Real estate industry looks to 'green' homes

The two houses that sit off Illinois 19 in Wood River are a glimpse of the real estate industry's future.

The two homes will soon open to the public as models of upcoming development to be known as Rock Hill Trails. Trumpet Builders, of Festus, Mo., is building the 49-lot neighborhood with the environment and energy efficiency in mind.

Anthony Schroeder, president of the project's development company, Well Spring Development Co., said this approach is a holistic design for a sustainable community by building what it calls "high-performance homes."

The land that has sat untouched and has been in Schroeder's family for 150 years. The homes to be built there are advertised as having less impact on the land than traditional houses. Air temperature, for instance, will be regulated by way of a geothermal system that captures the earth's natural core temperatures from a well 200 to 300 feet underground that pumps liquid beneath the ground and returns back to the surface. Builders also will use spray foam insulation that expands and helps seals spaces that traditional roll-out insulation cannot cover.

The developer also will incorporate building styles that should reduce long-term environmental impact and natural landscaping to provide a good habitat for wildlife and native plant species, and filter toxins from rainwater runoff and reduce erosion. A natural storm management system dictated by the land will also provide basins among walking trails and landscaping.

"It is kind of common sense approach to reduction in resources during the building process and construction process," Schroeder said. " It's a prudent use of materials, and materials are coming from renewable resources."

As this new development comes on line, local real estate professionals are realizing the growing demand that new homes that have less impact on the environment and conserve energy. More people want to buy a "green" house.

The National Association of Home Builders launched the Green Building Initiative a few years ago to provide a new designation to help certify homes as environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Dan Tatum, president of the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois in Belleville, said that in November the National Realtors Association unveiled a Green designation for its members, who must complete an 18 hours of training to becertified.

"With this increased awareness of what we might call 'green,' which seems to be an all-encompassing term, we need and want to be in a position to provide smart advice to direct (homebuyers) to resources if they're interested in getting and building a home that is environmental friendly, provides cost savings and is energy efficient," Tatum said.

Tim Dain, who is the real estate broker for Rock Hill Trails, said that all of the homes in the development are high-performance and will be rated and recognized by entities like Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.

"From a real estate perspective, I think anyone would agree with me that I really believe the consumer really wants energy efficiency," Dain said.

Al Suguitan, who oversees real estate activity in Madison County and surrounding counties as executive director of the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors in Glen Carbon, said he also sees what is going on at Rock Hill Trails as a model of how future home construction will evolve.

"I'm encouraged that there are some builders who are willing to step forward and put together energy-efficient homes, or 'green' houses, by using new construction techniques that are very cost effective and to market them as low-energy homes," Suguitan said. "And I think that the public will embrace this type of construction."

Tatum also said that this year's federal economic stimulus plan provides further incentives to think green. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 tripled the tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. Homeowners can install energy-efficient windows and doors, metal or asphalt roofs, insulation, furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters that qualify under the Energy Star program and could also be eligible for tax credits equaling 30 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of $1,500 for improvements made between Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010.

"There are some really good financial incentives that are out there for buyers right now to encourage use of some Energy Star savings and some other energy efficient ideas," he said. "I think that is really terrific."

Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois has formed a green building committee and some of its members have pursued green designation. Association executive officer Jerry Rombach said that energy conservation will become more common in home construction.

"I think in five years there won't be such a thing as green building," Rombach said. "There will just be buildings. There will no longer be energy-efficient or Energy Star appliances. Pretty much every one is built to Energy Star requirements to that degree with that specialized redesign."

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526.