Building Materials and Methods

William “Bill” Starkey is an established business leader in Montgomery, Texas, who guided Starkey Construction, LLC for many years and provided high-end residential project management solutions. William Starkey focuses on sustainability and green building mandates, such as the use of non-toxic, ethically sourced materials that help preserve the environment,

When it comes to green construction alternatives involving traditional concrete, one option is grasscrete, a type of structure used for laying driveways, walkways, and flooring. It provides open patterns and space within the concrete for plants, such as grass and perennials, to thrive. Using grascrete enhances drainage and absorption of storm overflow and a reduced amount of concrete required.

Another unique building material is mycelium. Comprised of the root structure of mushrooms and other fungi, the building material is crafted from mycelium that has been cultured to grow within forms and molds around natural composites. The air-dried bricks and other building shapes that result combine strength and lightweight qualities.

Other next-generation building materials include recycled plastic, ashcrete, rammed earth, and even hempcrete. They are alternatives to concrete that have been designed using unconventional materials from tightly packed earth to natural hemp.

LEED Zero Complements LEED Certification

A construction professional in Montgomery, Texas, William Starkey maintains an interest in environmentally responsible building practices. Throughout his 37-year career, William “Bill” Starkey implemented many energy-saving measures outlined by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Widely regarded as the gold standard in green building, LEED designation is the world’s leading green building rating system. In November 2018, LEED introduced LEED Zero as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to achieve a net zero in terms of carbon, energy, water, and waste. A complement to LEED certification, LEED Zero represents the next level in green building.

LEED Zero Carbon denotes buildings operating with net zero carbon emissions resulting from energy consumption or occupant transportation, either by avoiding or offsetting emissions over a 1-year period. LEED Zero Resources recognizes buildings whose use of energy and water reaches a balance of zero over 12 months, as well as those that achieve a Platinum level of waste production in line with TRUE Zero Waste requirements.

Benefits of Prefabricated Construction

William “Bill” Starkey of Montgomery, Texas, has nearly four decades of experience building luxury custom homes, hospitals, schools, and churches. One of William Starkey’s construction philosophies involves using materials that are high-grade, non-toxic, and sustainably sourced.

In construction, prefabrication has claimed significant sustainability benefits in reducing energy consumption, community disruption, and material waste. Prefabrication is a construction method wherein builders construct and assemble various building components at a designated manufacturing site before transporting them to the final location, where they complete the setup and hand-off the finished structure to the new owners.

Besides sustainability, prefabricated construction improves the efficiency and quality control of the operation. When the entire process, from design to manufacturing and construction, takes place in a controlled setting, it is easier to check for and fix errors, avoiding further delays in meeting the project delivery. Workers also experience fewer risks when working at an offsite facility with purpose-made workstations than at a conventional building site, which is exposed to heavy machinery, various weather conditions, and other external factors. 

A Brief Overview of LEED Certification

The former CEO of Starkey Construction, William Starkey is a Montgomery, Texas resident who spent more than 35 years at the helm of the Texas-based construction company. Responsible for all operations at the company, William “Bill” Starkey and his team implemented several green building techniques when designing custom homes, churches, hospitals, and other buildings.

A part of the United States Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the world’s most widely used green building program. Designed for helping people and communities thrive, the program denotes that buildings are energy and resource-efficient. Having a LEED-certified building leads to buildings' improved financial performance by granting them differentiation in the market. LEED certification also increases employee recruitment and retention rates, attracts tenants most often, and reduces building operating costs.

LEED certification is granted in one of four ratings: certified, silver, gold, and platinum. These ratings apply to buildings in all phases of development. However, certification is generally reserved for more completed projects, particularly in certifying building design and construction techniques. For these buildings, at least 60 percent of a project's gross floor area must be done by the time certification is granted.