House is green - both literally and figuratively

SOUTHERN SHORES, N.C.

The woodsy waterfront Outer Banks neighborhood embraces Mother Nature, befitting the new jade-green house on South Dogwood Trail that revels in her presence.

Builder Lilias Morrison could hardly contain a smile as she hiked through the backyard, noting its maritime habitat and Earth-friendly ways.

Strategic surface-water management and rain-water harvesting systems passively direct water away from the dwelling to various purposeful reservoirs, she noted.

These include a French drain, rain garden, landscaped berm and 1,500-gallon holding tank, from which irrigation lines lead water to soaker hoses within various zones throughout the landscape, which features drought-tolerant native plants and a small grove of American hollies.

Morrison, president of Real Escapes Ltd., a green-building company based in Harbinger, N.C., is known for having developed Sanderling and Palmer's Island, two eco-friendly ocean-to-Currituck Sound communities in Duck.

This three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath house in Southern Shores is her newest project. R aised from felled surrounding pines that were sent to a mill to return as flooring and trim, it's the Outer Banks' first and only LEED-certified dwelling. It's certified Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

The 2,800-square-f oot house is firmly planted in the principles of green building: features that conserve water and energy use, and construction practices that embody environmental responsibility.

The structure is heated and cooled geothermally, and lit easily by the sun through generous-sized low-E4 windows, which mitigate summer heat infiltration. High-efficiency appliances, lighting and plumbing fixtures go hand in hand with well-sealed and double-insulated framing between 6-inch-thick walls, a whole-house water filter and radiant-barrier roof sheathing.

Indoor air quality gets a profound boost from use of low-volatile organic compound, or VOC, paints, coatings, adhesives and carpets, as well as a central vacuum system and fresh air filtration/ventilation system.

Morrison estimates the monthly energy-related cost to operate is $100. "The whole point" of green building, she said, "is while we use less energy, water and materials, the quality of life is as good, if not better" as that to which we're accustomed.

Dubbed the Common Sense Green House, it's listed at $655,000.

Nora Firestone, nfirestone@verizon.net