One family's continued dedication to the environment and recent changes in national building practices make EcoManor a reality.
EcoManor Facts
- EcoManor will be the first house ever to be certified by three of the country’s leading green initiatives (U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Greater Atlanta HBA’s EarthCraft House program and National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat program).
- EcoManor is the first residence in the Southeast to combine advanced insulating and air sealing techniques, Energy Star appliances and lighting, a ground source heat pump system and photovoltaic solar panels that will power all of the home’s daily electrical needs virtually.
- EcoManor will be more than just a demonstration house to educate builders, architects, designers, vendors, landscapers and school teachers on the benefits of earth-friendly, energy-efficient homes, but will serve as the private home of the Seydel family.
- Low VOC (volatile organic compound) or organic paints, stains, and sealants emit little or no off gassing of chemicals to provide a healthier indoor environment
- Natural fiber fabrics on furniture and rugs also keep the air healthier to breath in the EcoManor
- Special household cleaning products and natural laundry and bathroom soaps keep from contaminating the water and air
- Soy based insulation and pressed hay straw cabinets and wheat straw doors are formaldehyde free and made from natural materials
- Properly sized heating and air conditioning systems using HEPA filters along with controlled ventilation help ensure any pollutants in the house are filtered or exhausted to the outside
- Wood floors are locally grown and from an environmentally-certified plantation
- Many of the materials used to build and decorate the house can be recycled
- Solar tubes and skylights provide natural lighting throughout helping to save energy
- 26 Solar Panels convert the sun’s rays into electric energy
- A solar window in the master bedroom collects the sun’s afternoon energy
- Windows on the southern side use a concept called Passive Solar Energy to capture the winter sun’s warming rays to naturally heat the house
- Ground source heat pumps efficiently heat and cool the house
- Tankless water heaters provide instant hot water that helps save energy
- A smart system in the home controls a central switch-board that is programmed to offer special economy settings when the Seydels are away
- Foam and cellulose insulation make the home extremely energy efficient and quiet
- New dimmable compact florescent lights are energy efficient, radiate less heat and provide the highest quality of light
- Automated faucets are used to lower water consumption
- Rain water is channeled into cisterns that supply water for the home’s toilets
- Dual flush/ low flow toilets from TOTO require less water to operate
- Greywater collected from the sinks and showers is filtered then collected in a cistern for watering the landscape
- Drought tolerant landscaping requires less water and maintenance
