There are very few times in life when you’ll be encouraged to think small, especially if you’re looking to build a house. No, we’re not talking about building a tiny house. We’re talking about building a custom home in the quaint city of North Canton, Ohio. It’s a placed steeped with history and primed to be a great place to raise a family.
 
North Canton is a local gem. It’s also the headquarters of Charis Homes, a small business that is making a big impact in the world of custom home building. As a committed Department of Energy partner who provides certified Zero Energy Ready Homes, Charis Homes is in the top one percent of builders in the country meeting the extraordinary levels of excellence in energy and performance specified in the national program requirements. Charis Homes is building the house of tomorrow, today, and increasing our clients’ savings along the way.
 
Being a part of a small town, Charis knows the importance of having a strong support network to help our dreams grow. That’s why supporting local business is an integral part of our company philosophy. We are proud to partner with vendors like North Canton TV and Appliance, and other small business owners and financial institutions in the communities where we build.  With options in custom cabinetry, woodworking and stonework, each part of the custom home building process is designed to provide you with a new home that is a showplace of style, comfort and energy-efficiency.
 
Click here to find out more about why building a Zero Energy Ready Home is a choice you should consider when designing your custom home. ​

At first entry, you’ll see what makes a Charis home different. More than eye-catching exterior stonework or siding that comes in stunning shades, our custom homes feature advanced technologies and practices recommended by leading housing experts from the Department of Energy’s world-class research program, Building America. A quiet interior is just one of the things that show the energy efficiency behind the boards and beams of a home that is designed by you, featuring Zero Energy Ready elements that will make your home last longer and live better.
 
 
“Emphasizing the “u” in Custom”
 
From the very beginning, your vision will drive your design. From a gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry to a dining room with a walk out to an outdoor fireplace and entertainment area, Charis Homes will work with you to build the home of your dreams.
 
 
“Conscious About Comfort”
 
Are you looking for even indoor temperature providing a comfortable indoor environment through every season? Every Charis Home includes superior insulation, windows, air sealing and space conditioning systems included to surround you with even temperatures, low-humidity, and quiet in every room on every floor. We even give you the option when working with our HVAC company to customize this comfort even further!
 
 
“Energy is Everything”
What sets Charis Homes apart from other custom builders is our focus on energy efficiency. We build Zero Energy Ready homes. That means your home will have EPA-certified indoor air quality, feature water delivery systems that meet or exceed national efficiency standards and have provisions that will ensure your home can adapt to renewable energy sources. Even the standard features of your home, like lighting and appliances, will be Energy Star qualified for maximum efficiency.

 
“For Health and Hearth”
Feeling safe at home is about more than security. That’s why our custom Zero Energy Ready homes feature a comprehensive package of measures to help minimize dangerous pollutants, provide continuous fresh air, and effectively filter the air you breathe.
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“Conscious about Community”
At Charis, community is more than just the place where you build a home. It’s where you live, work, play and give back. Charis Homes is proud to work with financial institutions, small businesses and contractors who have long-standing ties to the communities where we build. 

Charis showcased our homes in several Parade of Homes and Circuit of Homes, helping to support our local Home Building Associations in Medina, Summit and Stark County. Thank you to all those who toured our homes!

Todd Scott and Glenna Wilson had the pleasure of being personally invited by Pella Windows to tour their factory. This tour included a private jet ride, hearing the exciting history of the Pella Company, meeting the company’s executives, as well a factory tour learning about the innovative and energy efficient technology Pella incorporates into their windows

The Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Awards recognizes the nation’s top builders on the path to Zero Energy Ready Homes. Charis Homes was among those winning builders. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) presented the 2017 Housing Innovation Awards to 24 of the nation's leading builders on Wednesday 10/11/17 at the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance's High Performance Home Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Overall, 26 award-winning homes were selected from five categories: Affordable Homes, Multi-Family Homes, Production Homes, Custom Homes (Buyers), and Custom Homes (Spec).

"Zero Energy Ready Homes are designed to provide a whole new level of home owner experience, including ultra-low utility bills, ensured comfort, comprehensive water protection, whole-house fresh air delivery, high-capture filtration, contaminant control, and enhanced durability."

"These winners are leading a national movement to Zero Energy Ready Homes, providing better places for Americans to live, stronger communities, and a more economically and environmentally resilient nation," said Sam Rashkin - Chief Architect, Building Technologies Office.

A bonus to winning the 2017 Housing Innovation Award, Todd Scott, Glenna Wilson, Emily Meadows; Marketing Director and HVAC Subcontractor; Bill Campian were able to join an exclusive round table at the Mitsubishi plant in Atlanta, GA. There builders discussed obstacles to building a Zero Energy Ready Home as well as collaborated on what systems were successfully in building a Zero Energy Ready Home. It was a successful day of learning as well as all builders weighing in on changes that the Department of Energy will incorporate in their Zero Energy Ready program.

The Avid Gold Awards are presented to builders scoring highest on the New Home Move In Experience™ survey (purchasing experience to first 90 days), by region. Builders that received 12 or more completed surveys are included in this award program.

The Avid AwardsTM honor homebuilders throughout North America whose buyers rate them highest for customer experience. The Avid Awards included a record number of 1,445 qualifying builders, the largest assessment of homebuyer satisfaction in North America. Homebuilding companies included in this year’s study represent 25% of the largest publicly traded NYSE/NASDAQ builders, 38% of North America’s largest private builders, and hundreds of small volume and custom builders from coast to coast.

Charis was the only builder in the US North Central Custom category to receive this award!
https://www.avidratings.com/avidawards

We began construction of our newest model home, The Southern Comfort in the King’s Ridge development located in Uniontown, OH. This home is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch home with large front, a new kitchen layout, a rear porch with a fireplace, oversized mudroom, large Master Suite with dual closets and custom shower. Plus many more customizations you will just have to see in person when the model is finished this Spring! Until then check out our 3D exterior model here: http://www.charishomes.com/modelhome2018.html

When it comes to going green, most of us understand the basic priorities of consuming less energy, recycling and reusing goods, and making environmentally friendly purchasing and lifestyle decisions. All of these actions are central to green living and can be easily applied to your home. If you’re looking for ways to increase your eco-friendly lifestyle at home, we’ve got you covered. At Home Improvement Leads we have tons of ideas to help you up your home’s green status.
 
Consider renewable energy sources
At the mention green living, the first thing that often comes to mind is a traditional rooftop solar panel system. Solar power is at the forefront of renewable energy use in the home and can drastically reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills, so it is definitely something to consider if you’re serious about your green status at home and have the financial capabilities to fund it. While there are several other renewable energy sources that can also decrease your home’s use of greenhouse gas emissions (water and wind power specifically), solar is still by far the most accessible for most residential areas.

​Consume less energy
If solar power is not currently within your household budget, there are still plenty of ways you can decrease your everyday energy use. Simple changes such as switching off lights and electronic devices when you leave the room and turning down your HVAC settings when you leave the house will make immediate changes to your energy bills. If you like the idea of monitoring your energy use throughout the house, consider investing in a smart energy meter to help you keep track of your usage via a linked smartphone or tablet app—most large energy companies now offer these meters for free, or you can purchase a more sophisticated linkable thermostat system from brands such as Nest or ecobee.

​Create an environmentally conscious kitchen
Once you’ve got your energy use under control, you can turn your focus to other everyday changes that will help encourage your green lifestyle. Recycling, composting, and otherwise decreasing your food and household waste are practices that help not only you and your home, but countless others who benefit from the byproducts of renewable resources. Making green food a priority is just as important as recycling, since most local and organic food products are grown responsibly and sustainably without a negative impact on the environment (plus, they’re free from pesticides and other potentially damaging toxins that can harm you and your family when consumed). 

​Choose environmentally safe household products
Taking the time to consider the ingredients and production methods of the things you use to clean yourself and your home is just as important as choosing healthy, organic foods. Most store-bought household cleaning and beauty products are full of chemicals, preservatives, and stabilizers that can be harmful to you and the immediate environment in your home. Thankfully, many stores now stock environmentally conscious brands (such as ecover, method, and the Honest Company) that boast no colorants, artificial ingredients, or other potential toxins. If you want to ensure you’re getting a product that has only natural ingredients, you can also make your own cleaning and beauty products with safe and common household ingredients such as vinegar, lemon, baking soda, castile soap, and essential oils. 

​Hunt for upcycled bargains
If you’re starting to think that green living is only about energy awareness and all-natural products, you’re wrong. One of the most exciting things you can do to ensure your home is embracing an environmentally friendly lifestyle is choosing furniture and decorative accessories that have been used before. While most of us simply run to the store or search online for new furniture or decor, it is far more eco-friendly (and trendy) to breathe new life into old items and create your own bespoke pieces. The next time you feel the urge to shop, skip the big department stores and instead head to your nearest thrift shop, flea market, or yard sale—we think you’ll be surprised at the treasures you can find

Replacing your windows is a big step that can do a lot for your wallet. It may seem like an expensive investment, but upgrading to energy-efficient windows can power up your utility savings, reduce how much energy you use, and boost your home’s real estate value. At Home Improvement Leads, we know navigating window energy ratings can be confusing at first, so here’s a simple guide to get you started.
 
U-Factor
If you’re looking for windows that help lock in heat during the winter, pay attention to the U-factor rating. This number is displayed on the label, and it indicates how well a window prevents heat loss. The lower the number, the more effective the window is at locking in heat. If you live in a colder climate, this is certainly a number you want to factor in when choosing your windows.
 
Air Leakage
Similarly, the air leakage number portrays how much outside air can seep into your home through your windows. The lower the number, the more effective the window is at keeping outside air, well, outside. This is great in southern and warm climates, where you don’t particularly want hot air to leak in.

The ICF Builder Awards are held annually to recognize the best in insulated concrete construction. This year, “Stone Creek” was one of two BuildBlock projects receiving recognition at this prestigious event.

Stone Creek, in Canton Ohio earned first runner up in the small residential category, which includes houses that are 3,000 square feet or less. The home was selected by the ICF Builder Award Committee based on it’s success despite weather challenges during construction, its added industry exposure, and the exceptional results when completed. Built by one of the leaders in energy efficient homes in Ohio, Charis Homes, this 2,570 square foot house offers incredible savings.

Stone Creek maximizes the benefits of ICFs. The insulated concrete wall provides exceptional sound mitigation, low air infiltration, resistance to strong winds, and an interior temperature that’s easy to keep stable. Adding to the homes efficiency are Energy Star windows, a Pex Manifold plumbing system, Navien hot water tank, and a 97% efficient Carrier Infinity Furnace with zoned controls. Utility bills for similar homes in the area typically average around $3,600 a year but the owners of Stone Creek are paying, on average, $120 a month. That’s nearly 60% in energy savings in an area of the country that sees some extremely cold winters.

Speaking of cold winters. The home was constructed during one of the most frigid Ohio winters on record. ICFs provide a building material that is flexible and usable in most any condition so the team didn’t lose any work days due to inclement weather. In fact, ICFs generally install quicker than traditional wood framed houses. Stone Creek was stacked and poured in seven days, saving the crew an entire week on construction.

ICFs create a solid mass wall, and when finished correctly are completely air tight. This low air infiltration reduces the presence of irritants such as dust and pollen and results in an extremely clean living environment. Glenna Wilson of Charis Homes spoke to this fact by saying, “I feel like the ICF advantage that isn’t talked about enough is how healthy they make your home.”

Energy efficient building is a small but growing market in Ohio. Charis has been building with BuildBlock for years, and earlier this year built the first Zero Energy Ready Home in Ohio. Homes like these do a lot to educate the local public on the benefits of building with efficient materials. The ICF industry is gaining momentum and growing because homeowners are experiencing the added value and comfort of ICF homes.

"We market ICF as the Mercedes of houses and remind new builders that they have an amazing opportunity to build a house that will have value for a long time. When our customers see the benefits of building with ICF it’s an easy decision."
-Glenna Wilson- Charis Homes

Article Source:
http://buildblock.com/buildblock-project-stone-creek-wins-icf-builder-award/

Charis Homes Earns Prestigious Housing Innovation Award from the US Department of Energy
 
The DOE Housing Innovation Awards recognize nation’s top builders on the path to Zero Energy Ready Homes
 
The US Department of Energy has announced that Charis Homes has been awarded a 2016 Housing Innovation Award in the Custom (for Buyer). Grand Winners in each category will be announced at the 2016 Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony, Wednesday, September 27th at the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference in Dallas, Texas. 
 
“Housing Innovation Award winners such as Charis Homes are leading a major housing industry transformation to zero energy ready homes.  This level of performance is the home of the future because it improves the way Americans live by substantially reducing or eliminating utility bills, ensuring engineered comfort way beyond traditional homes, protecting health with a comprehensive package of indoor air quality measures, and helping maximize the largest investment of a lifetime,” said Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office.
 
“These winners are leading the movement to Zero Energy Ready Homes that provide better places for Americans to live, stronger communities, and a more economically and environmentally resilient nation,” said Rashkin.
 
Visit the U.S Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Award’s website to learn more about the awards.  Winning homes from previous award years can be viewed on the DOE Tour of Zero.

Source: ​http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-home

BENEFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS

• Peace of Mind: Tried-and-true best building practices followed by independent inspections and testing from certified professionals mean that you can be confident that things were done right.
  
  
• Enduring Quality: Value-adding energy efficiency features and a combination of materials and equipment deliver better performance and an overall superior level of quality.
  
  
• Wall-to-Wall Comfort: You’ll see, feel, and hear the difference of a heating and cooling system that has been engineered and installed to efficiently deliver comfort. Enjoy consistent temperatures across every room and a constant supply of fresh, filtered air reducing indoor pollutants, dust, pollen, and other allergens.
  
  
• Proven Value: Better energy efficiency and performance means lower utility and maintenance costs. Homes earning the ENERGY STAR label use 15-30 percent less energy than typical new homes, and even more when compared to most resale homes on the market today.

Source: ​https://www.energystar.gov/newhomes/explore_features_benefits