"Green House" in Raleigh (transplants, appliances, big house)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

An interesting example how people can have 3,000 sq/ft + houses and still "go green". Here is one in Raleigh:

newsobserver.com | This ordinary house is extraordinarily green

[JJingle]

I just wish it wasn't so expensive to be environmentally friendly. I wouldn't mind paying a little more but often the costs are up to three times more than traditional products. Hopefully, in time, these methods and materials will become more mainstream and the prices will drop.

[tigerlily]

With the drought situation in the southeast maybe this will finally take hold. We looked at a house in Meredith Woods - a lovely area.

"The yard is planted with drought-resistant native plants and trees, and emerald zoysia sod that requires little water."

[rnc2mbfl]

A green house that is 4300 SF sounds like an oximoron. The article says that it uses 50% less electricity than a house that is equal sized. So, are they basically saying that the house uses the same electricity as a house that's half as big at 2150 SF? If so, big deal! While I really do admire the effort, a big single family house on a plot of land doesn't quite sell the "green" concept to me. So, it saves resources and money if you look at the home "in a bubble" and compare it against others like it. But, does this solution address the bigger issues about land use, urban planning, sprawl and transportation infrastructure? We can build these houses all we want but I think that those others are the bigger, more complicated issues that need to be solved if we are going to create a more sustainable future for our society and lessen our dependency on foreign oil. That's green to me.

[MrsSteel]

Well, I think any move in the right direction is a good move.

In an ecologically-perfect world, we'd all be growing our own food & taking our bikes everywhere we go & we'd never use energy-wasting items like water heaters or, heaven forbid, computers.
But most of us don't live in that world.
Most of us want to have hot showers & microwaves & air conditioning. And a lot of people want to have bigger houses, too. Isn't that one of the major reasons why this region is growing so quickly? Because transplants can often afford a much larger home here than they could where they came from? If the market demands bigger homes, then bigger homes will be built. At least this particular home - and hopefully many more to come - does its part to use less energy than most of the other houses out there. It makes a difference. And every little bit helps.

[rnc2mbfl]

I didn't say it wasn't a move in the right direction. I said that I really admired the effort but I think we have to look "bigger picture" if we are going to solve the real issues. What this house tells me is..."look, you can build a bigger house and keep your electrical bills the same as they were".

[JJingle]

I agree with all that it's a move in the right direction.

There was a news program on one of the cable news networks early one morning about green houses. It said that houses generate more destruction to the environment than cars. I haven't researched into this and verified that statement. It makes sense, I suppose. I was just surprised initially. Anyone with more knowledge on the subject like to weigh-in on it?

[dansdrive]

As a concept home I think it is great! Can show off all the energy saving appliances. Its great to think green but conversely the green things it will cost to build green houses is the killer. A $90000 Solar Power System. The payback on just that would be 75 years if the utility company would give you back $1200 per year. I bet the useful life of the solar cell are not 75 years so the payback would be even longer if you factored in maintenance and usefully life of the system.

So I would give it a A+ for concept and a D- for cost effectiveness. Can't give it an F because I seen far worse things to buy for ones home. IMHO until going green pays back in real green jingas it will be a hard sell.

[GucciLittlePiggie]

Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl

A green house that is 4300 SF sounds like an oximoron. The article says that it uses 50% less electricity than a house that is equal sized. So, are they basically saying that the house uses the same electricity as a house that's half as big at 2150 SF? If so, big deal! While I really do admire the effort, a big single family house on a plot of land doesn't quite sell the "green" concept to me. So, it saves resources and money if you look at the home "in a bubble" and compare it against others like it.

it's the same idea as buying a hybrid SUV. obviously a dedicated environmentalist would buy a Prius or something and usually take public transport. however, the person that was going to buy an SUV regardless is now driving one that get's 30mpg instead of 14. it's not like rich people are just going to stop buying big houses. as for the person who mentioned the high cost, i don't know what a 4300 sq ft house goes for down there, but up here it would be twice that, at least.

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by GucciLittlePiggie

it's the same idea as buying a hybrid SUV. obviously a dedicated environmentalist would buy a Prius or something and usually take public transport. however, the person that was going to buy an SUV regardless is now driving one that get's 30mpg instead of 14. it's not like rich people are just going to stop buying big houses. as for the person who mentioned the high cost, i don't know what a 4300 sq ft house goes for down there, but up here it would be twice that, at least.

I guess what frustrates me about this article is that it just enables over-consumption. I think your reference to SUV's is spot on! Regardless of the increased mileage, the SUV still uses more steel, more plastic, more glass...... I think people in Raleigh want big houses because it's what the city does best. I'd like the city try to do something else "best". I'd like to see large scale, truly urban living weaved into the fabric of our existing city limits that would make even the most ardent McMansion lover take a pause and re-examine what quality of life means. I'd like to see singles, families, young and old living in a community where "shoes" are the prefered method of transportation to local community filled with amenities and things to do for all ages.

When I was a kid, my family of 6 lived in the burbs in a 2100 SF house with a one car garage. We only had one car and it certainly wasn't an SUV. The house was considered a move-up house back then but would likely be purchased today as a starter home for a young couple with a baby.