Asheville, NC: Eco-Friendly Mountain Real Estate

What is an eco-friendly home? Many people are exploring new options when it comes to building and for many the sustainable approach to homebuilding is the future of residential construction in the U.S. Eco-friendly is moving into the mainstream. As a result, eco-friendly builders have been popping up across the nation and Asheville, NC is a hotbed. A recent article in the Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Asheville currently has 80 green builders and a thriving solar-energy industry.

Primarily, the focus of an eco-friendly home builder is to build homes responsibly by minimizing environmental impact and providing a structure that is highly energy efficient and healthy to live in.

Eco-Friendly Builders who are Making a Difference

While building a green home is a challenge in itself, giving back to the community and trying to make a difference at the same time is really an achievement to be proud of. Some western North Carolina builders have figured out how to do just that.

Deltec Homes, based in Asheville, NC doesn't just talk about green building; they live it. Currently, they are in the process of renovating their Asheville-based offices and manufacturing facility. They are implementing energy-efficient production methods supported by Heath Shuler's Small Energy Efficient Business Act, signed into law as part of the 2007 Energy Bill.

They have a goal, within the next 10 years, to continue to use completely renewable power to produce their homes and to drastically reduce their energy footprint.

In addition, Deltec has teamed up with another Asheville-based builder, EcoBuilders, to create a new green home for a New Orleans family who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The widely-recognized ABC-TV show "Extreme Makeover": Home Edition requested that they accept the challenge and the show is expected to air on May 18 at 8:00 p.m.

EcoBuilders, a premier Asheville green builder, is also busy working on another highly-publicized project – the 2008 Southern Living Green Idea House. The house is being built at Whisper Mountain, located outside of the city of Asheville and near Hot Springs and Leicester, in a community where conservation and preservation meet. The home will be open to the public for tours from June 21 through October 12. The house will then be placed on the Asheville, North Carolina real estate market. A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Mission Children's Hospital in Asheville.

Developers of Whisper Mountain, Charlie and Troy Ball, have specifically requested that the designated money go to the autism program.

"We know that Mission Children's Hospital is making their care and treatment a priority and we are proud to support that work."

Things to Consider in Creating an Eco-friendly Home

There are several factors to consider when building a green mountain home. Materials, air quality, and energy and water are among the top three.

Materials: Consider materials that reduce your use of finite or virgin natural resources such as recycled, sustainably harvested, rapidly renewable, or reclaimed products.

To ensure that materials are green make sure that they have third-party certifications such as The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and their partner organizations. Materials apply to not just overall construction but to items such as furniture and flooring as well.

Indoor Air Quality: Consider products and materials that eliminate or significantly reduce the use of toxic chemicals in your home. Try to avoid products that emit volatile organic compounds and products that contain formaldehyde — a suspected carcinogen. Some items that affect indoor air quality, but are not limited to, include paint, bedding materials and cleaning products.

Energy and Water Consumption: Consider products that reduce your use of energy and water. Lower energy and water bills mean fewer climate changing greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, and less strain on water tables. Keep an eye out for energy efficient lighting, energy efficient appliances, and water efficient appliances.

The Southern Living Idea House at Whisper Mountain has incorporated all three of these green building practices and more. They include:

Site Work: During construction, the building site and surrounding land was disturbed as little as possible with on-site recycling.
Use of Resources: The house is constructed using non-toxic materials with extensive use of locally-produced building materials.
Indoor Air Quality: An energy recovery ventilator will draw in fresh, filtered air and remove humidity.
Durability: Extensive flashing will ensure no water gets inside the house. The 100-year roof will be fabricated from recycled metal and bluewood-coated lumber.

So, as U.S. homeowners struggle with high utility bills and become more conscience of issues like preservation and conservation, Eco-friendly homes are not only a viable, but smart building alternative.