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Saluda River Club, a scenic new community in Lexington, SC, encourages residents to honor the environment, so it was the perfect backdrop for this inspiring new home. “Saluda River Club is making a great effort to go green, and it’s wonderful to build a home in a community where green is encouraged,” says Mr. Jur. Saluda River Club covers over 235 acres of rolling land alongside a mile of the Saluda River. “The whole team has done a wonderful job of developing a beautiful area of town in a way that allows many people to enjoy it without damaging the environment.”
In this idyllic setting, Vesta Builders’ stone and cedar shake “Riverside Retreat” – and all of its green features – fits right in. On the roof, TechShield reflective sheathing offers a radiant heat barrier, and the entire home features upgraded insulation. Brazilian teak hardwood floors throughout the home were finished with a low-VOC water-based polyurethane.
Underneath, the flooring system features wood I-beams, which are made of pressed recycled wood, which saves 50 percent of the wood fiber used in a traditional flooring system. In the master bathroom, there is an exhaust fan on a humidistat, which makes it come on automatically only when it’s needed, and the entire team worked to recycle as much construction waste as possible.
All of these features, and more, helped the home earn a Silver Rating from the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia’s “Build Green Greater Columbia” program, which is based on the National Association of Home Builders Model Green Home Guidelines. The home has also been certified by ENERGY STAR.
The true test, however, came when the home was toured by thousands of Parade attendees – a focus group of sorts for Mr. and Mrs. Jur. “Consumers’ number one thought process is saving energy,” says Mr. Jur. “Everyone who looked at the home did so in regard to its energy savings. Of course, some people were also concerned about reducing their carbon footprint, but energy savings was definitely the focus.” Overall, Mr. Jur feels that there’s a fairly educated market today. “Homeowners want a builder that understands green building and can guide them to a greener home, whether or not they will go through certification,” he says.
In general, Mr. Jur has found that homeowners think about a green home in terms of two things: energy efficiency and building materials. In addition to energy savings, visitors at the Parade of Homes were very interested in tangible materials, such as the TechShield sheathing, because it was something very visual for them. However, Mr. Jur is quick to point out that there is a good deal more to building green that is less palpable. Water management provides a good example. In addition to saving water through efficient fixtures, “flashing details and foundation drainage are very important,” he says, “to the longevity and durability of the home.” Indeed, making a home more sustainable is a vital component to green building.
As a testament to the public’s interest in a high-performance green home, the Riverside Retreat sold within a week of the conclusion of the tour. “The home’s green features were what I call ‘A-Level’ details that definitely helped us sell the home,” reflects Mr. Jur. “The family was very interested in attention to detail, and green best practices are a part of that.”
If it’s truly all in the details, then there’s little doubt that the lucky new homeowners are enjoying all the benefits of their expertly crafted home.
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