Our Green Building Practices

STANDARD PRACTICES
These standard green construction practices occur in all new homes:

- EPA Energy Star entry doors

- EPA Energy Star dishwasher

- EPA Energy Star bath & ceiling fans

- Termite bait system that does not deposit chemicals into the ground

- Engineered floor and roof trusses (meaning no lumber is wasted)

- Cardboard is recycled from jobsite

- Recycled block used for the home’s foundation

- Locally-made cabinet boxes made from an eco-friendly board which is an Environmentally Preferred Product containing 100% recycled materials

- Water Sense sink faucets

- UltraCraft Cabinetry, a NC based company that is ESP (Environmental Stewardship Program) certified.

ENERGY STAR HOME OPTION
In 2007 we launched our Energy Star program, and in 2011, 85 percent of homes we built were Energy Star qualified, significantly above the national and state average under 20 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

To earn the ENERGY STAR certification, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

Energy Star qualified homes have the following features:

- More effective insulation

- Higher-performance windows

- Tighter construction and ducts

- More efficient heating and cooling equipment

- Third-party testing

For more information on Energy Star Homes, visit www.energystar.gov and click on “New Homes.”

When we began Fearrington in 1974, minimizing its environmental impact was forefront in our minds. The energy crisis of that time had forced Americans to make changes in how they lived, and being on the outskirts of a progressive college town, we saw an opportunity to develop a community different from the norm, one that emphasized energy efficiency and left a minimal footprint.

From the beginning, we’ve utilized energy-efficient and environmentally friendly development practices. Homes were sited and designed to take advantage of passive solar energy. They were modestly sized, had low maintenance siding, and incorporated energy saving methods considered standard today, such as double paned windows, extra insulation, attic ventilation, multiple heating and cooling zones and even fireplace covers. We experimented with active solar homes and our own proprietary residential electronic energy monitors.

Roads were designed to cross streams as infrequently as possible and run with land contours to minimize the need for clearing and grading. Road widths were narrow to minimize their impact (and reduce traffic speed!) and we created miles of walking paths to encourage exercise and provide an alternative to the car for short trips.

Several years ago we completed Camden Park, a higher density, single-family neighborhood located immediately adjacent to the Village Center. The neighborhood was built on previously cleared farmland and several original stands of mature oaks remained. They were preserved and incorporated into five parks, in the process influencing the design of the entire neighborhood.

The Village Center also showcases our environmental principles. The surrounding pastures and open space have been largely preserved. Onsite greenhouses and gardens grow many of the plants used in our outdoor spaces, for floral arrangements, and in restaurant dishes. Gardeners in the Village practice organic gardening and use drought-tolerant, disease-resistant plants. Also, we’ve hosted the Fearrington Farmers’ Market, bringing fresh, local produce to area residents, for 20 years!

Landscaping Practices
Our residential landscaping standards incorporate numerous environmentally friendly practices. This starts with leaving natural vegetation on site unless necessary for building the home, sanitation, safety or egress. Once houses are completed, depending on homesite conditions and homeowner preferences, our landscape contractor installs deciduous trees on the south and west sides of homes to lessen the demand for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Plants are installed that are relatively drought tolerant and disease resistant, such as ornamental grasses, hollies, evergreen junipers, boxwoods, and semi-native tree species such as maples, oaks, dogwoods and redbuds.

Many homes on larger wooded lots do not have lawns, but when homeowners add them, our landscape contractor installs them over a base of organic compost that lessens overall watering demands and increases drought tolerance.

There are many more options that we offer to make it a green home, from Icynene insulation to earth-friendly flooring.  The options are endless and growing all the time. We're happy to incorporate green building options during the planning your home.