Green Building Services - This Old House is New
There is a fast-growing interest in the discussion, design and usage of “green” materials in the residential sector of the real estate market. The use of solar and geothermal energy sources; alternative building materials such as Hempcrete and various insulating concreting products; HVAC systems with SEER efficiency ratings as high as 15 and more; tank-less hot-water heaters; Low-E, double-glazed windows and numerous other products are finally becoming the norm in building alternatives in many markets. The list of LEED Green Certified Products Worth Considering grows everyday.
The use of one array of products that may not get as much visibility or press as those above is that of reclaimed timbers and barn wood. It is, however, no less “green” in its impact on the environment. The use of salvaged, reclaimed wood conserves the old-growth forests that we all treasure through the recycling of structural wood members and planking from old barns, factories and structures that have been abandoned and/or become obsolete. The reclaiming of these materials not only cleans up the landscape of abandoned structures but yields a reuse of materials that serves to lessen the impact on our native forests. Moreover, the aesthetics and visual appeal of the “re-finished” materials are the very definition of “rustic elegance”.
The team of Zac Guy at Appalachian Antique Hardwoods, Rolando Paez of Buena Vista Construction and the developers of the Western North Carolina mountain community Sunset Falls at Bald Creek, located just outside of Waynesville NC, pulled their resources to define their own version of rustic elegance throughout the mountain community. From the entry signage to the Greeter’s Cottage and Gatehouse to the four custom homes completed in the last two years, the use of reclaimed columns, beams, trusses, flooring planks, ceiling planks and other decorative architectural elements has produced a theme throughout the mountain community that is unique to Sunset Falls at Bald Creek. “Green” building concepts are often framed within the context of functionality and energy consumption; however Sunset Falls at Bald Creek has proven that green can also be a thing of beauty… and a mark of conservation.
The town of Waynesville NC itself, from which the entrance to Sunset Falls at Bald Creek is just 15 minutes away, is a jewel of rustic southern charm in its own right. Founded in 1810, the locally owned craft stores, antique shops, eateries and other establishments along its Main Street provide a perfect reflection of its small town, friendly atmosphere making it one of the best cities to retire in Western North Carolina. As a green building services expert, my construction team at Buena Vista Construction prefers to build in Western North Carolina mountain communities like Sunset Falls at Bald Creek, where preservation of the old, within the context of the new, allows each homeowner to feel a sense of connectedness and well-being not only within their immediate neighborhood but also within the historic Town of Waynesville NC. Consider yourself invited to take a “green” educational tour with real estate developer Michael Posey to learn about green building services on your next trip. Ask us to introduce you at info@communityfinder.com or call 866.384.1799
