by Emily Burns
Staff Writer
The Orange Community Housing and Land Trust’s first certified green home will be featured in the Home Builders Association’s 3rd Annual Green Home Tour this weekend.
The house, located at 104 Broad St. in Carrboro, boasts many green features, including a sealed crawl space, roofing made with recycled materials, EnergyStar appliances and energy-efficient bath fans, among others.
The green features of the home, its small size and its location will allow future owners to save money and to minimize their carbon footprints.
“What I think is unique about this house among others on the tour is actually the in-town location,†Land Trust project manager Christine Westfall said. “There are very few homes on the tour that are actually in walkable communities where you don’t have to drive to services.â€
As part of the Advanced Energy Corporation’s SystemVision Energy Guarantee Program, owners of the home will be guaranteed average heating and cooling costs of $30 per month during their first year of residence.
“We also used materials that are going to wear well over time,†Westfall said. “This house on Broad Street has oak floors for instance, rather than carpet.â€
Westfall said that use of durable and environmentally friendly materials will reduce maintenance expenses for the owner and minimize the home’s long-term impact on the environment.
Construction of the roughly 1,500-square-foot home began early this year and is slated to be complete on May 15.
According to Land Trust Executive Director Robert Dowling, building the home cost approximately $220,000, but with a local subsidy of $80,000, the Land Trust initially will list the home at approximately $150,000.
“We’ll subsidize it based on the needs of the buyer down to $125,000,†Dowling said. “This is probably one of the most affordable houses on the tour.â€