"Be green, save green at Oak Terrace"

What a news day for Green Building and Oak Terrace Preserve!

The front page of today's Charleston Post & Courier's Local and State section highlighted Oak Terrace Preserve with an article titled Be green, save green at Oak Terrace. The article, although a little short, gives a brief overview of Oak Terrace Preserve, it goals and benefits. The brief overview focuses on the economic aspects but also played to the numerous landscaping efforts in place both on the properties and within the neighborhood to reduce the impact of storm water runoff on the city's water treatment plant. Through landscaping for shrubs and naturalized areas rather than grass, the use of permeable surface roadways where possible, and the placement of pocket parks, bioswales and rain gardens, the neighborhood's design gives rain water a chance to seep into the earth before being passed to the water treatment facilities.

"Businesses find 'green' practices can help their bottom line"

The Charleston Post & Courier carried this article today.

Businesses find 'green' practices can help their bottom line

It's nice to see a more in depth article on the green/sustainability movement from a business perspective in Charleston. The article takes the time to highlight the increased awareness and interest on the part of companies to use green, local and sustainable products in their production. Several Examples include Coast Brewing, a local craft brewer who will be using organic hops and grains and bio-diesel for the brewing; EverGreen Concepts, a firm that help builders and renovators loacate and use local and sustainable products; local builders like the Verdi Company; neighborhood development efforts like Oak Terrace Preserve; and companies creating new products from recycled materials like Fisher Recycling.

Charleston's growing green movement isn't completely unique but the grassroots and broader support for sustainable and local materials bodes well for business and the environment. The growing desire for energy efficient and healthier homes is long overdue.

Charleston Area Home Builders Association Encourages Members to go "green"

Last month, the Charleston Regional Business Journal reported that that the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association "is encouraging its members to participate in the EarthCraft House program." The EarthCraft House program was developed by the Southface Energy Institute and is a "blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment."

All of the homes being built in Oak Terrace Preserve must meet or exceed the EarthCraft standards.

Here is a link to the full article Homebuilding association pushes members to go ‘green’ on how and why the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association is encouraging it's members to build more homes using the EarthCraft standards.