Welcome to our new updated website. Please browse through our recent projects as well as the description of the services we provide. We at Semmes & Company are proud of our stated values and guiding principles, which confirm our commitment to sustainable building principles. These are expressed on the Who We Are; Our Mission page. On the How We Work page you will find descriptions of the systems we have devised that keep the building process and the relationship with the homeowner organized, efficient, and productive. Read about passive solar techniques, straw bale construction and more on the Building Methods page. Contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss your project.

Semmes & Co Winner of the Green Awards: Building Category

AS SEEN IN CENTRAL COAST MAGAZINE (JANUARY 2008). COPYRIGHT 2008.

The first pig built his house out of straw …”Though he gets a bad rap, the first pig was wiser than popular folktale would have us believe—and Semmes & Co. is living proof that, huff and puff though they may, the big bad “wolves” of global warming would never blow down their expertly eco-built straw bale homes.

Constructed with rice straw, a waste product of California agriculture, these homes are not only thick and sturdy, they are insulated, energy effi cient, and use a renewable resource—qualities that made them a must for owner Turko Semmes who has devoted his career to self-sustaining homes. After working with local solar architect Ken Haggard in 1978, and later witnessing the devastation of timbering in Canada, Semmes turned to resource-conserving building methods, including passive solar and solar panels, and did not look back.

In the 20 years since, Semmes’ projects have grown as much as his repertoire of sustainable building practices due to the growing demand for effi cient homes with lasting value. “People see that they can have the house of their dreams (within reason) and still save energy, conserve resources, and have a healthy living environment,” says Semmes. He now offers Pneumatically Impacted Stabilized Earth (PISE), a mixture of concrete and earth, and Insulated Concrete Forms (polystyrene block product fi lled with reinforced concrete), which provide structural integrity, energy effi ciency, and insulation, among other options.

“The variety of green building expertise, combined with their renewable energy projects and efforts to share information put them at the top of the list for green builders on the Central Coast,” says judge Megan Birney, while readers pointed to their dedication to recycling and reducing waste.

What We Do

	Passive Solar The proper use of orientation, insulation, and ventilation can save the homeowner enormously in energy costs over time.
	Straw Bale Construction Learn about this beautiful and environmentally friendly method of building homes.
	ICF and SIP Insulated Concrete Forms and Structural Insulated Panels offer an efficient and economical building method
	Unique Finishes Add to the beauty of your home with old world plaster and paint finishes, fine woodworking and more.
	Alternative Energy Help the environment and add to your home's comfort with passive solar design, radiant floor heat, and solar electric systems.

Semmes & Co. Builders is a proud sponsor of "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered on KCBX Public Radio FM 90.1, San Luis Obispo's NPR affiliate.