Jun 9 2008
When Bob Burnside left his executive job at General Motors to become a home builder, he decided to construct homes that save on energy. Today, Burnside's company, Fireside Home Construction, is recognized as a leader in custom "green" home construction.
Burnside recently became one of the nation's first home builders to earn the designation of Certified Green Professional (CGP) from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
CGP is a new designation that teaches builders, remodelers and building industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into the homes they build without driving up the cost of construction. Burnside earned the designation by completing intensive industry-related courses that focused on providing a solid background in green building methods, business management and marketing. Additionally, Burnside was required to possess a minimum of two years building experience, a proven track record of successful project management, and a pledge to uphold the CGP's code of ethics.
For more than 11 years, Fireside Home Construction has been at the forefront of green building with high performance, sustainable homes for families living in southeast Michigan. The company's mission is built around constructing custom homes that are energy efficient, healthy, comfortable and have a positive impact on the environment.
"Our precious earth has limited resources," said Burnside. "At Fireside, we feel obligated to preserve the environment for our children and for generations to come. To this end, we are committed to building green, environmentally-friendly homes."