EarthCraft House Renovation

Many homeowners are faced with the need to improve or expand their existing home. The EarthCraft House Renovation program assists homeowners and contractors in identifying the causes of uncomfortable rooms, high energy bills, poor indoor air quality and combustion safety concerns so that these problems can be addressed in the scope of the renovation.

Guidance is also offered in reducing the home's environmental footprint, meaning that the natural resources and energy needed to renovate and operate the home are lowered.The Renovation program addresses the existing home as well as additions and expansions. Several projects have included adding substantial square footage to the existing home while reducing energy bills and improving indoor air quality. As in the new home program, contractors attend an in-class training, which is followed up with field support and inspections before and after construction. Deciding key features Before any work starts, an EarthCraft House inspector will assess the home and write a report recommending features to include in your project. These recommendations will include energy efficiency, indoor air quality, durability, water conservation, and waste reduction. The homeowner and renovator will decide which recommendations to implement. A project can be certified as an EarthCraft house if the implemented features score enough points in the EarthCraft House scoring worksheet.

Taking it up a level to make your house an EarthCraft House.

Click here for a list of EarthCraft House Renovators

If you have your own contractor, that company can attend one of our scheduled trainings. The process of certifying a project is as follows:

1. The renovator and homeowner meet with EarthCraft House staff for a design review to determine a strategy for best meeting the program guidelines. Each project must score a minimum number of points on the EarthCraft House Renovation scoring worksheet. (The design review is not required after the renovator's first project.)
2. An EarthCraft inspector conducts a Home Assessment of the potential EarthCraft House project. The assessment includes diagnostic tests to measure house and duct leakage. The inspector compiles observations, results and recommendations into a written report presented to the renovator
3. EarthCraft staff conducts a Pre-Drywall Walkthrough with the renovator before drywall is hung. (This site visit is not required after the renovator's first project.)
4. At project completion, the renovator schedules a Final Inspection for the house and presents the EarthCraft Inspector with a completed worksheet. The inspector repeats the diagnostic tests and verifies that the requirements of the worksheet have been met.
5. If the renovation has not scored enough points on the worksheet to certify, the renovator may schedule a re-inspection once the necessary corrective measures have been taken. Re-Inspections will incur additional charges.

Fee structure

A renovator’s first project has a fee of $1050.

Each additional project has a fee of $800.

Fees include all services listed above. Re-inspections will incur additional fees.

The renovation contractor must be a member of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association and have joined the EarthCraft House program.