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Sustainability has become an increasingly important aspect of homebuilding, and is evident within the new Hasentree development in Raleigh.
photo: Bill Fleming
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DREAM ABODE
The latest trends shaping the future of homebuilding
Stories by Danielle Jackson
From the rise in sustainability to adaptive re-use of current structures and increasingly efficient building products, the face of Wake County literally is changing.
More than ever, homes are being constructed using sustainable practices, a method homeowners and homebuilders alike are touting for their long-lasting benefits. There's also a turn toward urban development, mixed-use neighborhoods, the use of reliable building products and the concept of quality over quantity. See what Wake County homebuilders and developers see now and for the future.
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Sustainable living
Hands down, homebuilders are singing the praises of the rise in awareness of sustainable building. While they say upfront cost is more, many agree that the long-term benefits add up to savings in the end.
“People are more aware than ever of the environment and the role we play in sustainability,” says Henry MacNair, member and manager with Creedmoor Partners LLC, which is developing Hasentree in Raleigh.
“We are seeing a distinct trend among builders and homebuyers toward green design and building practices to help conserve energy, preserve nature, and improve the quality of the environment.”
At Hasentree, building envelopes limit the disturbance to the land, certified wood and salvaged and reclaimed building materials are used during the construction process, and recycled carpeting and paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used throughout the development.
Its signature golf course and surrounding landscaping draw from the development's state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, which is designed to recycle 50 million gallons of water each year.
Additionally, many homes are being constructed using Energy Star standards. As a result of its efforts, Hasentree has been designated a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.
Raleigh-based Wakefield Development Co. incorporates environmentally sensitive practices into its neighborhoods as well.
“We have always looked for ways to raise the bar in creating communities that respond to our customers' preferences for environmental sensitivity, economic concerns and social responsibility,” says Dawn Forrest, director of marketing.
At Renaissance Park, its urban-based community near downtown Raleigh, the company developed a high-density plan to help mitigate environmental impact. Wakefield Development also organized a design contest in partnership with N.C. State University to develop a landscaping approach to promote reduced water usage.
Marty Scott, owner of Maranah Custom Homes in Fuquay-Varina, agrees that sustainability is an essential element to homebuilding. Among other things, the company regularly uses Icynene, a soft-foam insulation and air-barrier system, which has been proven to create healthier indoor environments, reduce airborne sounds, and increase energy efficiency. Walker Harris, president of Chase Building Co., also has noticed an increase in the use of spray-foam insulation as well.
“We're using a lot of environmentally friendly products in our homes,” Scott says.
“It costs a bit more for these materials, but in the long term you don't have the rotting like you used to have with masonite products,” he adds. “Many of these products are coming with 25- and 50-year warranties.”
Chesapeake Homes North Carolina, which is building homes at 12 Oaks in Holly Springs and in Renaissance Park, offers Energy Star-qualified townhomes and single-family homes to respond to demand.
“Many companies are now offering incentives for homeowners who purchase these homes,” says Paul Luck, division manager.
“The industry as whole is just on the brink of green building,” Luck adds. “As the cost of sustainable building supplies decrease, the more mainstream sustainability will become.”
Product placement
From artificial grass to the use of traditional stone and brick, area builders and developers are implementing a variety of products designed to enhance the joys of home ownership.
“We see artificial grass as being on the cutting edge of what's to come,” says Jeanette Langer, co-owner of Lawrence Homes Inc., which is developing townhomes at Citiside at Beaver Creek in Apex.
“It shows that as builders we are contributing to water conservation, limiting pesticide runoffs in our streams and emissions in our air.”
Randy Ellison, owner and president of Raleigh-based Accent on Stone, says stone is popular because of its unique look, but he points to its sustainable properties as well.
“There's a connection between stone and green building,” Ellison says.
“It has a pleasing look and is unique within each home, and it's a natural insulator,” he adds. “Plus, it's quarried out of the ground. It's as natural as you can get.”
Many also tout the use of brick, a natural building material made from clay and shale, two of Earth's most abundant materials.
“Building with brick is a great way to promote sustainability,” says Jewel Warlick, marketing director with The Brick Industry, Southeast Region, a Charlotte-based trade organization representing 16 brick manufacturers throughout the Southeast.
“Plus, it ages beautifully and requires almost no maintenance.”
James Hardie Building Products Inc.'s ColorPlus system also is paving the way for the future of homebuilding.
“With ColorPlus, we take our siding, trim, and soffit materials and apply a factory finish,” says Michael Kanaby of the company's market development department.
“It qualifies for more green points because there are no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and it's durable,” he adds of the process, which is being used at The Villages of Apex.
“There's also a 15-year warranty, so we're essentially eliminating an entire paint cycle.”
What's old is new
Mixed-use neighborhoods also continue to increase in popularity, according to many. And development is responding, shifting toward urban and infill areas within Wake County.
“People are choosing to locate in central infill locations in close proximity to shops, restaurants, services and amenities,” says Bonner Gaylord, director of residential for Kane Realty Corp., which is developing high-end condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes throughout North Hills and midtown.
“We believe the trend of residences being part of larger mixed-use communities will continue and become even more popular as consumers become more accustomed to what has historically been a classical way of living.”
Another hot trend occurring locally is the concept of adaptive re-use, or adapting old structures for new purposes.
“Expensive oil and sprawl-strained community infrastructure represent dual economic realities that are fueling this trend,” says Ben Yorker, development manager with Boylan Development Co.
“As a result, historic downtown areas like Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Knightdale will enjoy increased residential development.”
Yorker also sees urban developments clustered around a dense street system as a trend he expects to continue.
“As we all come to grips with the finite nature of our natural resources, the idea of irrigating a half-acre front yard isn't as practical as it once was,” he says.
“Likewise, the thought of heating and cooling a 6,000-square-foot floor plan is unattractive.”
Kanaby also sees a trend of quality over quantity in the current market.
“In the past, it has always been massive-square-foot boxes built as cheaply as possible,” he says.
“Now we're seeing a trend toward smaller homes with a lot more quality construction.”
What these urban, mixed-use plans lack in terms of raw acreage and square footage, they make up for with utility, proximity to other uses, overall character, and meaningful efficiencies, Yorker notes.
“We must retrofit our existing planning models to accommodate new conservation-minded techniques,” he predicts.
“This single challenge, I believe, will shape the future of homebuilding for years to come.”
Danielle Jackson is editor of Wake Living, Fifteen501 and TriadLiving magazines.
Please visit our reader blog to post your comments on this story. |
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Artificial grass is the wave of the future, according to local builder Lawrence Homes, Inc.
photo: Lawrence Homes Inc.
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Ben Yorker |
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LIKE FLYING TO THE MOON
by Ben Yorker
In 1961, John F. Kennedy laid out an almost insane challenge to the technological community: In a fit of Cold War panic, he set a goal of landing a man on the moon.
Of course, his challenge — and the implied threat of Soviet aerospace dominance — inspired an accomplishment nothing short of miraculous. It was within that very decade that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins completed their mission to the moon. Moreover, it demonstrated what can be accomplished when citizens are galvanized by a shared concern and common vision.
As odd as it might seem, there's a strong similarity between the early Space Race days and our current predicament with respect to the endangered health of our planet. As the threat of Soviet aerospace dominance has been replaced with record-breaking droughts, tsunamis, melting ice-caps and heat waves that appear with statistically significant regularity, we now are confronted by the consequences of a battered atmosphere, a compromised ecosystem, and a host of depleted resources.
But while the Space Race only involved the scientific community, every one of us has a stake in today's crisis. Nonetheless, it's probable that the U.S. ultimately will make the most meaningful contributions to the fight for our world's health.
So how does this tie in with real estate development? In the case for saving the planet, minimizing impact and maximizing sustainability when it comes to green building mirror the paradigm-shifting leaps that often are apparent in difficult times. Over the past few years, the building industry has been introduced to an entirely new sector that seemingly grew up overnight.
In a wonderful twist, hard-working, intelligent professionals are making money at solving these problems. From sustainability consultants, who are trained to guide design teams through complex and exhaustive certification programs, to commissioning agents, engineers who test a variety of building systems to ensure they're performing as cleanly and efficiently as possible, there now is almost an entire new economy centered around the green building industry.
There also are many benchmarking organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), which hire their own consultants in the form of think tanks, testing agencies, and steering committees.
And what about the armies of sales representatives who educate the industry on the continuous flow of green products developed daily? Without these manufacturer representatives, our design and building projects would incorporate only the most basic technologies.
Ten years ago, the green building industry was, at best, nascent. As with the Space Race, we find ourselves extraordinarily far along after just a decade. Our economy also has benefited from hundreds of new jobs, companies, products, and services that spawn and multiply during any kind of technological revolution.
Of course, it is not time to congratulate ourselves just yet. But it's likely that one of the most difficult steps is almost behind us. The economy is showing signs that it can take on this new mission. If the building industry is any indication, then our civilization will make the leaps necessary to rebalance the environment.
Ben Yorker is development manager of Boylan Development Co. in Raleigh. To learn more about the company, call (919) 256-3600 or visit www.boylancompanies.com. |
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Each year, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County participates in Habitat for Humanity's Builder Blitz program.
photo: Home Builder's Association of Raleigh-Wake County
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AT HOME IN WAKE COUNTY
How HBAs give back to the local community
As the largest single-county organization of its kind in the country, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County (HBA) has been meeting the needs of the industry since its inception in 1959. Those needs are ever-changing, but its core mission remains the same: to promote the homebuilding industry through service to members and the community.
“Along with the North Carolina Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders, the HBA is the voice of the residential construction industry on the local, state, and national levels,” says Leigh Ann Teague, director of public relations.
Its mission is carried out each day by the HBA's core staff, and its membership of more than 3,100 continues to grow as new developments change the area's landscape.
“For every 100 homes built here in the Triangle, 147 jobs are created in retail, transportation, industry, government and finance,” Teague says.
“The homebuilding industry provides more than $4 billion to the local economy each year.”
Impact
Giving back to the community is an essential component of the organization as well, as evidenced by its involvement in various events and projects, from Parade of Homes to Habitat for Humanity.
Coordinated by the HBA, Parade of Homes gives builders an opportunity to showcase their talents to the general public. The event is held over three weekends each fall, offering residents a chance to see various styles up close, from simple to elaborate.
It's a way for the HBA to promote the homebuilding industry as well, and ties in with the organization's “Now is a Great Time to Buy a Home” campaign.
“There are thousands of homes on the market, and there might never be a better time to buy a home that's just right,” Teague notes.
Each year, HBA members also participate in Habitat for Humanity's Builder Blitz program, which was launched by member Thomas Gipson of Thomas Gipson Homes Inc. and since has grown into a national program.
Earlier this year, the organization teamed up with the Triangle Real Estate and Construction Veterans (TREACV) to form the Military Veterans Task Force. With the help of several local partners and sponsors, the first Hero's Home is being constructed for a military veteran.
Learning curve
Education is another essential element for success. In 2007, the HBA donated $250,000 over the next 10 years to Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh for students in their second year of building trade-related programs. It also awards scholarships to high school seniors and HBA family members.
Education programs and seminars are an important part of any professional's success as well, and HBA members have access to a wide range of educational and informative topics relating to the industry through continuing-education classes and Lunch n' Learn programs, Teague notes.
“The HBA and its national sister organizations are a resource of information, from libraries of builder books to industry-focused webcasts and conferences,” she says.
HBA publications include a monthly magazine, weekly and monthly electronic newsletters, and an online directory of its more than 3,100 members.
While Teague notes that current economic challenges face the industry as a whole, she's quick to point out that the rise in popularity of sustainable building has picked up some of the slack.
“The greatest opportunity for us is the new niche that's been created with green building,” she says.
“With the rising costs of fuel and utilities, buyers are interested in efficiency and environmental stewardship in their new homes.” |
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Homes on parade
The Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County will host the Parade of Homes from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 4-5, Oct. 10-12 and Oct. 17-19. Beginning in September, homes will be available to view online, and books detaling this year's homes will be available beginning Oct. 1.
To learn more about the organization or Parade of Homes, visit www.hbawake.com. |
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