The Triangle's Green Home Tour is coming up soon!

Green Home Tour 2010

May 15/16 and 22/23

The Green Home Tour 2010 is the Triangle's 5th annual tour.  These tours are very popular, and FREE.

- Tour green homes under construction and see what's inside the walls in order for a home to be third party certified green

- Tour completed green certified homes and see the different types of green certification available.

Homes are in the $100s to $1 million, and offered by builders from Habitat for Humanity to some of the Triangle's best-known green home builders.

Some green features you might be able to see include:

• Energy Wise - guaranteed energy savings with spray foam insulation system
• ENERGY STAR
• Passive Solar
• Wildlife habitats
• Solar hot water
• Tankless hot water
• Solar photovoltaic power
• Geothermal heating and cooling
• Low-VOC paints/lacquers/varnishes
• Sealed crawlspace
• Built in recycling centers
• Water efficient fixtures, showerheads, and toilets
• Drought resistant landscaping
• Superior Walls basement foundations
• Rainwater collection systems

And much more!

Click here to sign up for all the updates at the Green Home Tour 2010 page on Facebook.

See you there!

Find out more about these favorite green building topics and ideas:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Fairview Garden Center - One Stop Shop for Outdoor Living

Outstanding Local Business Between Cary and Holly Springs NC

Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center in Raleigh NC offers pots, plants, and patio items - at a great price

There's actually a whole lot more to Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center than pots, plants and patio items.

But I ran out of words that start with "P" for the headline.

And even if I used the entire alphabet it would take a very long time to list all the wonderful landscape and natural decorating offerings the Fairview Garden Center has to offer, including plant care products, garden tools, bird products, flower containers, statuary, home decor, and a gift boutique.

It sure doesn't look like a "mom and pop" - the Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center is absolutely huge.  I wasn't surprised to learn this local Raleigh business has been a community staple for 30 years now.

There's a couple of acres of greenhouse space where they grow their annual flowers and poinsettias.

There are eight acres outside where trees, shrubs, groundcovers and perennials are grown.

And there's even more inside their spacious store.

I made sure I had my walking shoes on when I got out of the car, delighted to stop a while and ponder the creative talent behind everything from bird baths to summer tropical, colorful, plants.

But even more fascinating than what you can buy is what you can learn.

The sales people are knowledgeable about what to plant to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. 

And the Nature Nook at the Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center has absolutely everything, from including hummingbird food, feeders, and handbooks.

The Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center staff helped me understand what kind of plants would not shrivel up and die in the summer heat (like the ones I usually buy and wonder what happened a couple of weeks later.)

And they even pointed out that I might want to opt for some of their new silk and dried floral arrangements to take the pressure off my total lack of a green thumb.

These are real experts, so I came away with some perenials, feeling pretty sure I could manage to do some gardening that would actually pay off this time.

They've received awards for the quality of their plants, and were even voted "Best Garden Center of Western Wake County" by the Maggy Awards. And they knew how to get rid of bugs without killing the flowers.

The Fairview Greenhouses and Garden Center even had some of the coolest outdoor furniture I've seen - and I've been watching a lot of "outdoor living space" episodes on HGTV!   

If you want to check them out at home, they've got a great website to get you started with tips for year-round gardening and plants. http://www.fairviewgardencenter.com

Become a "Friend of Fairview" and get even more bargains.

You can call them at 919 851 6821.

And they're easy to find, at 8224 Holly Springs Road in Raleigh (conveniently located between Holly Springs NC and Cary NC). 

Check them out. And don't be surprised if you go home with something special.

Want to know more about the Raleigh Area, including other great local businesses?

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Raleigh Relocation Package - All About the Raleigh Area!

Which Part of the Triangle is Cheapest to Live?  Property Tax Guide

Copyright 2009 Stanton Homes 

Eleanor Thorne has answers to this popular question.  We've seen positive headlines nearly every day for the past weeks...including nine month highs for the stock market.

Home Sales Increase - First Time in 5 Years!

Which Way For Home Prices? Federal Housing Finance Agency Says "UP."

Manufacturing Index UP

Raleigh Relocation Information

Plastic Bottles Banned From All Landfills in North Carolina

NC Building Nation's Largest Plastic Recycling Plant

As of Oct. 1, 2009, North Carolina will no longer allow any rigid plastic containers in landfills.  This law applies to any plastic bottle with a neck smaller than the container itself, which includes water bottles, soda bottles, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and much more.

NC is the first state in the Southeast to forward the green movement with a statewide plastic bottle ban.  Wisconsin and Massachusetts have similar laws, as do a few municipalities across the nation. 

Shaw Industries (which manufactures Green Label carpets) is one of the partners building the nation's largest facility to recycle and process plastic bottles, with a maximum capacity of 280 million pounds of material per year! 

Amazing that we can manage to use that much plastic in a year, and good to hear it's going to be remade into other products, like Green Label carpets...

Read More About Going Green in the NC Triangle

Building a Green Home in NC

I've been getting more calls than usual lately asking about USDA properties - here's some more great information from Steve and Eleanor Thorne:

Raleigh Relocation Package

Recycling Phone Books in Raleigh

Where to Go to Turn Those Old Phone Books Into .... New Phone Books!

I admit, I have 5 different phone books sitting on my office bookshelf.  How often do I use them?  Well, if I think really hard, maybe once every six months.  But there they are, ready for me!

Then, in the morning pile of mail, I begin to see them.  The 2009 editions.  Where, oh where can the 12 inches of 2008 pages and pages of lucky phone numbers and advertisements go? 

Recycling is encouraged in most area locations - however, phone books are not acceptable in most recycling carts!

Here are the recycling locations in Raleigh that do accept phone books:

Brennan Station Shopping Center - 3005 Brennan Drive, behind the shopping center at the intersection of Creedmoor and Strickland Roads

City of Raleigh Yard Waste Center - 900 N. New Hope Road.  Open Mon-Sat 7am-4pm.

Jaycee Park - 2405 Wade Avenue

North Boulevard Plaza - 4500 block of Capital Boulevard at Mini City, next to Food Lion.

Call Raleigh's Solid Waste Services Department at 919-996-6890, or vist www.raleighnc.gov.

Other Triangle Area Phone Book Recycling Information

Apex NC Phone Book Recycling

Cary NC Phone Book Recycling

Chapel Hill NC Phone Book Recyling

Durham NC Phone Book Recycling

Holly Springs NC Phone Book Recycling

Sanford NC Phone Book Recycling

Interested in finding out more about how to incorporate recycling into your new home with a certified green built home?

Find out more about Green Building here!

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What is a Green Home?

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Custom Home Builders Raleigh NC

Green Homes - Continuing Education Classes

Building a Greener Future in Raleigh, NC

The Raleigh area's focus on a greener future is becoming apparent with the courses offered at local universities and community colleges.  Programs include the Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Program at NCSU.

A multitude of courses are offered at local community colleges.  Here are some great examples for Spring 2009:

Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro
Green Building and Renewable Energy Program
Continuing Education- Spring 2009 Classes
REGISTER NOW 542 6495 ext 223

Green Building Techniques - Carpentry, Electrical & Plumbing 

Introductory course with emphasis on sustainable and low impact building techniques and materials.   Tuesdays 7-9 pm January 20-April 7, two field trips. Instructor- Kevin Meehan, $56.25

Green Building Construction Strategies

This two-day course will introduce students to the various design and building strategies in new home construction. Tuesday and Thursday March 3&5, 1-5pm. Taught by
GreenPros. $150

Green Building Techniques - Introduction to Sustainable Building Design 

Architect-led course discussing sustainable site development, passive solar design considerations, green materials selection and other key elements of green architecture. Thursdays 6-9pm January 29-April 16 Instructor- Tim Watson. $61.25

Green Building Techniques - Living Roofs and Rain Gardens- Overview and Design

Learn about design and construction of green roof and rain water garden, which slow down stormwater runoff and conserve water to promote soil conservation. Mondays 6-9 pm February 9- April
25 Instructors- Rhonda Goolsby and Fred Royal. $61.25 ***Approved by North Carolina Association of Landscape Architects for 10 continuing education units.***


Green Building Techniques - Weatherization and Energy Efficiency

How to conserve energy in existing homes. Discover air leaks, research best insulation practices and easy upgrades to save energy. Wednesdays 6-8 pm February 2- March 11 Instructor Doug Dixon, $56.25

Green Building Techniques - Zero Energy Home

This class will follow the process of building a house, beginning with site evaluation and ending with
operational performance, to both reduce and generate electricity. Mondays 6-9pm, January 26 - March 30 Instructor-John Delafield, $56.25

Green Building Techniques - Solar PV Design and Installation

This class will describe and demonstrate the properties and uses of photovoltaic systems and components.  Students will be eligible to complete and perform well on the NABCEP-Entry Level
Certificate Exam and possess basic knowledge of photovoltaic systems, suitable for a supervised, entry level position with a dealer/installer or other PV industry company. Wednesdays. 6-9pm January 21- April 08. Instructor-David DelVecchio, $61.25


Green Building Techniques - Solar Thermal Technology

Learn how to size and install solar hot water systems and radiant floor heating. This course is offered on 3
alternating Saturdays with two evening classes allowing for abundant field training. March 21-April 18. Fred Stewart, Instructor. $56.25

Check the Central Carolina Community College class schedule here for more information on these and other courses.

Interested in Finding Out About Building a Green Home?

With hundreds of "green" options available across seven different categories, you can design and build a green home that incorporates everything most important to you.  Almost any floor plan CAN be built in a certifiably green manner, though there are some floor plans that are more conducive to green building than others. 

You may also be interested in these popular green building topics:

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Veterans History Project

Remembering the Events That Changed the World

"I don't have much to talk about. All I did was forecast the weather," said Frederick Adams of Cary, NC when asked if he wanted to talk about his time in the military.

But as he began to talk about his experience, it quickly became evident that what he had done was far more important than let people know whether or not they should carry an umbrella.

The weather Adams was forecasting was for the atomic bomb testing.

Those two years - 1946 to 1948 - that he'd been stationed at the Kwajalein Islands were an important part of history, and the Navy veteran didn't even realize how crucial his part had been until he began to retell the story.

That's what the Veterans History Institute is all about.

Gathering history.

The day-to-day existence and experiences of veterans - however seemingly small their individual parts - has had a tremendous impact on our nation's success.

"There's a tremendous amount of interest in WWII in today's society," said Dave Milidonis, founder of the Veterans History Institute (NVHAI).   "There's even a course on remembering WWII at NC State, for students aged 50 and older. And what we're gathering is an incredibly valuable part of all that history and more - one story at a time - the real-life experiences of our veterans, no matter where they served."

A network of volunteers across the country conduct interviews designed to help veterans tell their stories, as keepsakes for their families, as well as documented war-time entries for the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Stories From Men and Women Fighting for Freedom - Today and 60 Years Ago

This year, 564 interviews have resulted in stories from every major conflict, and the times in between.

Thirty-four percent of interviews were from WWII, 22% from Vietnam, 14% were stories from those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, 13% from the Cold War, 9% from the Korean War, and 2% of interviewees served in the Persian Gulf War.  The balance served in Grenada, Panama, or "other", which may mean they served during a period without a major conflict. 

"We're really pleased to be a part of the volunteer network offering a comfortable place to talk about experiences," said Stan Williams, CEO of Stanton Homes. "We're proud of what our veterans have accomplished, and we look forward to hearing their stories."

Putting Together Missing Pieces of History - And Recognizing Forgotten Soldiers

In addition to gathering interviews, the NVHAI has gathered thousands of documents to replace those lost in a devastating government warehouse fire in the 1970s - which particularly affects WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans.

The names of thousands of veterans have been submitted to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MS, returning these Americans to their rightful place in history. Without this service, these veterans would not have proof of their service, be able to receive medical care, or have burials with the military honors they deserve.

"The veterans always have something meaningful to impart," said Lara Travars, an area communications executive who volunteered at a recent event. "And it's really enlightening to hear the viewpoint of their families, who had to 'hold down the fort back home' while the military member served their country."

Hundreds of Stories That Touch The Heart

Marine Colonel James Wagner served in the first Pacific WWII battle, and talked about how he was shipped to Australia to recuperate. He met his future wife on a blind date. They got married just before he was shipped out, didn't see each other again until the end of the war, and today they've been married for 60 years.  They were interviewed together at Pine Knoll Shores.

"There's a lot of history, there," said Williams. "It's heartwarming to hear how people get through those kinds of times, stay strong in their relationships, and believe so much in what they're doing." 

"There are hundreds of stories like this," said Milidonis. "Each one is unique, and they're all awe inspiring."

For many sons, daughters and spouses, it's the first time they've heard these stories. Others have heard the same topic a hundred times. But when they come to have the interviews conducted, they all have one thing in common - they want to make sure the stories are told.

Opportunity to Tell Your Story

Stanton Homes is hosting an interview opportunity Saturday January 17th, from noon to 4 pm, where veterans and their families are encouraged to come and talk. 

Interviews will be held in the model home at Cattail Creek, just northwest of Pittsboro.  For driving directions, use 1199 White Smith Rd, Pittsboro, NC.  Travel 1.5 miles further north on White Smith Rd.  Cattail Creek is on the right, enter through the second entrance.  Model home is third home on the left, look for signs. 

"That's what the Veterans History Institute and these volunteers are here for," said Williams. "Come on down to Pittsboro this weekend and sit a while. We'd love to hear your story."

Veterans History Institute Open House

Saturday January 17th 12-4pm

For more information, call Dave Milidonis of the NVHAI at 919-449-5440 or Penny Hull of Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070 to reserve an interview time, or get directions to this drop-in event. 

You may also be interested in:

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"It wasn't all that exciting."

That's what a lot of veterans say when their families ask them to tell their stories.

"I couldn't possibly talk for more than ten minutes."

Time and again, the veterans insist there isn't much to tell.

But it never takes ten minutes.

It often goes on for hours.

Because once veterans start talking, they remember so many interesting things. The people they met. The places they went. What they saw. What they thought. What they did. What it felt like.

That's what the National Veterans History Archival Institute (NVHAI) is all about.

Providing a venue where veterans tell their stories, so that their families - and the rest of the world - can understand what it was like, what it meant, and what it stands for.

Like an army finance officer who served in Tehran in WWII.  He had never talked about it to his two daughters.

"They were spell-bound," said Dave Milidonis, founder of the Cary, NC based Veterans History Institute. "Every veteran has a fascinating story to tell. Oftentimes, the less they think, at first, they have to talk about, the more interesting their story turns out to be."

What is the Veterans History Institute?

The Veterans History Institute is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage U.S. veterans, hailing from all branches of the service; the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force AND the nation's oldest branch, the U.S. Merchant Marines.  For over 230 years, these brave souls have taught generation after generation of a free people that Freedom is not Free and we have a responsibility never to forget that lesson.

The NVHAI is a dedicated group of volunteers, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to collect, preserve and present the history of our veterans, from both war and peace.

Has the Veterans History Institute Conducted Many Interviews?

The organization conducted an amazing 564 interviews in the first 10 months of 2008, all using a network of local and not-so-local volunteers.

From a nurse who went from ship to ship, never landing anywhere and never actually helping anyone who was hurt, to a navy officer who served in every major theatre between WWII and Korea, every story adds depth to the history of America.

Some veterans come to the NVHAI on their own. They want their story to go down in history, as an important part of American culture. But many times, it's the families who bring in their veterans. Families recognize the value of a story that needs to be told. They may have heard it a hundred times. It may be totally new. But they want it to be heard.

Families Hear Stories for the First Time

"We love it when families come in with the veterans," said Milidonis. "We want to hear their stories, too. It's a part of history that's often overlooked - what the folks back home were going through, when their loved one was serving their country."

As the veterans and their families tell their stories, they often remember things long since forgotten. Some of it sounds dangerous. Some seems miraculous. Some is romantic. And there are even things they laugh about.

"It's so fascinating to see hear these stories coming back," said Milidonis.  "A veteran may think what he or she did isn't all that important. He may see himself as only one of thousands. But in fact, what he sees as a small experience can give new meaning to huge events." 

Storytelling like this provides insight into military activities all over the world.

It's Not Just World War II

Of the 564 stories collected so far, 34% were from WWII, 22% from Vietnam, 14% were stories from those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, 13% from the Cold War, 9% from the Korean War, and 2% of interviewees served in the Persian Gulf War.  The balance served in Grenada, Panama, or "other", which may mean they served during a period without a major conflict. 

Volunteers across the country, including local businesses, help the NVHAI collect these important stories.

"These personal accounts are fascinating," said Stan Williams, CEO of Stanton Homes, a custom home builder in Raleigh, NC that opens its model home to veterans and the NVHAI, for Veterans History Interview events. "We are very pleased to be able to offer a comfortable place to relax and bring out these historical perspectives. It's a real eye-opener about the kind of history textbooks don't usually bring out. Being able to help real people relate real events like this is awe inspiring."

Be a Part of History!

If you or someone you know has a story to tell, Stanton Homes is hosting a Veterans History Interview Open House on Saturday, January 17th, in the Pittsboro, NC area.  Call Dave Milidonis of the NVHAI at 919-449-5440 or Penny Hull of Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070 to reserve an interview time, or get directions to this drop-in event. 

Volunteers will be on hand to videotape stories and make digital copies of any records.  Veterans are encouraged to bring letters, service records, commendations, or any other historical documents with them.

Saturday January 17th 12pm - 4pm

Free Event

Families Welcome!

You may also be interested in:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

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Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Raleigh - Green Building

Interested in seeing green building technologies and products in action? 

Check out the 2008 NC Green Building & Solar Tour!

Some of the green building features available for viewing include solar hot water systems, photovoltaic systems, geothermal heating, spray-foam insulation, conditional crawlspace and attic, Energy Star, rainwater collection, and drought-resistant landscaping. 

Ticket Information

Tickets may be purchased at the NC Green Building & Solar Tour. Ticket prices are $5 for members of NCSEA and local host organizations; $5 for students and teachers; $10 for non-members; and $15 for a carload. Children under 16 are free.          

There are specific tours from several different Triangle area locations, such as Chapel Hill/Orange County, Chatham County, Durham, Fayetteville, and Raleigh.

Chapel Hill/Orange County

Kick-Off Event is at the Carrboro High School, 201 Rock Haven Road, Carrboro.  Pick up a local tour guide and educational materials before starting a self-guided tour.  This tour runs noon-4pm.  Tour features North Carolina's first LEED certified high school.

Chatham County

Kick-off event and registration is at the Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro.  This tour features 9 homes, and runs from 9:30am to 4pm. 

Durham

The Durham tour starts with a Community Expo with key note speakers and demonstrations.  The "Spotlight on Green Living" event runs from 9am-noon, and the tours are offered 10am-4pm.  Start at 411 W. Chapel Hill Street in Durham. 

Fayetteville

The Fayetteville tour will focus on a free event with exhibitors.  The Fayetteville Area Energy Savings Expo will be held at the Cumberland County Crown Exposition Center from 10am-7pm.  Presentations will be held throughout the day, and mulitiple suppliers will be on site to demonstrate energy savings and green products.  10am-7pm. 

Raleigh

The Raleigh portion of the tour will feature 5 homes, an elementary school, several businesses, and the NC Solar Center.   The Kick Off Event will be held at the NC Solar Center at NC State University, at 1101 Gorman Street.  Tour hours are 10am-4pm. 

The 2008 NC Green Building & Solar Tour is hosted by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.  To find out more about the tours, call 919-832-7601.

Find out more:

For more information on building custom homes in the Raleigh NC area with green features and technologies such as these, contact Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070, or visit www.StantonHomes.com