The Barn House- First Green Home Completed in the Eco-community of Green Acres
The Barn House gains its inspiration from the surrounding pastoral/farm landscape of Merrill’s Cove in Asheville, NC. The powerful design borrows from the endangered vernacular architecture of farmhouses and barns, iconic structures of the New England and Mid-Atlantic States.
For this project, sustainability and energy efficiency/conservation are the primary design drivers. The design and construction of the Barn House combines modern building science with traditional building materials and techniques, along with cutting edge technologies such as:
- passive solar design
- Progress Energy’s energy star certification
- super insulated and airtight structure, 50% beyond current NC code
- geothermal HVAC, 27 seer rating
- high performance glazing and doors
- tons of interior thermal mass (concrete, granite stone, and steel I-beams)
- LED and CFL lighting in over 95% of the electric fixtures
- locally sourced, recycled and salvaged materials along with utilization of site harvested and wind-fallen hardwood trees
- drought tolerant and edible landscaping with large organic veggie garden
- standing seam metal roof on the south side wired for photovoltaic solar panels
- garage wired for electric car
- low VOC paints and finishes
- water conservation fixtures and a rainwater collection pond
The Barn House seamlessly synthesizes all the important building elements- native & natural quality materials, design creativity, meticulous craftsmanship, color, landscaping, sustainability, energy efficiency/conservation- into a remarkable showcase of a comfortable, healthy, functional living space and environmentally sensitive home. The innovative contemporary furniture by Bola Design complements the modern interior space, adding to the total design package.
Green Acres, an emerging eco-community located in the southeast Asheville near the Blue Ridge Parkway, is an unique sustainable community with plans to integrate green-built homes, organic gardens and orchards, and renewable energy from wind, solar, and geothermal sources. The project developer/builder is John McDermott. He founded Bola Design (www.bolafurniture.com), a successful modern furniture and craft design company, and co-founded Highland Brewing, both located in Asheville, NC.
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nice job