Columns:

Green Home Claims Arlington’s First Gold Certification

by ARLnow.com | September 21, 2010 at 10:45 am | 515 views | 21 Comments

Given the potential for stringent new energy efficiency requirements for new and renovated homes in Arlington, you may be wondering what such a “green” house would look like.

The answer: something like this.

Local builder Arlington Designer Homes is showing off this custom-built house on North Underwood Street today, after it received Arlington’s first Gold-level Green Building Certification from the National Association of Home Builders.

According to the builder, this is only the sixth house in Virginia to receive Gold-level certification.

It’s 45 percent more energy efficient than a standard new home, thanks to a solar water heater, Energy Star appliances, and spray-in foam installation. It was built using environmentally-friendly construction techniques and is sealed from outside pollutants and allergens.

Family-owned Arlington Designer Homes says they’re now busy building two new green homes in Falls Church.

cj

Unfortunately “green” doesn’t preclude unattractive — too many triangular gables for my taste. And why does an energy-saving home have a two-car garage? If the builder is really committed to minimizing the home’s carbon footprint, one car plus a bicycle port would be more appropriate.
- LP
  
  “And why does an energy-saving home have a two-car garage?”
  
  Because the builder wants to sell the house – while it may not be “green” to have two cars, the reality of our world is that every family, especially a family that is purchasing a house that’s probably close to $1M has two cars.
- Clarendude
  
  I agree, the design is bizarre. The gables to make the house look like a village unto itself just means more maintenance headaches. And the two loading docks on the front make it look like the alley-side of an industrial park.
MikeC

The irony here is that the new homes in Falls Church, being built across the street from the library, required a dozen+ beautiful old trees to be taken down. The green developer in the article transformed a shady spot my kids and I used to enjoy into a debris-choked lot with two homes crammed into a space fit for one.

Yay.
- Al
  
  You have the subject of this article confused with another builder. The site you mentioned across from the library is Green Build or Green It or something like that not the one listed in the article.
NorArl

Likewise, the ubur green house near 16th and Patrick Henry was built on a empty lot that had trees and brush, way more environmentally friendly than the house that is there now, no matter how “green” it is. On the other hand I guess something would have been built there eventually, and I’d rather have a green house than another McMansion.
JosephRicks

I would think a “green” house would have more windows for natural light to light up the house during the day. It looks as though that house would be pretty dark. Tear it down and start over.
tuesdayschild

Not very attactive. Too much garage frontage. Little front porch. too many small windows and triangles. Was it designed by a student? Maybe the back of the house is pretty.
http://www.arlnow.com/2010/09/07/county-panel-to-consider-colonial-village-renovations/ Willy

Its not just unattractive, its horrendous.
Obama

If I didn’t live in the White House, I’d move here. It’s better looking than some I’ve seen. Here is an example of why this house looks better than some: http://bit.ly/d4PFqy . Anyone know who built this craptastic brick box: http://bit.ly/d4PFqy We need more energy efficient building here in Arlington and this one is better than none.
TGEoA

Looks like a bunch of paper footballs were stuck to the roof.
JimB

A white roof — at least white singles, would be an important and little or no cost Green feature for reducing summer solar heating.

Is the landscaping designed to (1) reduce summer solar heat (shade the house (other than solar panels) from the sun while allowing the winter sun to warm the house structure and (2) to reduce/block NW winter winds?

At the sametime, there should be space in the backyard for hanging some/all of the clothes to dry. Clothes line rather than dryer drying of clothes can extend the life of clothes by as much as 50%. And of course, clothes line drying requires no electricity or natural gas for a dryer.
Don’t want an outdoor clothes line? Buy and use an inside clothes line apparatus. We use one regularly.

And, is all of the space necessary. Less space means less building material and space to light, to heat and to cool.
John

Nice house or not. It’s been on the market for months. Either too ugly or too pricey on 3017 Underwood Street at $1,279,000

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3017-Underwood-St-N_Arlington_VA_22213_1119573893
- MK
  
  Actually, the house has been sold. It’s not on the market.
fallschurchian

There are a few green houses in Falls Church, EFC area. I’ve yet to see one that is well-designed and attractive. Most stick out like sore thumbs on their streets. It’s too bad that green construction and good design appear to be at odds.
david

Given the neighboring homes, that is a bit of a stretch for that price point. Here’s a street view of the house mid-construction.

http://tinyurl.com/34u8f7r
RestonRunner86

Wow. I must be nuts because I actually LIKE the aesthetics of this home. It’s a shame that one has to be affluent in order to live in one, given the apparent $1,279,000 asking price, but there are enough uber-liberals here who’d pay $100,000 OVER that asking price just to brag to people how far “ahead of the curve” they are while rattling off all their home’s features.

I like it. If you want UGLY housing then come to Fairfax or Loudoun Counties.
Rose Anderson

Hi,

As I see in your site. You really provide a good info for home building and home making.New home builder and home buyer are getting lots of help from your article.I want to write one quality article on refinancing for your blog.In return also I can upload your article with link in my site and blog related to home building .If you are interested than contact me at roseanderson26@gmail.com
http://www.valanduseconstructionlaw.com Timothy R. Hughes

Wow.

Kudos to our friends at Arlington Designer Homes for achieving NAHB Gold on a home, that is a really big deal. 45% increased energy efficiency really is a big deal folks.

Their blog indicates that one home was sold, one was for sale:
http://greenbuildingnova.blogspot.com/

Folks always so negative here? I am a relatively new reader and commentator here.
John

This house hasn’t been sold. It’s still on the market with a “price reduced” sign. See realtor.com
Steve O

This may be the first NAHB green home, but there’s a LEED Platinum house in the Westover neighborhood that was built more than a year ago and sold last year. Personally I like the design, although others may dislike its more contemporary look.
http://www.metrogreenhome.com

Energy Recommendations Include Renovation Restrictions Route 50 Lane Closure Will Likely Remain Through End of Year

Subscribe to our mailing list