| June 15, 2006
 Little
Log Cabin in the Sky; Alta Log Homes on the Front Line
of New Technology; Gucci Rustic New Trend in Homes
In Scotland and Ireland early in the 3rd century A.D.
the Celts began to build homes made of logs. In fact the
word "cabin" comes from the Gaelic "Cabine" for house of
logs.
When the Scots and Irish began to settle in the new
world early in the 17th century, once again they could
realize their ancient building materials and the little
log house of the prairie became the standard for early
pioneers as they stretched out across America.
In the 21st Century log homes have moved to the
forefront of new home design. According to Mike
McCarthy, Editor in Chief of Log Homes Magazine, "Today
log homes are very desirable with a significant increase
in the number built. In 2006 there are estimated to be
between 30,000 and 40,000 new log homes being erected
across the country. McCarthy attributes this new
interest in log home living to Baby Boomers who have
shunned the MacMansions and Cookie Cutter style of
traditional building methods for the wide open interior
spaces of Log Home living and the luxury of great rooms.
"Maybe its Gucci Rustic," he says, "But many people seem
to have a strong sense of the importance of the
environment and building green, however they don't want
to give up the luxury of wide open interior spaces with
flexible design opportunities from rustic to elegant.
"Using logs as the main building material, a highly
energy efficient home with no waste is created. Just
look at traditional building methods with piles of sheet
rock and lumber on site. With a log home every bit of
the log is used, from left over logs for fencing to
sawdust to mulch for the garden,"
Today a log home is a far cry from the tiny log cabins
of the early settlers. Alta Log Homes, which is one of
the largest makers of log homes in the north east, is
now celebrating its 35th anniversary and is in the
forefront of state-of-the art engineering and promotion
of "Green Building."
The company is helping to set the national standard for
resource efficient, high performance sustainable homes.
The family owned manufacturer has become a pioneer in
the creation of ENERGY STAR(R) log homes, which means
that each home must meet strict criteria for energy
efficiency.
"When a client chooses an ENERGY STAR(R) Alta Log Home
they are making the choice to prevent over one and a
quarter tons of greenhouse gases from ever reaching the
atmosphere while also maintaining energy saving and a
healthier interior and exterior environment." Says David
Mann, vice president of Alta Log Homes.
"As part of our ongoing efforts too provide healthy and
environmentally sound heirloom log homes that fulfill
our client's lifestyle needs, Alta Log Homes is proud to
participate in the U.S.
Green Building Council's LEED(R) for Homes Program. This
is a demonstration pilot program with a prototype
corporate model being constructed right now," continues
Mr. Mann. In order to qualify for this pilot program an
independent group of experts checks every aspect of the
building process from its location within the
environment to its protection of the environment by
preventing dangerous elements escaping into the air," he
explains.
Alta Log Homes' spacious design plans fit almost any
design dream from cozy smaller houses to grand homes of
6,000 square feet or more. "The open floor plan allows
for a multitude of design ideas from rustic to modern,"
says Donald Hill, a well known New York interior
designer. "If home is where the heart lies, than Alta's
Log Homes large choice of custom home plans allows the
heart to wander through great spaces and find peace in
front of a cozy fire place.
Alta Log Homes has been a leader in the log home
industry since 1971 creating top quality homes that are
as much at home in the back woods as they are in
suburban communities.
Why have log homes suddenly become the place to live?
Perhaps it's a yearning for something that is "green"
made of renewable products with large open spaces that
welcome the outdoors in, and designed with a warmth not
found in many modern homes. Perhaps log homes call to
the pioneer spirit in us all.
Log homes were the mainstay of immigrants who moved into
the vast wilderness that was the early United States and
as we move forward in the 21st century log homes again
provide a new refuge for today's new pioneers.
For more information on Alta Log Homes and its ENERGY
STAR® rating, call 800-926-2582
or visit www.altaloghomes.com A Fast Fact Sheet on the
ENERGY STAR Program & Alta Log Homes is Available.
Click here to contact us. |
