GreenSage E-zine 08/2008

Homeowners Break Ground on Greenspiration™ Home

The Greenspiration™ Home has finally taken root in North Carolina. Construction on this homeowner driven green building project began this summer in the Pleasant Oaks subdivision of Greensboro.

Husband and wife, Mark Raines and Trish Holder began plans for the home over a year ago, deciding to turn their home into a showcase for modern green building practices. The trick was (and is) picking and choosing green strategies that will allow the homeowners to stay within budget while building a home that assimilates into an existing middleclass neighborhood.

Ground Up Green

Early on, the homeowners decided to build a home that would not use any fossil fuel, opting for a geothermal system. Installation has begun on the system, which Trish Holder, a writer for the HVAC industry, describes as the "largest green investment" she and her husband will make on their home.

"I knew from my own experience within the industry that this is a crème de la crème of heating and cooling systems. It's a major upgrade, but one that I think we will congratulate ourselves on in the long run."

The Greenspiration home will also utilize closed crawl space technology and a slightly different drainage system than most conventionally built homes. Both of these measures add very little to the overall price of a new home and provide protection from moisture that can lead to mold and odors. Numerous studies have also substantiated claims that closed crawl spaces save 15-18% in heating and cooling costs, including a 2005 study conducted by Advanced Energy in Raleigh, NC which demonstrated an average of 15% energy savings in homes with closed crawl spaces when compared to identical "control" homes with conventionally vented crawl spaces in the same neighborhood.

"Closed crawl spaces are a smart solution to many common problems that homes face today, and with the energy savings, it ends up paying for itself," said Billy Tesh, President of Pest Management Systems, Inc., who will be providing the closed crawl space for the home.

Home Grown Lumber

The Greenspiration Home will utilize mostly North Carolina grown hard and softwoods, including Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) for much of the framing. SYP is not only stronger than more commonly used Canadian grown framing wood, it is locally plentiful and cost less. HW Culp Lumber Co., an SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative®) certified lumber producer in New London, NC will be providing some of the lumber for the home.

David Richbourg, plant manager of HW Culp Lumber finds this particular homeowner's approach to building green "refreshing."

"Locally grown wood is, in fact, the most environmentally friendly building material — the original, renewable resource. It is one of a few renewable resources available to the homebuilder," said Richbourg.

The Greenspiration Home is due for completion in fall 2008 and will be host to numerous demonstrations and open houses during and after construction, including a series of "Nature Nurture Days" which will benefit local charities.