This "green" home is under construction on Catawba Avenue. (David Boraks photo)
What makes a house certifiably “green”? A home tour in Davidson Saturday will answer that question by offering a glimpse at one of the state’s first homes built according to guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes program.
John Marshall Custom Homes Inc. of Davidson invites visitors to view the home at 233 Catawba Ave. on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Developer Rodney Graham is building the home for the Orlando family and its Orlando Land Co. LLC, of Davidson. He said the home is compact (at 1,630 square feet) and uses environmentally friendly building materials and systems.
WHAT IS LEED?LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.” The LEED program focuses on seven areas of green building:
|
“It’s the wave of the future. It’s the right way to build a house,” Mr. Graham said. He estimates a certified ‘green’ home costs about 3 to 5 percent more than a typical custom home.
The home, designed by Ross Chapin Architects of Langley, Wash., incorporates spray-foam insulation, a tankless water heater, conditioned crawl and attic spaces, low-flow plumbing fixtures, paints without volatile organic chemicals (or VOCs).
Mr. Graham says he has paid closer attention on this project to a variety of details, from his drywall source (a plant in nearby Mount Holly) to construction waste (much of which is being recycled).
The landscaping isn’t finished yet, Mr. Graham says, but it too will contribute to the home’s “green-ness.” ” It’s going to be 100 percent native plants, very minimal turf, and drought-resistant,” he says. It includes devices to prevent runoff and will use minimal drip irrigation.
Mr. Graham says visitors will be able to see many of the features of a LEED-built home, as well as learn more about how to incorporate green building techniques in existing or new homes.
SEEKING CERTIFICATION
When the project is done, Mr. Graham hopes to win the building council’s “gold” LEED rating for the home. To date, only five homes in North Carolina have won LEED certifications: two in Durham and one each in Charlotte, Leicester and Raleigh, according to the council.
Nationally, the council lists 2,566 certified LEED homes, said Marie Coleman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED is a voluntary rating system that has established standards and promotes “green” building. LEED reviewers visit building sites to monitor progress and assign “credits” to aspects of the project that meet LEED guidelines.
“The goal of the LEED for Homes program is to transform the residential housing market by building and/or renovating homes to be high-performance, energy-and-resource efficient dwellings,” Ms. Coleman said in an email.
LINKS
Details: www.johnmarshallcustomhomes.com
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes program
Listing of LEED certified homes through the council (PDF).
WANT TO GO?
Saturday’s home tour is at 233 Catawba Ave., Davidson. From downtown, follow South Main Street south to Catawba Avenue, at Fuel Pizza. Cross the railroad tracks, take a left on Potts Street, then a quick right back on to Catawba. The house will be on your left in 200 feet.
