look at some of our most recent renovation and custom home projects, please visit www.georgetowndevcorp.com

Happy Building!