Whats New at Cardea Construction
Cardea Construction Honored by Realtors for Environmental Awareness
Ann Arbor, MI - January 13, 2005
When Patricia Harroun, founder and president of Cardea Construction
Company, accepted the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtor's Environmental
Awareness Award on January 13, it was in the spirit of creating healthier
homes for healthier living.
The award could not come at a more auspicious time, as Cardea celebrates 20 years as one of Washtenaw County's premier design and remodeling firms specializing in large-scale home renovations and additions.
The award given annually by the Environmental Committee of the AAABR, recognizes significant contributions to environmental awareness and stewardship. Cardea won the award for its remodel of a home on Ann Arbor's West Side. While maintaining the intrinsic charm of this 1940's Cape Cod, Cardea updated the home following Energy Star, American Lung Association, and Green Building guidelines. The result is one of Ann Arbor's most comfortable and energy efficient homes.
The home has been given the Energy Star "Five Star" rating - the top rating awarded by the program for a whole house.
For
Harroun and her staff, the AAABR award helps to validate their unique
mission of transforming homes to help people live healthier lives.
"We consider ourselves healthy home specialists," Harroun says. "That
means that everything we do, we do out of respect for the homeowner,
the home and the environment."
Cardea uses state-of-the-art Energy Star building techniques to make their homes as healthy and comfortable as possible for their occupants. These include sealing the home against drafts, sound and air pollution, and pests, and incorporating "people-friendly" building materials that reduce out-gassing and allergens inside the home.
Cardea's homes also incorporate "healthy design" developed to fit the lives and lifestyles of their homeowner families, leading to more comfortable, happier home environments. "Each family's needs are unique," says Harroun. "We get to know our clients first before we ever put drafting pencil to paper. That way we can design from an understanding of what the family wants and needs from their home, whether it's a gourmet kitchen for entertaining, a low-maintenance single floor living arrangement, or just a cozy space for the family to hang out and be together."
While Harroun has enjoyed all the recognition she and her company are receiving, she says the real reward is in the work itself. "When you transform someone's home, you transform their life and the lives of their family," she says. "Think about the magnitude of that! It's all part of my personal goal to help improve others' lives. It would be great if they say that about me in the end."
