WHAT BELONGS HERE? 
YOU can enter your "Land Design and Development Sketch" in the ECO-All-Stars June Challenge Contest!
Following consumer demand, or just because they are smart eco-friendly developers and building contractors who've contacted me through Active Rain, have let it be known that they're seriously considering the value of healthy-built homes. So, in this fifth post in a series that looks at sustainability and the undeniable trend toward consumer demand for attractive, green-built homes, I want to say a word or two about New Homes- the "Good", the "Bad" and how this might all come back to an ancient notion of respecting the Ecosystem.
Ecosystem
As a real estate professional, I'm always interested in what's new on the horizon that will bring satisfaction to my clients. So this ‘whole systems" concept as it applies to building and real estate development has caught my attention. More and more clients are saying they are more attracted to homes and neighborhoods where the developer /contractors have tried to respect their building sites as being a part of the ecosystem.
And I can see why. Having a builder with a depth of knowledge and consideration for what's around the building site has definite appeal. I myself (and possibly you) would prefer to invest in a home where the context was a part of the plan and the building site is respected as a special and unique place rather than just a place to put a house.
I look for telltale clues around the property that herald the work of an eco-savvy builder:
- native plants
- natural landscaping
- paved only as much driveway as ordinances require
- saved topsoil
- saved trees
- possibly a small footprint.
I look for certifications: HealthyBuilt, LEED, Energy Star
In an eco-community, and there is a growing number of these here in Asheville, being green-smart includes thinking about the quality, longevity, and health-wise features of a new home (or remodel ) AND the entire context...the neighborhood and the ecosystem.
So I want to know... what home would YOU construct on the property shown in the photo, and how would you subdivide this land? Be sure to enter your "Land Design and Development Sketch" in the ECO-All-Stars June Challenge Contest!
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