Green Goes Gorgeousness

Green gorgeousness has been ratcheted up another notch with the opening CharityWorks greenhouse, a designer show house in McLean Virginia. A developer and contractor conceived the idea to create the space they want to live in. They do not pursue a special green technology, but used to use the best technology and intelligent out there that are cost effective, sensible and beautiful.

This carbon neutral, Craftsman-style house, the best, a show house for energy efficiency. Contents Energy Star roof metal recycling rate is to reduce the heat load by 22 percent. Structural insulated panel (SIP) construction is 15 times stricter than the traditional houses built. Its narrow footprint allows in plenty of light and facilitate the flow of air.

Homes heated and cooled by geothermal energy, radiant tubing and channels; it is 70 percent more efficient than standard systems. An energy management "system house" smart monitor all lighting and mechanical systems and can be controlled from an iPhone application. All this adds up to energy consumption is projected 70-80 percent less per square foot than a comparable new home. Based on the size of the Energy Star, homes are more energy efficient than the 99.9 percent of homes built since 2000.

Low-flow fixtures, circulation, water features, rainwater capture and recycling system to reduce water use 30-40 percent less than a traditional house. There are also two green roofs and vertical herb garden. A wine cellar temperature of the earth and the passive use of concrete to maintain proper temperatures with no cooling. wood floors are heart pine reclaimed from the factory the old Virginia.
The interior designers responsible for 18 rooms in this house is 4000 square feet utilizing both the growing market of green finish and furnishings. My favorite: a bath and kitchen countertops made of recycled glass, mirrors, porcelain and industrial furnace residue; furniture specially designed by Ernesto Santalla made from compressed wood particles, recycled paper and corrugated cardboard; all artifacts repurposed as the 1900s bolts Cremorne (originally used as a French door hardware) that Susan Gulick as the art hanging on the wall.

This house is beautiful, inside and out. Not all space is a very green as anyone else, but they all have much to teach a lot of visitors who will tour the house before closing at the end of October. Kudos to Cunningham / Quill Architects, developers and builders of West Group GreenSpur.