Green Net-Zero Energy Homes

Weatherford Place in Roswell, Ga. is the most unusual community in the state of Georgia and in the whole country for that matter. It’s the solar power that sets them apart.” Think of each of these houses as its own little solar plant.” says Simone du Boise an architect specializing in environmental design. “There’s not another neighborhood like it.” It will have eight houses on 1.6 acre’s on land bordering Crossville Creek.

Boise says design specifications show that each home will generate more power than it needs-which is how they became net-zero energy houses. The power generated by each home immediately gets put on the power grid. Georgia power credits each home for the power it generates. Each home will use two thirds less energy than a typical house.

Each home is designed to a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) level and the entire community will be platinum LEED-the first in the United States according to business partner Dan Downey. Attention was given to every detail, windows, doors and the 1,880 gallon cistern placed underground to catch rainwater. The third partner Denise Donahue has integrated the projects themes at every level. For example there was a “ground blessing” instead of a ground breaking. There are no dumpsters on this site because nearly all the excess goes back into use. One third of the ground was left to green space. The embankment of Crossville Creek was stabilized to prevent runoff. Monitors and sensors will track how environmentally friendly the homes will be. Developers are partnering with Georgia Power and Kennesaw State University to collect information for energy management and efficiency studies.

Donahue, Downey, and du Boise are non traditional in another way. Their company is called Cadmus Construction but it is actually a one stop shop of architectural design, landscape, construction and development. “We take ownership of doing everything to ensure the integrity of the project,” said Donahue.

The homes are on the market for about $750,000 each and have 2,500 to 3,900 square feet. According to Downey the first home has already appraised at $1 million. “We are trying to prove that you can profitably build a state-of the-art green home and sell it at the market price.” Downey says.

“We really do believe we can do these homes for the low-income wage earners so people don’t have to make the choice of heat or eat.” du Boise adds. “We would like to start a non-profit organization to do that.” It is easy to see that these three visionaries have put their hearts into the project. As du Boise says,” We have put everything we have into it.

The project was named after Louis Weatherford, who originally owned the property. He was a gardener and farmer who recycled the seeds from the vegetables, flowers, and fruit that he grew. Every home owner will receive a bag of seeds from Weatherfords garden to continue the cycle of life.

Donahue said every homeowner automatically will become a lifetime member of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. (She’s on the board.)