Homeowner Testimonial: A Green Home in a Sustainable Community

	Traditional only on the surface. Charleston-based Sabal Homes builds houses that adhere to South Carolina's gracious Lowcountry aesthetic. But their innovative green methods are strictly 21st Century. Count on better air quality, cheaper utility bills and friendlier indoor temperatures. Sabal Homes • www.sabalhomessc.com

	Lots of leafy greens. Land and water are protected at Balsam Mountain Preserve in North Carolina. The low-density, high-end community in Sylva will contain only 354 homes on its 4,400 acres. Other numbers: 38 miles of streams, 50 miles of trails. Balsam Mountain Preserve • www.balsammountainpreserve.com

HOMEOWNER TESTIMONIAL: A Green Home in a Sustainable Community

OMPROMISE
is a thing of the past.

Today your home can have it all style and efficiency, healthy living and comfort and can simultaneously honor both the environment and your pocketbook.

Consequently, homeowners across the Carolinas and the U.S. are going green, and never looking back.

The modern green home is known by many names -- the "Smart Home," "High-Performance Home," or "Living Home," to name a few -- but by any title, it's a force to be reckoned with. Most importantly, it's healthy for both your family and the environment.

High-performance systems and durable, innovative building products create superior efficiency, resulting in monetary savings and heightened comfort. All in all, going green is a proactive way to invest in both your home's value and your family's health and happiness.


A Green Home in a Green Community Today, every homeowner's path to green is unique. Stories vary from passionate environmentalists searching for a healthy home to others who are surprised to learn that the beautiful abode they fell in love with is actually green. For Richard and Deborah Southall, professors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discovering that Briar Chapel, a new neighborhood by Newland Communities that is located just south of the town, is environmentally friendly sealed their decision to buy a home there. "It was refreshing and exciting to encounter a green community," says Mrs. Southall, "and it played a huge role in our decision to buy." Mr. and Mrs. Southall relocated to Chapel Hill by way of Memphis and chose to sub-lease for several months to give them time to find the perfect new home. One day, while out for a drive, they stumbled upon Briar Chapel. "The minute we drove in, we were so blown away by the entrance and the landscaping and how natural looking everything was," remembers Mrs. Southall. "Once we found out it was a green community, we were excited." The couple has found this region of North Carolina to be very mindful of environmental issues, which is particularly comforting to Mr. Southall. "My husband is from Colorado and he has always been tuned into the environment," says Mrs. Southall, adding, "he's been enlightening me over the years." Consequently, Mr. and Mrs. Southall recognized that they had found something exceptional in Briar Chapel. Then, the discovery of an ideal home made the experience seemingly meant to be. "We really loved the house," says Mrs. Southall, who attributes much of her satisfaction to the builder, Vanguard Homes. "The quality of construction was fabulous, and I was so picky. They've really been great." Vanguard Homes has been recognized two years in a row as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year, making them an ideal accessory to Briar Chapel's green initiatives. The forward-thinking community requires all homes within to comply with rigorous new home construction requirements set by the North Carolina division of the NAHB Green Building Initiative^TM. The Southall's home is the first in the community to feature WaterSense features such as faucets, dual flush toilets and low-flow showerheads. The community's clubhouse is also green it's LEED-certified. Additionally, Briar Chapel preserved 900 acres of open space and continuously aims to minimize environmental impact through practices like erosion control, and storm water management systems preserve natural habitats and ensure water quality. With this unspoiled setting, the neighborhood's 24 miles of nature trails are understandably a big enticement. This is especially true for the Southalls, avid bike riders, who imagine their grandchildren enjoying the trails as well. The natural serenity of Briar Chapel also offers homeowners a feeling of solitude while being near to bustling Chapel Hill. "You still have the feeling of being in the country, surrounded by nature," says Mrs. Southall. The Southall's commitment to the environment, however, is not confined to their home. "My husband will bike to work every day," explains Mrs. Southall, adding, "but I'm not that daring." Instead, she plans to take advantage of a nearby Park and Ride station where she will meet a bus to take her into Chapel Hill each day. "That's a huge amenity for us," she continues. "We're actually about to trade in our two cars to buy a hybrid." These two are obviously green converts. "It makes perfect sense," Mrs. Southall says of going green, "and sometimes it's hard for me to understand why it doesn't make perfect sense to everyone." Carolina GreenHome Tour^tm For more motivation, check out our Carolina GreenHome Tour^TM. Green building is making a noticeable impact on the Carolinas, and is consequently receiving a lot of national attention. In an effort to bring these revolutionary communities and green ideas to the public, CarolinaLiving.com has developed a collection of green idea homes (and hotels) and sustainable communities across the Carolinas. Hopefully it will inspire you to "go green," too! Want to review the benefits of a green home? Return to our article entitled "Why Go Green?" back to beginning of this page


Kristen F. Anthony has worked in magazines, newspapers, marketing and corporate communications. She has contributed to a variety of projects, from an award-winning newspaper special section on veterans to the 2006 Southern Living-Progressive Farmer Idea House. Kristen earned her BA in Communications Studies from Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and now calls Columbia, S.C., home.