BartonPartners' David M. Stembel Becomes EarthCraft Homes Service Provider

March 25, 2009 - PRLog -- BartonPartners Architects Planners Inc. is pleased to announce that David M. Stembel III, AIA, LEED AP recently completed the training necessary to become a service provider in accordance with the EarthCraft Homes green building guidelines.

During training, builders are taught the basics of the certification process and given an overview of environmental guidelines used to build EarthCraft Homes. These guidelines include Energy Star compliance, passing an inspection by EarthCraft Inspectors, and earning a minimum of 120 points on the EarthCraft Homes Worksheet.

BartonPartners is committed to sustainable design practices. With six (6) LEED Accredited Professionals and two (2) NAHB Certified Green Professionals on staff, the firm actively encourages clients to consider implementing green design at all phases of project development.

"BartonPartners is very excited about Dave's certification," said Thomas C. Barton, III AIA, Principal. "The firm is committed to sustainable design practices, and we are proud that our staff members are well-versed variety of green building standards and can help our clients choose the green guidelines that best fit their unique projects."

Dave Stembel is an architect with more than twenty-five years of project experience.  Senior living, housing and community design are his particular areas of expertise.  Prior to joining BartonPartners in February of 2008, Dave was the Project Manager and Lead Designer for the award winning Gateway Crossing Community in Hagerstown, Maryland, recipient of the Best of American Living Gold Medal for Urban Smart Growth, and two national awards from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. His recently completed senior living projects include Stonebridge at Montgomery, a continuing care retirement community north of Princeton and the Jamesburg Commons Assisted Living facility at Monroe Village, also in New Jersey.

About EarthCraft Homes
Founded in 1999 in Atlanta, GA by Southface Energy Institute and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GABHA), EarthCraft is designed to serve as a blueprint for the construction of energy and resource-efficient homes. By using energy and natural resources wisely, homeowners save money on utilities and do their part to protect the environment. EarthCraft opened a Richmond, VA. office in 2007 that focuses on helping builders create EarthCraft homes in Virginia and Washington, D.C. areas. EarthCraft has since expanded its system to Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. For more information about EarthCraft Homes, please visit http://earthcrafthouse.com/

About the Firm
BartonPartners is a fully integrated architectural and planning firm, recognized nationally for its innovations in design, with a staff of 45+ architects, planners, designers, and landscape designers. Founded in 1990 and committed to facilitating conscientious development, the practice originated in residential development in the Middle Atlantic region, and has evolved to include mixed-use and transit-oriented design, commercial and retail architecture, single- and multi-family projects, 50+ lifestyle communities, adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of existing structures, and urban infill development throughout the United States.

For more information on BartonPartners, call 610-930-2800 and visit www.bartonpartners.com.

# # #

BartonPartners is a fully integrated architectural & planning firm recognized for design innovation. Committed to facilitating conscientious development, the practice includes mixed-use, commercial and retail architecture, adaptive reuse, & urban infill.