Taking Green to the Next Level by REBECCA R
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A9 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 Homes&Garden A publication of the Herald-Sun Advertising Department Taking green to the next level BY REBECCA R. NEWSOME, MIRM reen homes, green building, green living... GWho isn’t familiar with “green” today? We know the term as it relates to techniques and materials that produce homes that consume less energy and other resources, facilitate better indoor air quality, and provide a more durable product requiring less maintenance. We’ve been hearing about green for over 10 years now; it’s not a passing fad. In contemplating where we are with green building today, no one comes to mind as more qualified to ask than Michele Myers, President of (healthy and green) M Squared Builders & Designers and both founding and current Chair of Green Home Builders of the Triangle (GHBT). “We’ve been successful throughout the Triangle in embracing green,” says 2016 NGBS Report goes on to Michele. “In fact, North say that the influential drivers Carolina has more green for homeowners surveyed homes certified to National in purchasing a green home Green Building Standards include durability, indoor air (NGBS) than any other state. quality, energy efficiency, water But moving forward, we need efficiency, lower impact to the to do more to educate the environment, and reduced public that green shouldn’t be carbon footprint. an option in home building, “The difference in cost it should be code. A lot of between a Bronze Level builders still think consumers NGBS certified home and a don’t really care about green, non-certified code compliant but nationwide data contradicts home can be as little as 3%,” this… According to the Michele continues. “Not only March 2016 Home Innovation can you afford green, you Research Labs™ NGBS deserve green, and you should Report, in all classes across the demand green. Why live in country, in all levels of price anything else?” range, 100% of those surveyed Homeowners who live say they would pay more for a in green homes certainly green home.” understand and appreciate the metal roofing) and new linger in your mind... “You home meets the minimum Since the inception of benefits. “We have been in our (engineered bamboo flooring, deserve green and you should certification requirements the NGBS program, the M Squared home for almost a net-zero photovoltaic system, demand green… Why live established by the National goal of Home Innovation two years and remain as happy and a hybrid water heater), and in anything else?” For more Green Building Standard Research Labs™ (formerly as the day we moved in,” says a builder who embraced them information on M Squared (NGBS). Green Home Tour the National Association of Anne Weston. “Not only does it both.” Builders & Designers, visit guidebooks are available at all Home Builders Research reflect our ‘green values’ but it This year’s GHBT Green www.msquaredbuilders.com, area Whole Foods and Harris Center) has been to deliver a proves you don’t have to live in Home Tour takes place April or call 919-620-8535. Teeter stores, HBA offices, green building certification a science experiment or a cave 30 – May 1 and May 7 – 8, The 2016 GHBT Green and area Realtor® Association program that is credible, to live lighter upon the earth. noon – 5 p.m., at new and Home Tour is a free self-guided offices. For more information rigorous, and affordable. We attended the Green Home remodeled green certified event showcasing a variety of about the Tour, call (919) (See more at: http://www. Tour for years absorbing homes throughout the area. excellent examples of certified 493-8899 or visit www.Triang- homeinnovation.com/about/ information on all the newest Take advantage of what you green home construction. leGreenHomeTour.com, #Tri- blog/ngbs_green_getting_ technologies and designs. We can learn from the builders Each home in the tour is angleGreenHomeTour, and better_with_age#sthash. chose a mix of old tech (large and representatives during the inspected and third-party www.facebook.com/Green- WxqipxS4.dpuf.) The March overhangs and light-colored Tour, and let Michele’s words verified, making sure each HomesTriangle/. Mystery plant: ‘Indian strawberry,’ Potentilla indica BY JOHN NELSON interior of the flower. Our mystery species hatever humor this is common through all of little plant might have the eastern United States, Wmust be truly tasteless. and it occurs on the Pacific Well, its fruits are tasteless, Coast as well, but mostly anyway. skips the interior, between The fruits are gorgeous, Texas and Arizona. It is not brilliant red, and are dead a native species, but comes ringers for the cultivated from Asia, and is known strawberry. Bite into it, from Japan through India though, and you’ll get a and the Himalayas. In fact, it watery flavor, and not much has become a fairly common else. Sort of like damp introduction in many parts cardboard. of the globe, including The true strawberries Europe, Africa, and the New belong to a plant genus World. Now naturalized, it is called Fragaria, and there are frequently seen in gardens as several species in Europe and something of a weed. It seems North America. In fact, we to prefer moist soil, and it can have a couple of native wild endure considerable shade. strawberries in the eastern Many people tolerate it in United States. All of the true their gardens as a benign strawberries are characterized little pest, as the flowers by flowers with five sepals and fruits are attractive, and and five petals, many slender Photo by John Nelson birds probably eat the fruits. MOCK STRAWBERRY stamens, and a large number (Wonder if it tastes like damp of tiny, separate pistils. And, closely related to the true Each pistil on the surface receptacle. Those hard little cardboard to them?) they have white petals, and a strawberries, shares an of the receptacle develops a black things on the outside of fruit which is juicy, red on the important fruit characteristic single tiny, dark, enclosed a strawberry are one-seeded John Nelson is the curator inside, and very sweet. Our with them. They all produce seed, or achene, sort of fruits. Most people, upon of the A. C. Moore Herbarium at Mystery Plant, although not what botanists call an like a tiny sunflower seed. getting one stuck between the University of South Carolina, a true strawberry, has very aggregate fruit. In this case, Many dozens of these tiny their teeth, will refer to it as in the Department of Biological similar flowers, but the petals the interior of the flower achenes will dot the exterior a “seed.” But it’s a fruit. So in Sciences, Columbia SC 29208. As are bright yellow, and its fruit (the receptacle) swells of a mature strawberry. the case of a ripe strawberry, a public service, the Herbarium is somewhat dry and mealy, dramatically after pollination. Technically then, a single the part that is sweet and offers free plant identifications. white on the inside, and has Remember that it is to this flower produces several dozen wonderful to eat is technically For more information, visit www. practically no taste at all. receptacle that the many tiny, dry fruits, all studding not a fruit at all. Seriously! It’s herbarium.org or call 803-777- This curious plant, being separate pistils are attached. the exterior of the swollen a swollen receptacle from the 8196, or email [email protected]..