Green Acres

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Jimmy Carter Makes a Stand for Solar, Decades After the Cardigan Sweater

February 15, 2017 by bm-admin

Source: NYTimes.com

The solar panels — 3,852 of them — shimmered above 10 acres of Jimmy Carter’s soil where peanuts and soybeans used to grow. The panels moved almost imperceptibly with the sun. And they could power more than half of this small town, from which Mr. Carter rose from obscurity to the presidency.

Nearly 38 years after Mr. Carter installed solar panels at the White House, only to see them removed during Ronald Reagan’s administration, the former president is leasing part of his family’s farmland for a project that is both cutting edge and homespun. It is, Mr. Carter and energy experts said, a small-scale effort that could hold lessons for other pockets of pastoral America in an age of climate change and political rancor.

Read the full article on NYTimes.com »

Filed Under: News / Press

Green Acres featured in the Laurel of Asheville

March 31, 2015 by bm-admin

redbud
A furniture maker, brewer, engineer, designer, and builder, John McDermott is a man of many talents. John, who moved to Asheville from Charlotte in 1994, cofounded Highland Brewing Company. After several years with Highland, John decided to switch gears and enter our region’s craft scene with his furniture making business called bola design.

Read the full article

Filed Under: News / Press

Green Acres featured in Asheville Citizen-Times as “Best Kitchens and Bathrooms of 2014”

February 18, 2015 by bm-admin

View the “Best Kitchens of 2014” article »

View the “Best Bathrooms of 2014” article »

Photos by Bill Sanders

McDermott-home-20

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News / Press

Green Aces takes inspiration from Denmark…energy independence

January 22, 2015 by bm-admin

18-SAMSO-1-articleLargeSource: NYTimes.com

Green-Energy Inspiration Off the Coast of Denmark
by Diane Cardwell

Before dawn one morning in October, a handful of Americans gathered at a lonely pier on Samso, a small Danish island about four hours from Copenhagen. Bundled in layers of fleece and wool, the Americans, mostly from islands off the Maine coast, had come to get a closer look at a wind farm — 10 mighty turbines spinning in the Kattegat strait — that has helped make Samso a symbol for a greener future, one powered entirely by renewable energy.

Read the full article on NYTimes.com »

Filed Under: News / Press

Design Elements of a Net Zero Home

June 19, 2014 by bm-admin

DSCF8198by John McDermott

Building a green or sustainable home is becoming a common practice in Western North Carolina.  Taking the home to the level of net zero energy is now within reach for many green building projects.   Having a net zero energy (NZE) home means that the total amount of energy used per year is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy (RE) created on site.  This RE can be generated by wind, solar, geothermal and/or hydro systems. In our region, passive solar, photovoltaic and solar thermal panels are the most popular choices due to excellent solar availability and affordability.  Thus, solar energy as a basis for creating a NZE home will be the focus of this article. [Read more…]

Filed Under: News / Press

Home of the Week: Green living in Merrills Cove

June 19, 2014 by bm-admin

_WFS0510TEXT BY PAUL CLARK CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT PHOTOS BY BILL SANDERS WSANDERS@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

John McDermott, a furniture maker, has created Green Acres, an eco-community in Merrills Cove in southeast Asheville.

The sexiest thing about John McDermott’s energy-efficient home might be its concrete floors, not so much for their heat-trapping qualities — though that’s the goal — but because they’re beautiful.

Mottled in a vaguely marbleized way, top-coated and looking slightly wet (they aren’t), they have the unexpected quality of putting you at ease in John’s sparse and spacious house. Easy to clean and as smooth as polished glass, they’re unpretentious, inexpensive and thermally gifted. Which is exactly the point.

Read the full article on the Asheville Citizen-Times website.

 

Filed Under: News / Press

ECO’s green home tour today in Buncombe, Henderson counties

August 27, 2013 by bm-admin

DSCF8102Self-guided fundraising event includes Buncombe houses

Written by Asheville Citizen-Times Staff Writers

HENDERSONVILLE — The Environmental and Conservation Organization’s sixth annual Green Home Tour will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today.

The six tour sites are evenly divided between Henderson and Buncombe counties.

This year’s self-guided driving tour includes several new builds with intriguing design features, efficient cooling and heating units in new housing and existing homes with innovative upgrades by the owners.

Tickets are on sale 9-10 a.m. today at the ECO office, 611 N. Church St., Hendersonville (cash or check only), and at the Hendersonville and Asheville Visitor Centers. Tickets are $15, or $12 each for two or more adults carpooling. Call 692-0385 to learn more. [ … ]

Read the full article on the Asheville Citizen-Times website.

 

Filed Under: News / Press

Green Home Tour showcases eco-friendly designs

August 15, 2013 by bm-admin

DSCF8061By Jacob Biba
BlueRidgeNow.com Times-News correspondent

Having worked as an engineer in the past, and now making his living in his studio as a woodworker and furniture maker, John McDermott took his skills and technical knowledge from both fields and applied them to energy efficiency when designing his Merrills Cove home in southern Buncombe County.

McDermott wasn’t merely interested in energy efficiency and innovative design, however. He aimed to combine comfort with conservation and create a home that would stand the test of time without constant attention.

“What I’m shooting for is low maintenance,” McDermott said.

Read the full article.

 

Filed Under: News / Press

ECO recognizes Green Acres for Net Zero design

August 3, 2013 by bm-admin

DSCF8064Now there is a new community that is taking it to the next level…a net-zero level that is.

Green Acres is a newly developed community (2 houses so far) where the owner John McDermott is building each home to be net zero.  His vision for the homes is to show how you can still live sustainably with all the modern luxuries in 3,000 square feet! Featuring geothermal hvac (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), solar panels, a passive solar design, drip irrigation for his veggie garden, and furniture all designed by John…you’ve got tons to explore at this stop!

Read the full article on ECO’s blog.

Filed Under: News / Press

The Redbud featured in the Laurel of Asheville

August 3, 2013 by bm-admin

DSCF8198ECO Green Home Tour Inspires Creative Thinking

Story by Leah Shapiro

Homeowners committed to reducing their carbon footprint in their homes and gardens often take a do-it-yourself approach. When these like-minded individuals can share ideas and learn new approaches to sustainable living from each other, however, everyone benefits.Showcasing some of our area’s most ecologically sound houses with green features and technology, the sixth annual Green Home Tour, hosted by the Environmental and Conservation Organization (ECO), will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 17.

This self-guided tour facilitates conversation between visitors and homeowners, allowing an exchange of information among people who value green innovation and design. Participants will also have an opportunity to talk to contractors at some of the locations about their specialty.

Read the entire article on the Laurel of Asheville website.

Filed Under: News / Press

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Latest News

Jimmy Carter Makes a Stand for Solar, Decades After the Cardigan Sweater

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Meet the Developer

Developer, designer and builder John McDermott is uniquely prepared to bring this project to fruition. John’s … [Read More...]

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