Green Home In Fairhope

Outside, this Fairhope home looks like any other new building. Inside, it's built with as little impact on nature as possible

People still want a warm inviting place to come home to while keeping the environment in mind,” says Malouf Furniture and Design President Gardner Malouf. He says this 3,600 square foot; 5-bedroom home has an average monthly electric bill of $73. Special hardware like this toilet keep utility bills down. It has flushes for going #1 and going #2. Upstairs special foam insulates the roof and keeps the attic cool.

“All the duct work is run through the conditioned attic and eliminates issues with duct work that condensates,” says designer Jeremy Friedman. The geothermal heating and cooling system takes advantage of the ground temperature to save energy. Outside a weather station monitors rainfall and sends signals to the sprinkler controls to save water. This home feels like any other but its spirit is something you can see. The mantle and several living room beams are made from a pecan tree that was here before the home was built. Friedman says they wanted to keep it there to remind people what this home is all about.

“It really helps give the home a sense of place and ties it to its location,” says Friedman. Around your home, Friedman recommends compact florescent light bulbs and dimmer switches to reduce electricity. He says foam insulation can be added to most homes. The eco-home costs $659,000. Friedman says a comparable home in the neighborhood costs $650,000.