Friday, May 28, 2010

May Profile: EcobuildersNY


Building is in the genes of the Najdek family of Millerton, New York. As residents of this Hudson Valley community for ten generations, the Najdek's have been makers of fine furniture, cabinetry, and homes. As the third generation of builders in the family, Donald Najdek worked for many years in high end home construction throughout the Hudson Valley. In 2007, realizing a changing landscape in his industry, Donald began to rethink his building methods of the past. On December 1 of that year he made the decision to take his business in a new direction and EcoBuildersNY was born.

Donald's vision was to continue creating beautiful spaces for his clients, but re-think the science behind the construction of these spaces. Like the generations of builders before him, Donald wanted to build sound structures he knew would last for years to come.

Today, EcoBuilders' range of capabilities are extensive. Donald and his crew of seven full time employees complete projects from rehabilitation of historic homes to design of contemporary residences, pool houses, cabanas, decks, and even projects as small as changing out fixtures. Donald's goal is to provide each client with his undivided attention regardless of the size or scope of their project. He not only acts as a general contractor and builder, but also as a consultant to home owners, professional architects and designers. Researching and understanding the best alternatives for each project are the core of his mission. Donald is committed to utilizing high performance, energy efficient, and when possible, locally produced building materials.

In addition to smart construction, job site waste and energy conservation are of key importance to EcoBuilders. At each of their job sites, rather than setting up one large dumpster, many small dumpsters are put in place so that waste materials may be separated. By segregating all waste when it is initially removed, recyclables can be easily delivered to larger recycling facilities and clients realize significant savings by returning materials that may be repurposed (ie. concrete, metal materials and 'clean' wood).

EcoBuilders strives to conserve energy at their sites by generating their own power as often as possible. One of their trailers is equipped with solar electric panels and a battery bank system for power generation. This system decreases the need for fossil fuel powered generators and also works particularly well at sites where access to power is limited or during times when electricity must be turned off at a job site.

EcoBuildersNY is a great example of how today's builders are rethinking building practices and making our homes more comfortable while also minimizing our carbon footprints. This ensures a healthy way of life for us and generations to come.

To learn more about EcoBuildersNY please visit http://www.ecobuildny.com/. Donald Najdek may be contacted at 845.233.0928 or donald@ecobuildny.com.