Old Village Landing involved in 'green' effort

When it comes to natural construction techniques, the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system is considered a respected seal of approval for contractors and consumers alike.

Now, LEED wants to expand its scope, certifying efforts where designers incorporate green building efforts throughout entire neighborhoods or in newer sections of existing communities. A pilot program would create what the organization hopes to be "the first national system for neighborhood design."

Among the pilot's participants is a local builder constructing "sustainable, renewable" homes in the existing Old Village Landing neighborhood off Center Street in Mount Pleasant.

Ilderton Contractors Inc., based on Sullivan's Island, acquired 18 lots on the northeast end of the community and is framing homes with a host of natural perks. They include high-efficiency wood stoves, decks made of recyclable materials and semi-pervious gravel walkways. There are also double-flush toilets, big in Australia, with one button for full water use and a second for a half-flush.

"It's a nice collection of homes, a well-thought-out concept," says Cary Walker, broker associate with Carolina One New Homes, who is listing the homes for sale.

The four- to five-bedroom, 2,100- to 2,550-square-foot houses sell from $600,000s. Residential architects are Sandy Byers and Gordon Nicholson.

The homes, which have raised first levels, offer some strictly aesthetic features, such as fiber-cement siding, high ceilings and overhead access panels to give a contrasting look. Most of the houses have antique yellow-pine floors.

Some environmental features are visible; others hidden away. There are sunlight-protective overhangs, fluorescent light fixtures and landscaping that's tailored toward limited water use.

Energy-saving heating and air-conditioning units and separate climate control settings on each floor help keep interior temperatures uniform. There are recycled concrete foundation fillers, and outside structural walls use 2-by-6-inch boards rather than the typical two-by-fours. Blown fiberglass insulation helps keep the house more airtight. Wood is brought in from less than 500 miles away, thus reducing transportation costs.

"There are a lot of things that are green that don't cost a lot of money, like tankless water heaters (included in all the homes)," says Doug Smith, general manager of Ilderton Contractors.