The Orchard, Chapel Hill's newest neighborhood, is a breathtaking reminder of days gone by when the beauty of our natural land was pristine, quiet and peaceful. Local builder, Hampton Green Homes, intends to preserve the natural beauty of this land for generations to come. The Orchard is the first community in the area where each home includes standard solar energy generation and is Green Building Certified at either the gold or silver level. Situated on 18 two-acre homesites, homes start at $1 million and come with a full green building package
The Orchard is buffered by 14 acres of green space just five minutes from Downtown Carrboro and 10 minutes from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Families in The Orchard attend the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system. With Energy Star and Green Building Initiative certified homes, Hampton Green Homes' commitment to green building and living is only rivaled by its dedication to quality craftsmanship.
"This is the first place in our area where you will find an entire community of solar standard Green Building Initiative Certified spec homes," said Dale Giera, chief executive officer of Hampton Green Homes. "By including solar thermal standard in each and every home, and by giving homeowners the option for photovoltaic solar, we are setting a new energy standard in green building."
The Orchard's green features contribute to energy-efficient, healthier homes with less impact on the environment. Each home undergoes a rigorous certification process, directed by the local Home Builders Association's Green Home Builders of the Triangle program.
Hampton Green Homes documented more than 30 green and money-saving features as part of its work to earn a 100 percent green rating. Each home contains the following energy-saving features: - High efficiency heating and cooling systems
- Sealed and certified ductwork
- Solar water heater (standard)
- Photovoltaic solar power generation (optional)
A number of indoor and outdoor water conservation features are standard with each home, including: - Low-flow faucets
- Dual flush toilets
- Drought-tolerant landscaping
- Water harvesting rain barrels for flower beds
- Weather-based irrigation control systems.
Indoor air quality is maintained with enhanced indoor air filtration systems, energy-recovery ventilator systems and central vacuum systems. Each home comes with a host of interior green features, including: - No VOC paints, low VOC sealants and water-based floor finishes
- Green label carpets
- Tech Shield radiant barrier roof sheathing
- High efficiency light fixtures and Energy Star appliance packages
- Designer cabinets (locally fabricated) Forest Stewardship Council certified wood panel construction
The Orchard was transformed from a tobacco farm into a botanical wonderland in the 1970s, when the land was planted with a large variety of specimen trees. Today, meander The Orchard's walking trail and discover more than 40 varieties of trees.
For more information about The Orchard and a complete list of green features, please visit www.liveintheorchard.com. For more information about Hampton Green Homes, please visit www.hamptongreenhomes.com.
For more information about The Green Building Initiative, please visit TheGBI.org. For more information about Energy Star, please visit energystar.gov.
Contact Kristina Casto at The Rivers Agency for more information at 919-932-9985 or kristina@riversagency.com
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