HometownGeorgetown.com

Last week, representatives of Green Builders invited me to visit them at their model home in Georgetown Village to learn more about what they’re doing there. I’ll admit it, I was wowed. Recent electric bills have made my stomach hurt, so I was predisposed to be interested in all the ways that Green Builders are making their homes energy efficient. They predict utility savings of 50% on their homes over homes of similar size in the same neighborhood, which they feel is a conservative estimate.

Green Builders took over the Georgetown Village development in 2005 and proceeded to put homes in empty lots within the neighborhoods. The first of these homes was finished just a few weeks ago. As of the time I spoke with them, they had sold a few of these homes and still have several available. They plan to open a new section of Georgetown Village - Section 9 - this spring. The homes in this section will be built by Green Builders and Perry Homes. Eventually, they plan to put 1800 homes on 800 acres. Their homes in the newly developed sections will face north and south, an orientation that will help even more with energy savings.

They are also working to bring retail to the Village. They have set aside 45 acres, where they would like to create the feeling of an elegant Old Town square. They’re hoping to make Georgetown Village even more of a pedestrian community with a local market, restaurants, perhaps a family dentist, etc. There is no timeline yet for when the retail space will be developed.

So… about those energy savings. How can they predict 50% utility savings? Their homes have many green features, such as:

• Higher windows to maximize shade benefits of awnings and window treatments
• Tankless water heaters
• Compact fluorescent lights (which will be replaced for free if they burn out in less than seven years)
• Gutters and rainwater collection systems
• Foam insulation to make the house air-tight
• Aprilaire filtration system to draw fresh, filtered air into the home

The Aprilaire system has another major benefit in that it allows far fewer allergens into the home than traditional ventilation systems. The Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint they use creates no fumes or toxins.

Each home has an Envirocenter, a control hub for the homeowner. How cool would that be, to own a home with an Envirocenter? It sounds so futuristic. Green Builders’ homes were recently awarded an Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency. The representatives told me that they are the only production builder in Texas that is currently building homes with so many green elements. They really care about the environment, using as many recycled products as possible. The carpet is even recycled, believe it or not, from water bottles! Who knew such a thing was possible?

All this, and they build a beautiful home. You wouldn’t be giving up style in the least. The homes boast charming art niches, staggered cabinetry in the kitchen with heavy, high-quality hardware, sustainable wood floors, and more features that today’s homebuyers love.

If you’re interested in taking a tour of Green Builders’ homes, please give me a call at 512-876-6544. I would love to show you the wonderful family neighborhood of Georgetown Village, home of Village Elementary, which has been rated by the state of Texas as an Exemplary school.

Green Builders’ official grand opening will be this coming Saturday, January 26 from 1-5 p.m. The event will be catered by Whole Foods and Sweet Leaf Tea.