By Christa Gala

“Energy is going to be at a premium in the future so saving money is a no-brainer. Living in a healthier home is a no-brainer,” says Chad Ray of Olde Heritage Builders and chairperson of Green Home Builders of the Triangle. “Building a home that requires less maintenance and lasts longer and building a home that has less impact on our global environment—all of those things are called green today, but it just makes sense that all buildings in the future will be built this way.” Ray just might be right. There are no shortage of green projects in the Triangle. Could we be looking at the new status quo We’ll let you be the judge.

Developing Green: Briar Chapel- Chatham County
Going by the numbers, Briar Chapel has a good thing going. Fifty-five percent of folks who visited the community purchased a home within thirty days. Shannon McSwiney, the community’s marketing manager, is proud of that figure but can’t take all the credit.

Even if you’re not a numbers person, Briar Chapel is pretty impressive. Set on 1,600 acres just minutes from Chapel Hill on 15-501, nine hundred of those acres have been set aside for natural areas, which will account for roughly 24 miles of community walking and biking trails.

And every builder must build “green.” There’s that term again, but what it really means is that every home must incorporate Energy Star standards and build under the Green Home Builders of the Triangle program. “All of the homes have to come in at a minimum of a bronze level, but many of the builders are building above that,” says McSwiney.

Eventually, Briar Chapel will be the largest green community in the Triangle with more than 2,300 homes. “With the number of homes that will eventually be built here, we’ll rival the size of Pittsboro,” says McSwiney.

As a community, Briar Chapel will be ecologically responsible as well. The development plan required the construction of a waste water treatment plant and a reclaimed water spray irrigation system. “The reclaimed water spray irrigation system will be used for irrigation of designated open space and landscape areas; this will help to recharge groundwater instead of using groundwater or public potable water, thereby reducing the demand on the public drinking water supply,” says McSwiney.

Erosion-control buffers are greater than required by the state. Development and site plans also take advantage of certain natural features. For example, thirty percent of the home sites are situated to face south for increased solar capabilities. And all landscaping at Briar Chapel requires drought-tolerant and native landscaping in an effort to reduce the need for irrigation. As the numbers show, feedback has been positive.

“What we’ve been told is that our green building program as well as the entire community’s commitment to the sustainable development has really been a key differentiator for the community, especially during this economic time,” says McSwiney. “They’re very excited knowing that by building a home in Briar Chapel their home is automatically 15 percent more energy efficient, and they’re able to take advantage of cost-saving measures in their energy and utility bills and have a healthier home.”

The full article can be found at: http://raleigh.newhomebook.com/cms/News/Raleigh-Durham-Chapel_Hill/articles/Win10_greenpages.html