Meet H&H Homes of Fayetteville, NC

H&H Homes is a builder of new homes based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They have built homes in Pinehurst, Goldboro, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Camp Lejeune. They focus on livability and sustainability in the communities they help create.

1. How did you become interested in building homes?

In 1991, Ralph acted on a lifelong passion to build new homes in Fayetteville by forming H&H Homes with his wife, Linda. Ralph Huff has an extensive banking background, and he also has a majority ownership in real estate brokerage Coldwell Banker Advantage. With his contacts in banking, decided to build new homes in some of the military towns around North Carolina. Today, H&H Homes has 60 employees and has built and sold over 4000 new homes in the Fayetteville and Jacksonville NC markets.

2. Are you seeing a lot of construction of new homes in Fayetteville?

Absolutely. Fayetteville is our largest market. We've built our company on the sales of quality new homes to military personnel and families whose careers include the federal government. Fayetteville, with its proximity to Fort Bragg, continues to be a major source of sales for H&H Homes.

3. What makes Fayetteville such a popular place to live among cities in North Carolina?

I think it's the combination of a solid employment center in terms of the local base, but also, a great many cultural, retail and entertainment options that are really picking up in the area. Plus, you've got a ton of outdoor recreational activities in the region. Fayetteville has really become so much more well-rounded over the past few years.

4. For people who are on the fence and considering buying a new home or an existing home, do you have any advice when it comes to making that decision?

I think you have to weigh the advantage between a new vs used home. New homes offer extensive warranties and protections that you're just not going to get with a used home. Furthermore, newer homes are more energy efficient, and it's quite amazing how much you can save per year when your home helps you cut those utility bills each month. Lastly, you have so many personalization options with a new home. You can truly detail your home so it's exactly the way you want it.

5. What else would you like people to know about H&H Homes?

We really take our company's slogan, "Crafted for Life," quite seriously. Every decision we make at the company level has to do with crafting a home that will truly stand the test of time. It will weather the elements and solidly stand for generations to come. We know that many of our buyers want to live in their home forever, and maybe even pass it along to future generations. We've built our reputation on designing and building a product that can live up to those expectations.

Feel free to visit our website and learn more about the new homes in Fayetteville we build and how our company truly stands behind each and every one of them.

Thanks!

Introducing Enviro First Solutions

Enviro First Solutions is an Australia-based company which sells creative, affordable, environmentally friendly products suitable for individuals and governments alike.

Some of their most popular items are oil spill kits and absorbent kits which are designed to help with the cleanup of different sizes of oil spills. The kits are designed with environmental regulations in mind--for example, if you are a recreational boater, you still need to be responsible for any oil spillage when fixing your engine, etc.

The spill kits on the site include compact, easy to use kits for hobbyists as well as larger kits suitable for municipal use. There are spill bags, spill bins, and a product called Envirohold allows for easy removal and disposal of the spilled oil by making it mass together when in the water. The products are designed to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

The Enviro First Solutions website also includes a detailed description of silt fencing and how it helps prevent soil loss on construction sites or other areas where the land is being disturbed. This type of fencing is important in protecting habitats and keeping waterways and sewers from becoming clogged with sediment. The site gives details on design and placement of fences, and you can contact the company for more information about silt fence installation on your building site.

Personally, as I browsed the company's website, I was impressed with their biodegradable alternative to sandbags. Their Easy Bags come flat packed and contain a polymer which absorbs water and inflates so that it functions like a sandbag, but you don't have to shovel sand and haul heavy sandbags to build a barrier to protect yourself from flooding. As the video below says, "your threat becomes your solution" when water-filled Easy Bags function as a protective wall.

If you are in Australia and are looking for a friendly, knowledgeable group of people who are creating products to help protect the environment, check out Enviro First Solutions' website, or just give them a call or an email.

Meet Dr. Hicham Riba, Author and Sustainable Living Enthusiast

Dr. Hicham Riba is a practicing dentist in the United States who graduated from New York University in 1994, and from Tishreen University in Syria in 1989. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Riba has also been a realtor in the state of Illinois since 2007 and is certified in real estate investments from various real estate institutions in the United States. He is an avid sustainable living enthusiast and author of Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Design: The Riba Green City Model.

1. How did you first become interested in sustainable design?

I've always had an interest in architecture and design. Of course when you have children, if you weren't before, you become much more concerned about the environment. I became hyper-aware of the environmental messes my children would be forced to deal with in the future, not to mention their children, my grandchildren--everyone's.

2. What inspired you to write Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Design: The Riba Green City Model?

It was the war in Syria. Amidst the heartbreaking daily reports of loss of life and devastating destruction, somehow green ideas began to sprout in my mind. These ideas multiplied by the day, and soon I simply could not shake the hope for a new, green, thriving Syria. In time, the opportunity to rebuild would present itself. We needed to be prepared. Instead of consumers, I sincerely believe each one of us possesses the ability to become a producer utilizing the best technology available and shedding our dependence on fossil fuels.

3. Would you tell us a little bit about your "green city model"?

It's a practical guide to creating a completely sustainable and agricultural city. I thoroughly explore all aspects of renewable energy and how we can apply them in every area from the individual housing units to the blocks, neighborhoods, communities, and throughout the entire city.

4. What are some things you do in your own life to be mindful of the environment and live in a more sustainable way?

I recycle, buy local whenever I can, blog, talk to my kids about the environment, and try my best to be a good example, because that is what they'll remember above all else.

5. How do you combine your work as a dentist with your interest in sustainable design?

In the workplace we are paperless. Everything is digital. The office design is also very agronomic, and we use green companies whenever we have the opportunity.

Thanks, Dr. Riba!

Meet Kevin Harrington of Cozy Home Plans

Kevin Harrington has over 25 years in the construction industry including landscaping, remodeling, and real estate sales, and he and been living the tiny house lifestyle personally for three years. He has also been the general contractor on several house flipping projects. His goal with creating Cozy Home Plans was to keep the American dream alive with affordable small house plans that provide realistic housing options for first-time home buyers and people wanting to downsize.

1. How would you define a "tiny house," and why are they becoming more and more popular?

Tiny houses are typically 300 sq. ft. or less. Their popularity comes from several different factors, in my opinion. The novelty aspect, of course, and simplifying your life while downsizing in this day and age of technological overload is great. There are numerous workshops available that actually teach "hands on building techniques" to the average person who wants to build their own tiny house. People are realizing they have too much stuff and are looking for ways to save money and simplify their lives. Tiny houses just make sense and are here to stay.

2. What are some key factors that can help turn a tiny house into a cozy home?

A person can absolutely live in 100 sq. ft., but can they share the space with others and truly live? After living the tiny lifestyle myself, I have what I call my "6 Must Haves" for a tiny house. These are the guiding principles for all of my designs, and I think they help differentiate us from other tiny house designers. Cozy's motto is "Living Large in a Cozy Home," and we're always posting to our blog about storage ideas, furniture, and construction techniques for making the most of your square footage. Come check us out!

3. What are the benefits to customers in buying your cozy home plans?

I think we actually offer several benefits. My stock plans are all very reasonably priced and designed for both comfortable living and utilizing cost-saving construction methods. We also always utilize the incredibly efficient on-demand hot water heaters and a Mini-Split ductless heating and cooling systems for making the monthly bills as reasonable as possible. Another motto of ours is "Let Our Signature Be Yours." This means all of Cozy's plans are 100% customizable. We love working with people to make their vision become a reality and to help give them the cozy home of their dreams.

4. Are most of your customers doing DIY building projects, or are they using the plans as a starting point for working with contractors, etc?

So far, the vast majority of our sales have been contractor-built homes. Building a home is certainly more involved than what you see on TV. People can actually waste a tremendous amount of time and money if they are NOT aware of their own limitations. Municipalities have building codes, and one of those requirements is typically a set of blueprints, which are also necessary for any legitimate sub-contractor to aid in getting a proper bid.

5. Based on your personal and professional experience, what advice would you give people who are considering downsizing to a tiny house and who are interested in doing at least some of the construction work themselves?

First of all, just go ahead and take the plunge--it won't kill you! There are hundreds of people doing it, including myself, and so far I'm not aware of anyone regretting it. You may want to hire professionals to build the shell if you lack the time or skills to do it yourself. This is typically called a Dry-in or Rough-in, and it's usually the most challenging part of a construction project. The interior work is more DIY-friendly and forgiving of errors--plus you get all the bragging rights!

Thanks, Kevin!