"We are an outdoor lifestyle community that is fortunate to have one of the most
naturally scenic pieces of property you’ll ever come across,” says Director of
Communications, John McIntosh. “Being ecologically responsible was never a
question for us because this is a way of life we want to preserve for our
children and their children. Our mission is to be as green a community as
possible to insure that legacy.” This commitment led LINKS
Magazine to select Seven Falls as one of the first sites of a LINKS Green House.
Seven Falls is taking the opportunity to push the ecological envelope with a
LEED-certified dream golf home. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) is the U.S. Green Building Council’s national benchmark for
designing and constructing high-performance buildings.
LEED uses
an independent third-party rating system to certify homes. Eight performance
categories are rated and a home must achieve a minimal score of 45 points to
qualify. The process is rigorous, even more so for houses reaching toward elite
Platinum certification. But the rewards are great. According to the Green
Building Council, “A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources;
creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants.”
And not insignificantly, a LEED-certified home dramatically decreases energy
bills and increases resale values.
“This community is committed to the
highest level of excellence in everything we do. That’s reflected in our choice
to become a Palmer Premier club,” says the developer, Keith Vinson.
In
fact, Seven Falls will be home to the first Arnold Palmer Premier championship
golf club, a new golf and luxury lifestyle experience from the Arnold Palmer
Design Company. Palmer Premier goes beyond the golf course deep into a
community’s lifestyle, amenities and service, all of which must adhere to
five-star standards. At the heart of Palmer Premier’s mission is their
“sustainable yet beautiful” philosophy of creating pure golf experiences
with core golf courses that are in harmony with the environment.
The LINKS Green House at Seven Falls will be inspired by those
standards.
The property for the Seven Falls green home has already
been selected and the development team is actively reviewing eco-savvy
architects to design their LINKS Green House. In the meantime, Seven Falls is
busy practicing what they preach.
“Our first priority was to
restore the land to its original grandeur,” says McIntosh. “We’re cleaning up
the streams and the French Broad River, along with untangling the overgrowth
that was threatening to choke dozens of waterfalls on our property.”
And even before a single resident has moved in, Seven Falls is
planning an aggressive recycling program. They are also ready to provide
complete resources for property owners so that they, too, can opt to build
green.
“We’re excited about the LINKS Green House project,” says Vinson. “As a developer, it is our responsibility to lead by example.”
