Modern Green Farmhouse

Eco-friendly features can be incorporated into any home, any style. This is the main idea behind the 2012 HGTV Green Home, which was constructed in Atlanta’s Serenbe community last year as part of the national television network’s fifth green home giveaway. Valued at nearly $800,000, the new three-story home is approximately 2,300 square feet and includes three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, an unfinished basement, several outdoor living spaces and a detached garage and carport. It’s a modern farmhouse that combines the charm of historical architecture with the latest green building techniques, redefining what it means to go green.  

Green building

Recently named 2012 EarthCraft House Certified Project of the Year, the green home meets rigorous green building standards aimed at boosting energy efficiency, water conservation and more. A half-slab/half-basement foundation was chosen to reduce dirt removal and the need for additional dirt on the job site. Waste materials were minimized, repurposed or recycled. Walls were built thick and insulated well. A sheet metal roof was specified to reflect light and radiant heat, providing a cooling effect in the summer.

In fact, only one air-conditioning unit is needed for heating and cooling the entire home. That’s also partly because of the natural ventilation offered by a cupola and thoughtfully designed indoor-outdoor living spaces. Taking advantage of the area’s abundant sunshine, the home is powered by a south-facing solar panel array, which provides a renewable source of energy and has the potential to generate 1710 kilowatt-hours of energy per year. Inside, a gas-powered tankless water heater helps conserve water, heating only when a faucet is turned on.

Green decor

The home’s green features don’t stop there. Even the furnishings and décor are eco-conscious. The kitchen cabinets were crafted in Atlanta from hickory wood, and the dining room table is made with solid pine from shipping pallets. The floors, from the Epic line by Shaw Floors, are hardwood and made in the U.S. from recycled post-industrial wood fibers. Zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints from the HGTV Home line by Sherwin Williams were selected in a coordinating color palette called Traditional Twist. All the artwork is done by local artists and gives the home a personal touch along with unique upcycled finds such as table lamps with augers for bases. The end result is a place where old and new, nostalgia and innovation, natural surroundings and modern amenities blend beautifully.

Green team

Atlanta area contractors help build green home.
Principals of the 2012 HGTV Green Home include:
• HGTV Green Home House Planner: Jack Thomasson, The Home Department, Inc.
• Interior Designer: Linda Woodrum, TS Hudson Interiors
• Developer: Steve Nygren, Serenbe
• Architects: Steve Kemp and Georgia Muncaster, Kemp Hall Studio
• Builder: Curtis Peart, FrontPorch Custom Homes and Renovations
• Landscape Architect: Ed Castro, Ed Castro Landscape