TAKING BUILDING SCIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Building healthy, high performance, homes
for the greater austin area
At Austin Touchstone Builders we are dedicated to building a better, smarter, and healthier home with high-performance building materials, better building science, and smart home technology.
ATB builds net-zero and net-zero ready, healthy, high-performing homes with a combination of ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms), Lumber, Advanced Sealants/ Water Proofing, and Whole House Air Treatment Technology.
Today’s New homes are still being built with traditional outdated building science. We as builders need to catch up with modern building technology and science.
People today worry about the environment, the economy, spending money wisely and about their health. They want their homes to reflect these values, while fitting their budget without compromising style, comfort and quality.
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We believe that consumers need the opportunity to make choices outside of those presented from within the fixed "Production Builder" system. ATB's focus on fine craftsmanship and building science creates homes worthy of your family's largest investment.
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ATB's net-zero and net-zero homes are all certifiable with the U.S. Department of Energy of which ATB is a Partner. Each U.S. Department of Energy certified ATB home comes with a certificate of authenticity and unique vin# assigned by the U.S. Department of Energy to that home. This certification, increases the resale value of the home to monetize the energy and health investments.
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​ATB's High Performance HVAC System coupled with our Net-Zero air tight building envelope create indoor air quality that is second to none.
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We are a family owned business that stands for something beyond making money.
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We are dedicated to exceeding your expectations of build quality, performance, health and comfort.
A zero-energy home, also known as a zero net energy (ZNE) home, net zero home or zero-carbon home is a home with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the home on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the property. These homes consequently contribute less overall greenhouse gas to the atmosphere than similar non-ZNE homes. They do at times consume non-renewable energy and produce greenhouse gases, but at other times reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas production elsewhere by the same amount.
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These homes provide a thermally sealed envelope reducing energy bills as much as 80%. A Net-Zero Ready Home is the same as a Net-Zero Home without the solar panels installed. All ATB's homes come pre-wired for solar panels. Compared to traditional homes, our homes are superior structures resistant to tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, forest fires and termites, while delivering lower overall operational cost and lower frequency of maintenance. We also offer Passive House features which focus on whole house filtered ventilation systems, which are only effective in a house with a thermally sealed envelope.
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Net-Zero construction typically adds 5-10% to the cost of a traditionally built home. Many owners find that the slight rise in a monthly mortgage payment is more than offset by the decrease in monthly energy bills. The net result is a total monthly expense that's about the same for a better built, higher- performing, longer lasting, more comfortable, quiet and healthier home.
Ideal for homes in Texas with mild winters and warmer climate, installed in tandem with the HVAC system, ERV transfers moisture and heat from incoming fresh air to the outgoing air stream.
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While stale air from your house is moved outside, air inside your home is kept comfortable, fresh, clean and no energy is wasted.
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