Our goal is simple: help reduce our footprint on the planet by encouraging homes that are energy efficient, make use of renewable resources, use healthy building materials and adhere to established green building rating systems. We have watched, over the course of our campaign, as golf course architects, superintendents and equipment manufacturers have embraced green practices and green materials. Those are all an important part of the process.

However, it is the structures we build and the energy they consume that are the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Building and living sustainably can make a difference. Which is why we are particularly proud that our first LINKS GreenHouse at Reynolds Plantation has chosen to build to EarthCraft standards. EarthCraft Houses can eliminate over 1,100 pounds of greenhouse gases a year by increasing the energy efficiency of a home by as much as 30%. They are energy efficient, conserve water and make use of low maintenance, recycled, and rapidly renewable materials.

Perhaps most important to encouraging widespread green building, EarthCraft uses sensible guidelines that aren’t cost prohibitive. Instead of mandating a list of rules, they allow builders and homebuyers the freedom to select which environmental measures are best suited for each particular home. That makes good sense to us.