Do you feel lucky?

Thirty days from now will mark the end of the 2013 sweepstakes entry period .  For the drawing of the winner, I will be glued to one of my favorite television stations, HGTV.  It is that time of year when they give away the HGTV Dream Home with some cash and a vehicle.  The network began its sweepstakes in 1997 with a home in Jackson Hole, WY and has continued every year since.  This year, the location is set in Kiawah Island, SC.  Much has changed since the inception of the sweepstakes in 1997,but most notably among those changes is the trend in the construction industry to go green.  HGTV is no exception and this is seen in the most recent giveaway home.  It has been given the LEED platinum certification.  This home sets the example of where all future residential construction needs to be. 

The exterior finish uses NuCedar shingles to resemble traditional cedar shakes.  The difference?  There is a lifetime warranty that the NuCedar shingles will not rot, separate, absorb moisture, warp, or become home to much smaller guests, insects.  Continuing with the exterior innovations, the front and back decks are made from a rot-resistant hardwood that has been certified as to having been harvested ecologically.  The aluminum roof is durable and made from recycled metal that can also be recycled again.  The reflection of sunlight reduces cooling costs and also helps with sending sunlight back into space (much needed in mitigating global warming.)  Living in Florida most of my life, I am quite aware of the impact hurricanes have on structures.  One of my homes was completely destroyed by Hurricane Andrew.  South Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes and, with this in mind, the designers incorporated hurricane-proof Gayko windows.  They are designed with dual glass panes and filled with an insulator.  A coating on the windows also blocks solar heat.  While measures have been taken to reduce solar heat from passing through the home by means of reflection, the home is still located in the marshy, hot, and humid southeast region of the country.  Maintenance of a comfortable living space is essential for such a prize to be worth anything, therefore, a coolant system must be in place.  Though the system that was installed costs substantially more, the energy savings in the long-run are expected to pay for itself.   The system uses geothermal cooling by passing water through underground pipes.  With a five-loop piping system the water is chilled to the soil temperature of 64 degrees.  

A house cooled without proper insulation won't maintain its temperature.  By using a special, fiberglass insulation that is formaldehyde free and mold- and mildew-resistant, the designers provide a chemical free product that is twice the value required by code.  Part of what defines a green building is a healthy indoor environment.  Not only is the insulation formaldehyde free, but the paint, finishes, cabinets, and sealants will release only trace amounts of unhealthy gases.  Lastly, the bamboo floors provide durability, but with less environmental impact by harvesting a farm-grown grass that regenerates more quickly than a standard wood floor.

The designers have considered every exterior and interior detail. The winner (keeping my fingers crossed!) gets a gorgeous home, aesthetically and environmentally speaking. To enter into the sweepstakes click here.