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| Passion Investments: Property |
A Green Haven
Ernest Beck
10/01/2004
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Built in two
phases, the house today consists of a 4,700-square-foot family compound
comprising four buildings. Three bridges and interlocking courtyards connect
them; together, the structures create interior and exterior spaces that
constitute a climate-responsive system of natural cross ventilation in the hot
weather.
Eco-Architects
Cara Battaglini, spokeswoman for the American Institute of
Architects, says that although finding a green architect takes some digging,
there are resources available that may help us locate a specialist. The AIA
website (www.aia.org) has a sustainable-design
category in its search engine. |
One green material Hertz used extensively was a type of
concrete called Syndecrete, which was developed by his own company. Made of
natural minerals and recycled materials such as discarded carpet fibers, bottle
glass and fiber ash, Syndecrete replaces the energy intensive component of
regular concrete. In the Hertz home, Syndecrete is found everywhere—from the
kitchen counter to the sink, dining room table, fireplace and even the showers.
Hertz says it is a good example of how an eco-friendly product can be
substituted for more commonly used materials.
Energy conservation is a common
theme in the design of environmentally sound houses. Many eco-builders install
climate-response systems that regulate ventilation and light when the weather
changes, thus minimizing energy use. Eco-houses may use some form of solar
energy and insulation made of recycled materials.
 |  | | TOP: THE David Hertz home in Venice, Calif., Bottom: The Ray Anderson home in North Carolina. (Bottom photograph by Lynne Siler.) |
These amenities add to the
cost. Builders and architects estimate that the budget for an eco-house,
depending on its size and the extent of its eco-friendly accessories, can run 5
percent to 20 percent more than for a conventional building, mainly because of
the added expense of the specialized materials. Certain hardwoods, such as
mahogany, can cost up to 20 percent more than usual if an organization such as
the Forest Stewardship Council has certified them as having come from a
sustainable forest. Solar power technologies also remain relatively expensive,
despite their growing popularity. Eco-aware architects do not usually charge
more, but because their fees are based on overall costs of a project, their
compensation may be higher because these projects tend to be more
expensive.
Anderson participated fully in designing and building his house,
to ensure it met his objectives. He found the site—a remote 86-acre parcel,
aptly called Lost Valley—after reconnoitering the area for a year. After
acquiring the property (and placing 79 of its acres in a “forever wild” trust)
Anderson hired Atlanta architect Jack Davis, whose aesthetic sense he
appreciated, but who did not have green credentials. To bring him up to speed,
Anderson says he educated Davis about building off the grid, a term that
describes living independently of utilities. He also consulted organizations,
including the Rocky Mountain Institute and the Southface Energy Institute, that
provide green construction know-how ranging from the selection of materials to
design.
Anderson’s search for the perfect logs is typical of the lengths to
which eco-enthusiasts will go. Chopping down healthy spruce trees to build the
cabin would have been at odds with his goal of conservation. Instead, he tracked
down a company in Colorado that could supply dead standing trees. It took more
than a month—and a trip to Colorado to inspect the trees—to complete the
deal.
He also wanted to avoid conventional heating and cooling systems. He
installed quiet ceiling fans to circulate air and looped coils through the
floors to circulate water warmed by the sun. Radiant heating of this nature is
popular because it produces drier heat than other methods, such as forced-air
heating, and minimizes mold growth.
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