“Building with ICFs and the opportunity to make a home that can serve as a future model for building green, affordable, sustainable housing is the most interesting aspect of the job for me,” says Valmore “Chip” Gauthier. The residential builder, who is the owner of V.A. Gauthier Construction, specializes in new construction and remodeling for residential applications. The company, based out of Grass Valley, Calif., serves as a master distributor and factory-trained installer for BuildBlock ICFs and certified geothermal installer of ground source heat pumps by Hydro-Temp Corp. The builder has been in business for 25 years and is one of the West Coast’s most aggressive advocates for green building, particularly for ICF projects.
Because V.A. Gauthier Construction’s passion lies in a niche market—namely ICFs and geothermal systems—work has been slim for the company.