Article Category: Green Building

Darren Henegar: Enough Water for Everyone

Enough Water for Everyone: A Water Supply Case Study in Swannanoa Darren Henegar   Here in the U.S., we have long been fortunate to have access to some of the safest drinking water in the world available just by turning on the tap. However, continued population growth and economic development...

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Boone Guyton: Going for Zero and Beyond

Going for Zero and Beyond: The Journey to -8 HERS Boone Guyton   We built our last house with the goal of being net-zero energy. The West Asheville lot is a small 0.08-acre infill lot with great southern exposure. That allowed for both solar photovoltaics and passive solar design on...

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Garret K. Woodward: Breaking Through

Breaking Through: Green Built Homes Certification Program Hits 1,500 Milestone Garret K. Woodward   What once was considered a fringe industry has now become a force in the housing market of Asheville and greater Western North Carolina. “It does seem like a green-certified house in our market has become less...

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Greg McGuffey: Per Square Foot

Per Square Foot: How much does it cost to build a new green home? Greg McGuffey    Over the 12 years that I have been building here in Asheville, this has remained the most frequently asked question that I receive. It is always one of the very first things people inquire about...

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Garret K. Woodward: Tapping into the Future

Tapping into the Future: Craft Beer Giant Sierra Nevada Opens Green Facility in Mills River Garret K. Woodward   Cheri Chastain loves her job. “It’s really heartwarming and great to work for a company that has the same ethics and philosophy as I do, and is willing to put their...

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Garret K. Woodward: Getting Through Winter on $28

Getting Through Winter on $28 Garret K. Woodward   James McGarvey shakes his head. “I cringe when I hear somebody is paying more than $50 a year to heat a house in Western North Carolina,” the 68-year-old said. "We have learned from building science that with a near perfect thermal/pressure envelope,...

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Dan Clere: Our Path to Net Zero

Our Path to Net Zero: One Family’s Effort to Live Their Truth Dan Clere   My wife and I have chosen to prioritize our home as the lynchpin of our effort to live more sustainably.   It is hard to overstate the impact our homes have on the amount of...

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