Apr 2 2008
A developer is taking "green" design to another level with a new community that may be one of the most eco-friendly residential developments in the nation.
Windermere on the Lake
Windermere on the Lake, which is under construction in North Stamford, Connecticut, utilizes the latest "green" technologies and environmentally sensitive habitat management plans to create a residential enclave in harmony with the natural surroundings.
"We're developing one of the most comprehensive eco-friendly residential communities in the United States," said Mark Hallett Robbins, President of Windermere on the Lake. "There is a great deal of talk nationally about incorporating various 'green' elements into residential construction, but few if any builders have gone to the lengths we have at Windermere."
Robbins said that the environmental commitment at Windermere extends virtually every aspect of the homes being built and reaches across the entire property.
"Over time, many of the features we are incorporating will become standard in the industry both in terms of construction and site management. We believe that what we are creating at Windermere on the Lake will serve as a prototype for environmentally sustainable residential development," said Robbins.
Windermere on the Lake's 24 distinctive homes are designed in the style of the 19th Century English Art and Crafts movement. They feature private custom country gardens created by renowned English landscape architect Simon Johnson. The homes are priced from $3.2 million.
The home designs incorporate a wide range of eco-friendly and energy-saving features including
- geothermal heating and cooling systems
- paints and carpeting with extremely low VOC levels (volatile organic compounds)
- solar-powered street lighting
- high performance windows and insulation
- heat recovery ventilation systems
- extensive use of sustainable building materials
- sediment filtration system whereby stormwater leaves the site cleaner than when it entered
Robbins said there is an emerging market for green technology homes that is being fueled by rising energy costs and a growing concern about global warming. "Green is becoming the new amenity of choice in luxury housing. Today's socially conscious, upscale homebuyers are more concerned about the size of their carbon footprint than the size of their master bath," he said. "At Windermere on the Lake, we're creating a world-class green development that is unrivaled in its classic architectural design, luxury finishes, fine craftsmanship and long-term environmental stewardship."
Windermere on the Lake is the first residential development in Connecticut to seek the prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council that serves as the benchmark for high performance green buildings. In addition, the Energy Star qualified homes at Windermere on the Lake meet efficiency guidelines set by the Federal EPA.
The entire 74-acre wooded site is being developed using an ecological approach seldom seen in today's typical subdivision.
Extensive and ongoing Habitat Management and Restoration Protection Plans have been developed to ensure lifelong preservation of the property. Some 25 acres of the property have been donated to a local land conservation trust and an additional 25 acres is retained as permanent open space.
Windermere on the Lake is the inaugural residential community of NRDC Residential, a newly formed division of National Realty & Development Corp., one of the leading real estate development and management firms in the Northeast. NRDC Residential focuses on developing environmentally sustainable planned communities.