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| Passion Investments: Property |
A Green Haven
Ernest Beck
10/01/2004
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As founder and chairman of Atlanta-based Interface, the world’s largest
commercial carpet manufacturer, Ray Anderson has been on a mission for several
years to transform his company into a totally “green” operation—one that is
energy efficient and whose products are ecologically sound. Not surprisingly, he
also designed his log-cabin getaway in the mountains of western North Carolina
to meet equally strict environmental standards.
TOP VIEW
Ecologically sound ouses have become increasingly popular, and the premium they command in the resale market more than offsets the 20 percent additional cost we
bear during their construction. These homes use energy and light more efficiently, and can be built of materials that harm neither ourselves nor the environment. |
“I wanted to show that there
is a more benign way to build a home,” Anderson explains. He planned a
2,500-square-foot mountain residence with five bedrooms and four bathrooms—a
home that would be rustic, but with all the comforts of city living. Some of the
ecologically minded accoutrements include solar and radiant floor heating, a
solar-powered ventilation system that obviates the need for air-conditioning,
and triple-paned windows for maximum thermal efficiency, a necessity in
solar-heated houses.
Anderson’s plan reflects the growing popularity of
eco-friendly residential technology across the country. When President George W.
Bush renovated his ranch in Crawford, Texas, he chose to use geothermal heating
and cooling units. He had a solar electric system installed on the White House
roof last year. “Green buildings are becoming objects of desire,” notes Michael
McDonough, a New York-based architect who has worked on ecologically sound
residences for two decades. “It is part and parcel of a healthy lifestyle. It
means extending the idea of living well into your home.”
Finding an
architect for the job, tracking down the best environmentally sound building
materials, deciding how green we want to be—and weighing the additional costs in
time and effort—are hurdles we must consider. But these efforts are often well
worth it; protecting the environment while conserving energy are immediate
benefits, and an often-significant increase in our home’s resale value is the
long-term payoff.
 | THE "GREEN" home of architect David Hertz consists of four buildings on his
Venice, Calif., property. |
Real estate agents say environmentally friendly houses are
becoming extremely popular. “There’s evidence that suggests a green home is
definitely a plus in selling,” according to Walter Maloney, spokesperson for the
National Association of Realtors. “If a buyer has an identical choice, being
green could tip the balance.” Statistics are difficult to find, but John Picard,
an environmental consultant, notes that only a few of these eco-edifices come on
the real estate market each year. Three that he recently sold in California each
garnered 50 percent more than other houses on the market.
Certified Mahogany
The term “eco-house” has become a catchall phrase
covering a broad spectrum of philosophies, construction techniques and
technologies. Eco-strategies span from something as simple as properly
positioning a house to maximize its sunlight, to building a house from re-milled
or recycled timber from dismantled barns, bridges or railroad trestles.
Designers may also seek to improve indoor air quality by using materials and
finishes that do not contain chemical additives. They often strive for a
seamless connection between the house and the surrounding environment, usually
through the extensive use of glass. Most enthusiasts see their designs as a
holistic approach that considers the relationship between forms, shapes and
materials and the forces of nature, McDonough says.
In Venice, Calif., the
home of architect David Hertz and his family has been a work in progress for
almost a decade. “We always wanted a green home, to live there and to use it as
a working lab and showpiece to expand on ideas about green building,” says
Hertz, a strong advocate of environmentally friendly design.
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