Residential

Building a Green Community

Combine environmental commitment with a sun-washed location, skilled tradespeople, and plenty of demand from buyers with deep pockets, and you have the makings of an exemplary green community.

6 MIN READ

Wagley says one of the 20 homes currently in progress will include a complete 4.8kW photovoltaic array. “We’re also working on adding water cisterns,” he says. “That water could be recycled and used for fountains and watering.”

To streamline the recycling of waste materials on site, the builder had custom steel bins created to hold various materials prior to recycling. These boxes can be moved around the site with a forklift.

“I have two guys I pay about $13 bucks an hour to go around and separate stuff out,” Henson says. “From an economic standpoint it’s probably a loser, but from a marketing standpoint and an overwhelming waste problem standpoint, it’s worth it. We’re also the only developer in the community that owns a Packer.”

The Packer is a versatile grinding machine (costing about $50,000) that makes short work of waste materials, grinding up everything from concrete blocks to gypsum. Henson grinds concrete block into small aggregate for use in road paving and is trying to find markets for the gypsum, such as peanut farmers who would use it as a soil amendment.

“We have cut our dumpster loads by a factor of 10 to one,” Henson says. “And around here, that’s critical, because getting rid of waste is difficult.”

ALL ON BOARD Of course, like any successful project, the harmony (or disharmony) among the trades can make or break the process. Henson deserves credit for assembling a first-class team. His men have tremendous respect for him—because he goes out of his way to make them feel a part of the process and share in the rewards.

“It’s like being in the military or on a football team,” notes Holbrook. “We all know our work overlaps, and we won’t let the next guy down. We also have a benefit package that is outstanding, thanks to Scott [Henson].”

Every one of these guys talks like this is his project. And each in his own way has internalized the environmental vision that sets Alys Beach apart. There’s little doubt that the future owners of these homes, which average 2,800 square feet, will reap the benefits of that close collaboration, as they live day in and day out in their durable, energy-efficient, comfortable homes by the sea.

INNOVATION AT WORK Many of the energy- and resource-saving features at Alys Beach are possible because of new and improved technologies, from soy-based insulation to a machine that crushes concrete blocks into rubble. Here’s how some of these advanced products and materials help the green cause.

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