Just as the range of shades can resemble a Crayola box — Spring Green to Granny Smith Apple to Forest Green — so can green in the “eco” sense.

Apex resident Sarah Potter is finding that out quickly as she renovates a 1970s home in Cary’s MacGregor Downs neighborhood to meet strict eco-friendly standards.

The home, purchased last year, will eventually be her family’s residence and also the model for her small construction business, Green Cottage Custom Homes.

“There is no [one] answer on how to build a green home,” Potter said as she stood amid the gutted remains of the ranch-style house.

Potter had already started her construction business and was building a home near downtown Apex when she took a weeklong course at the N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University. The knowledge she gained led her to focus on building environmentally friendly homes.

While she says the Apex house is not a “green” home in the strict sense, she did “as much as I could” to build energy-saving and environmentally friendly features into the home. The owners have told her their energy bills are about half of their former home.

Potter says she is still learning and calls the MacGregor home a work in “green” progress.

During the deconstruction she salvaged windows, lighting and sinks and toilets that will be reused by Habitat for Humanity. She recycled vinyl, brick and metal materials from the home.

She is using some of the wood planks salvaged from the original building to add a second story.

Potter says there’s a wealth of information for anyone interested in building green — from small steps such as installing more efficient lighting or shower heads to major improvements.

“We see a ton of interest [in green building], but we’re in a position to see a ton of interest,” said Dona Stankus, building programs manager at the N.C. Solar Center.

Stankus said she thinks consumers’ demands have pushed the building industry to do more. Even compared to two or three years ago, Stankus said she sees more builders specializing in green building.

Potter decided to meet certain energy standards for the MacGregor house, “major” improvements from when it was built.

She has bought EcoTimber engineered wood flooring. The product uses only a thin layer of oak (saving trees), and it has no “volatile organic compounds,” or VOCs, in the glue. Even the underlayment is all recycled content.

Potter says she has to balance her own environmental concerns with what she can afford. She’s not crazy about carpet because it has “off- gassing” of chemicals. But she will install that in certain areas to offset the expensive wood floor.

She could have saved the old windows, but she is replacing them throughout. They are “Low-e” to maintain certain energy standards, keeping heat in during winter and out during summer.

The insulation she has chosen doesn’t off-gas, has no formaldehyde and does not allow air transfer, keeping the house sealed tight, “like an envelope,” she said.

Dual flush toilets — a special flush for “number one” and “number two” — will be installed as well as low-flow sinks and showers.

Potter says with some pride that she was the first one at a local home store to purchase its first stock of Freshaire paint, which contains no VOCs; even the containers are made from recycled materials.

“My kids can sit there and play while I paint,” she said.

No sickly smells. No headaches from fumes.

When it’s completed in late summer, Potter says her house will meet both federal Energy Star standards and be a N.C. Healthy Built Home. She says she won’t meet the highest Healthy Built standard because she started with an older home.

Stankus sees value in meeting energy standards.

“It’s verifying that what you say you’ve done is really there,” she said.

Because Potter’s operation is small and she’s a mother of small children, she will only do spec homes — build and then sell, one or two at a time.

She’s currently renovating a 50-year-old home in Apex.

Potter loves houses. On family vacations she would rather drive around and take pictures of the houses than visit the tourist attractions.

“I get teary eyed when I think about how much I love them,” she said.

“They make such a difference. I want to build something that affects somebody’s life in a positive way.

“Truthfully, I have never lived in a comfortable home,” Potter said.

Too hot, too cold. Too dry, too humid.

She wants to change that for her customers, in addition to doing her part for the Earth.

Resources
The N.C. Solar Center, operated by the College of Engineering at N.C. State University, offers courses including the Diploma Series, a continuing-education program for professionals who wish to gain a higher level of knowledge and hands-on training in renewable energy technologies and sustainable building practices. Two choices: Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series and Green Building Diploma Series.
Also, the N.C. Healthy Built Homes Program provides visibility and certification for residential builders who practice sustainable “green” building practices.
For information visit ncsc.ncsu.edu/default.cfm.

Making your home energy efficient
Four things you can do to make your home more energy efficient:
1. Make sure you have good exhaust fans that vent to the exterior of your home (not just to your attic) and are quiet and nonleaking.
2. Make sure your HVAC system is sized appropriately. If it isn’t, have it replaced by a professional as soon as possible. “Most people in our climate ... oversize” their system, said Dona Stankus, building programs manager for the N.C. Solar Center.
3. Make sure your attic is well insulated. Most heat loss in homes is through the roof.
4. Make sure you have a good seal between the crawl space and house, and get rid of any water intrusion in the crawl space.

(Source: Dona Stankus, N.C. Solar Center)