Dewees Island, S.C./PR Newswire/Aug. 2, 2006 – With rising ecological awareness and increasing utility prices affecting everyday activities, environmentally responsible or "green" building is becoming more important in residential construction. New technology and greater availability of green products are enabling forward-thinking builders and developers to produce projects that appeal to luxury buyers and renters who seek to lower energy consumption and make more earth-conscious choices.
For John Porretto of Sustainable Building Solutions, Inc., a green home is not just an architectural choice, it's an environmental benefit. Porretto has a unique perspective of the value of investing in sustainable building principles. "Far too often we hear that there is not enough money to do a thing right the first time," he said. "Yet when problems result and bring greater costs on the back side, we must find even greater sums. By this time, expenses reside with the homeowner after architects, engineers and builders have completed their work and moved on."
Unlike the green homes of past decades, today's homes feature energy efficiency, structural integrity, safety, health and even fine design. Currently, he is putting the finishing touches on a masterfully designed, earth-honoring, energy-efficient, low-maintenance house on Dewees Island, S.C., a paradigm-setting, environmentally conscious community.
Given recent hurricane disasters, deciding to build on a barrier island with common construction approaches can be risky business. This home is built to last for generations in harsh coastal environments and derives its integrity from stamped engineering foundation and framing plans, timber frames and structural insulated panels.
The home serves as a prototype for truly ecologically sound construction and ultra-low maintenance. The timber framing lends strength and interior beauty, while the use of structural panels offers superior insulation and durability. All the wood is reclaimed from standing dead trees or sustainable harvest.
The closed loop, geothermal HVAC system and insulated windows increase efficiency. Windows look onto the marsh and the Intracoastal Waterway, inviting coastal breezes to freshen the air and ample sunlight to brighten the rooms. Natural materials maintain healthy indoor air quality, while attention to small but significant details marks the house as authentically "green."
If anyone would know how to craft a true green house, it would be Porretto, a member of the National Academy of Sciences Environmental Roundtable and a recognized expert in the benefits of sustainable building principles. He also was instrumental in the construction of the UT School of Nursing, which was chosen as an AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project for 2006.
For Porretto and his family, a healthier environment begins at home. This is a fact he and his company demonstrate by building homes that will last for generations, provide a healthful environment for the inhabitants and honor the natural surroundings.
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