Todd Usher Wins Green Building Leadership Award

Todd Usher with Michelle Usher

The South Carolina Chapter of the US Green Building Council has honored Upstate builder Todd Usher with a 2014 Duke Energy Leadership in Green Building Award.  Usher was the 2008 President of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.

This award — presented during the organization’s annual meeting Oct. 1 – recognizes Usher’s “above and beyond” efforts to further the cause of green building in South Carolina.

As president of Greenville-based Addison Homes, Usher focuses exclusively on sustainable construction, certifying 100 percent of his homes to environmental standards such as Energy Star, LEED for Homes, the National Green Building Standard and/or DOE Zero Energy Ready Home. In addition to leading the industry by example, Usher promotes the benefits of green building to the mainstream market via community education and outreach.

“There is established value in green building,” Usher says. “Consumers enjoy significantly lower utility bills along with enhanced comfort and healthier indoor air. The environment benefits from reduced energy consumption and fewer greenhouse emissions. When consumers become educated regarding the value equation for healthy, high performance homes, their decision to build becomes logical.”

Now in its eighth year, the South Carolina Chapter-USGBC Leadership in Green Building awards program recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that show vision, leadership and commitment to the advancement of green building and construction in the state. Other 2014 recipients include: the USC Darla Moore School of Business, Exemplary Project Award;A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School, Green School Award; and Hiren Shah, Keith Sanders Service Award.

“Addison Homes is honored to receive the Duke Energy Green Building Leadership Award and we congratulate our fellow recipients as well,” says Usher. “It is a privilege – and a responsibility – to build increasing awareness of eco-friendly construction.”

Todd Usher featured by NAHB

We told you last week that Todd Usher is mentoring construction students at Clemson University.  He serves as the HBA's professional adviser to the NAHB Student Chapter at Clemson and also serves as a member of the Industry Advisory Board for Clemson's Construction Science and Management program.

Read last week's article by clicking here.

This week NAHB featured Todd's efforts on NAHBNow.com, the national blog.  Among Todd's efforts is to mentor the competition team at Clemson that will be competing in the student competition at the International Builders Show.   

“The Residential Construction Management Competition provides the most real-world experience these students are likely to have prior to graduation,” said Usher, who is using his green building experience ( he was named NAHB Green Advocate of the Year in 2011) to prep the Clemson team on sustainable construction methods and materials. “It’s a hands-on opportunity to put theory into practice,” he said.

Having industry professionals mentor the Clemson team takes students well beyond their reference books, said Jason Lucas, assistant professor in Clemson’s department of Construction Science and Management.

“Having Todd come in and discuss his experiences provides students with a current market view and practical application of the theories we discuss in class,” Lucas says. “By going over the National Green Building Standard and ICC 700 worksheet, he took something that was abstract to them and put it into practical terms. This gives the students a real head start getting into the RCMC project.”

Read the complete article at NAHBNow.com by clicking here.

Todd Usher will mentor Clemson's NAHB Competition Team

Todd Usher

Todd Usher is helping a team of seven Clemson University students prepare for the National Association of Home Builders’ Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition (RCMC).

The students – all juniors and seniors in Clemson’s Construction Science and Management program – are competing with peers from across the country as they apply skills learned in the classroom to a real-world construction project. Each team receives a problem statement outlining an actual project for which they must produce working drawings, schedules, budgets, project management, sustainability standards, sales and marketing, and pricing/financial analysis; then, they must defend their overall proposal to a group of construction company executives.

“The Residential Construction Management Competition provides the most real-world experience these students are likely to have prior to graduation,” says Usher, president of Addison Homes, who prepped the Clemson team on sustainable construction methods and materials. “It’s a hands-on opportunity to put theory into practice.”

Having industry professionals mentor the Clemson team takes students well beyond their reference books, says Jason Lucas, assistant professor in Clemson’s department of Construction Science and Management.

“Having Todd come in and discuss his experiences provides students with a current market view and practical application of the theories we discuss in class,” Lucas says. “By going over the National Green Building Standard and ICC 700 worksheet, he took something that was abstract to them and put it into practical terms. This gives the students a real headstart getting into the RCMC project.”

The Clemson RCMC team received their problem statement Monday, Sept. 8, and will defend their proposal in front of judges – and an audience – during the International Builders’ Show in January in Las Vegas.

Troy C. Usher

It is with sadness that we report to you the passing of Troy C. Usher, father of Todd Usher, Past President of your Home Builders Association and President of Addison Homes. A memorial service will be held on Monday April 7th at 2pm at Seneca Presbyterian Church, 115 West South 1st St. Reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in honor of Troy C. Usher to Honor Flight Upstate at http://www.honorflightupstatesc.com/2011/

HBA Member, Todd Usher, Joins Clemson University's Industry Advisory Board

Todd Usher, GMB, Master CGP, Approved Professional Builder

Past President Todd Usher, GMB, Master CGP, Approved Professional Builder, has been named to the Industry Advisory Board for Clemson University’s Department of Construction Science and Management (CSM).

The CSM department supports the HBA Student Chapter at Clemson. The HBA of Greenville is the sponsoring HBA for the student chapter.

Comprised of leaders from a variety of construction-related companies throughout the Southeast, the Industry Advisory Board works to ensure a relevant academic program for CSM students by focusing on five areas: executive, alumni development, curriculum, development and facilities. Usher, president of Greenville-based Addison Homes, sits on the board’s steering committee.

“It is a privilege to support the Construction Science and Management Department,” says Usher, who earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Clemson. “I look forward to working on behalf of the school’s rigorous endeavors in teaching, research and service for the benefit of the construction industry.”

The CSM department, now in its 42nd year, is one of the four original components of the university’s College of Architecture. CSM offers both undergraduate and master’s degree programs; in collaboration with the School of Architecture and the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, it also offers a Ph.D. program.

In addition, CSM has a research and professional development component, the Center for the Improvement of Construction Management and Processes (CICMP). For more information about Clemson’s CSM Department, visit http://www.clemson.edu/caah/csm/.


About Addison Homes:

Addison Homes builds all of its homes to rigorous ENERGY STAR®, EarthCraft House™ and/or DOE Challenge Home standards. As a leader in sustainable, high-performance building, Addison Homes has received numerous awards and recognition including the 2012 Master Certified Green Builder of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders; 2011 EarthCraft House™ Gold Project of the Year Award; 2011 Green Building Advocate of the Year Award from NAHB; 2011 Certified Graduate Builder of the Year Award from NAHB; 2010 Safety Award for Excellence from NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company; 2010 Finalist, America’s Best Builder Award from BUILDER magazine; 2009 Builder of the Year Award from the Home Builders Association of Greenville; 2008 Individual Environmental Stewardship Award from the Upstate Chapter of the US Green Building Council; Upstate Forever’s 2008 Sustainable Communities Champion; and 2007 EarthCraft House™ Regional Builder of the Year Award. For more information, visit www.addison-homes.com.

Addison Homes Joins Best Practices Research Alliance®

Addison Homes has joined the Best Practices Research Alliance®, a community of homebuilders collaborating with building performance specialists, business/quality management experts and industry suppliers. Members work together to research, demonstrate and share the technical and business best practices that are moving truly energy-efficient homes into the mainstream.

“We’re privileged to be part of this research-based collaboration,” says Todd Usher, president of Addison Homes, a company that builds 100 percent of its properties to ENERGY STAR® and EarthCraft House™ standards. “It’s a compelling opportunity to share our experience and insights about building high-performance homes with like-minded peers across the country. Continuous improvement can be a rigorous process, but as we move closer toward the ideal of zero energy everyone — from our clients to the community at large — reaps the benefits.”

Founded by IBACOS (Integrated Building and Construction Solutions), the Alliance comprises some 40 homebuilders of all sizes throughout the United States. Research efforts are aligned with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program and key areas of focus include zero energy homes, energy smart homes and business/quality management. For more information on the Best Practices Research Alliance®, visit www.theresearchalliance.org.

Blonquist Joins Addison Homes

Andru Blonquist has joined Addison Homes as Production Manager. In this role, he oversees construction of the company’s EarthCraft House™ and ENERGY STAR® certified homes, ensuring best-practice procedures are implemented from start to finish.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, Blonquist holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management with a minor in Business. He is a licensed South Carolina Residential Builder and Certified Erosion Control Inspector. He formerly served as purchasing/estimating manager for Crescent Homes in Charleston and as an operations consultant for the residential building industry throughout the Southeast.

Blonquist is active in the community, volunteering with youth organizations through his church and participating in a number of disaster relief efforts, most recently helping with tornado clean-up in Alabama.

“We are delighted to welcome Andru aboard,” says Todd Usher, president of Addison Homes, a company that builds 100% of its homes to rigorous ENERGY STAR® and EarthCraft House™ standards. “We’ll put his wealth of industry knowledge and experience to good use while building beautiful homes enhanced by resource-efficiency, air quality, comfort, durability and, especially, value.”

Addison Homes Earns A+ Rating from Better Business Bureau

Addison Homes has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

The Greenville-based homebuilder, which has received BBB accreditation since March 2004, follows a strong code of ethics that’s easily in accordance with the Better Business Bureau’s vision to ensure an ethical marketplace founded on mutual trust between companies and consumers.

“We at Addison Homes are diligent in our efforts to build not only high-performance homes but also ethical relationships with each and every client, vendor and trade partner,” says Todd Usher, president of Addison Homes. “Our company is committed to following the Golden Rule, and the BBB’s A+ ranking confirms our business philosophy.”

BBB’s standards for accreditation require a company to build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive, safeguard privacy and embody integrity—all of which are standard operational procedures at Addison Homes.

“We are proud of our positive track record,” Usher says.

Todd Usher, President of Addison Homes, is Past President and 2009 Builder of the Year of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.  Addison Homes builds all of its homes to rigorous ENERGY STAR® and EarthCraft House™ standards. As a leader in sustainable, high-performance building, Addison Homes has received numerous awards and recognition including the 2011 Green Building Advocate of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders; 2011 Certified Graduate Builder of the Year Award from NAHB; 2010 Safety Award for Excellence from NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company; 2010 Finalist, America’s Best Builder Award from BUILDER magazine; 2008 Individual Environmental Stewardship Award from the Upstate Chapter of the US Green Building Council; Upstate Forever’s 2008 Sustainable Communities Champion; and 2007 EarthCraft House™ Regional Builder of the Year Award.

For more information, visit www.addison-homes.com.

HBA Past President Todd Usher featured on the cover of Greenville Business Magazine

HBA 2008 President Todd Usher, GMB, Master CGP, SC CMB, CAPS, President of Addison Homes, was featured on the cover of Greenville Business Magazine this month (July issue) under the feature, "Greening Greenville's Homes."

The article delves into the business of green home building and remodeling. Featured and quoted in the article are HBA members:

• Dean Benton, Benton Green Energy
• Scott Johnston, Johnston Design Group
• Trey Cole, O'Leary Cole

Also in the July issue is a profile of another HBA member, Upstate Forever. The article features their headquarters building, finished in 2008 to LEED Platinum standards.

Addison Homes builds all of their homes to EarthCraft and Energy STAR standards. Todd and his wife, Michelle, an HBA Affiliate member, regularly discuss the virtues of building and remodeling to high-performance "green" standards.

Read the article featuring Todd Usher, Dean Benton, Scott Johnston, and Trey Cole in Greenville Business Magazine by clicking here.

Addison Homes Named ‘America’s Best Builder’ Finalist

Addison Homes competed amongst the nation’s top companies for the title of “America’s Best Builder.”

The Greenville-based homebuilder was a finalist in the annual contest conducted by BUILDER, a leading media brand focused on the residential construction industry. The America's Best Builder program recognizes winners—and top finalists—for excellence in finance/operations, design/construction, customer service/quality, community/industry service and marketing.

“Though we didn’t earn the overall title, Addison Homes is proud to be recognized as a finalist in this very competitive selection process,” says Todd Usher, president of Addison Homes. “We’re honored to be among the country’s best new home builders.”

Usher says that Addison Homes—the only company in the Upstate that builds 100% of its homes to ENERGY STAR® and EarthCraft House™ standards—intends to participate in the America’s Best Builder contest again next year.

“We are confident our quality and innovation in home building set us apart,” he says.

Todd Usher earns the Master Certified Green Professional (MCGP) educational designation

Todd Usher, MCGP, president of Addison Homes, LLC, and past president of the HBA of Greenville, is the first person in the country to earn the Master Certified Green Professional (MCGP) educational designation - the new standard for home builders and remodelers experienced in sustainable construction techniques, project management and building science. 
 
The Master Certified Green Professional is an exclusive designation offered by the National Association of Home Builders and designed to teach building industry professionals strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.  This new designation builds on the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation that was introduced in February 2008 and has since become NAHB's most successful educational designation program.
 
Candidates of this program must have completed the CGP coursework requirements, have five years' experience in green building, and have certified at least three homes in a three-year period to a nationally recognized rating system, such as the National Green Building Standard.  Unlike the CGP educational designation, which can be earned by real estate brokers, sales and marketing professionals, and suppliers and manufacturers to the home building industry, the Master CGP designation is open only to builders and remodelers.  By earning this designation, Master CGPs gain a greater understanding of sustainable building techniques, knowledge of methods to achieve higher energy efficiency, marketing and sales tools specifically tailored to green building, and the business practices that foster success.

For more information on the Master CGP program click here.

Todd Usher named NAHB Certified Graduate Builder of the Year

During last month’s International Builders Show in Orlando, a HBA of Greenville member was awarded the NAHB Certified Graduate Builder of the Year Award. Congratulations to Todd Usher, CAPS, CGB, CGP, GMB, president of Addison Homes in Greer, SC, for receiving this prestigious national award.

As the 2008 president of the HBA of Greenville, Usher mentored and encouraged fellow NAHB members to pursue designations. He also worked with the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability at Furman University, advising students on energy conservancy, and with local builders and student volunteers with Greenville’s Habitat for Humanity group.

Usher promotes NAHB designations in all of his professional capacities and makes education a priority at his company.