This article appeared in the October 2009 issue of the Green REsource Council newletter for the National Association of Realtors:

By Elyse Umlauf-Garneau

FROM MILL HOUSE TO GREEN HOUSE

Parts of an old Holyoke, Massachusetts mill have found new life in a luxury home, thanks to the efforts of Vintage Green Homes. 

Vintage Green Homes, a Massachusetts developer, dismantled the mill and incorporated its timber and bricks into a 3,500-square-foot house. 

The Leverett, Massachusetts house is being marketed by Valerie Demerski, a practitioner with Barbara Demerski Real Estate in Northampton, Massachusetts, who received NAR's Green Designation this year and also is an EcoBroker®. 

Demerski points out that Vintage Green Homes minimized the house's environmental impact from the get-go by sourcing local materials rather than having them hauled in from a long distance. 

And by recycling existing materials for the project, the company also avoided using newly cut trees and other freshly manufactured building materials. 

The result is a three-bedroom property that combines modern technology with vintage charm, along with a more interesting aesthetic than what's typically found in new construction. 

The mill's old beams, vintage wood and bricks provide some visual punch. For instance, the $749,000 property features an open, two-story-high room that comprises the living room, dining room and a conservatory, and the mill's materials serve as a prominent design feature.

But beyond the interesting aesthetics, the property also has an array of sustainability measures that will allow future homeowners live a greener lifestyle. 

The most significant is the use of geothermal heating, cooling and hot water systems. 

In addition, the house's envelope is extremely tight. That, combined with the geothermal technology, is expected to significantly slash operating costs. "The house was wrapped with Prodex, an insulation that works like a space blanket and adds another level of insulation," comments Demerski. She anticipates heating costs will be $2 or $3 per day. 

Vintage Green Homes also specified a system that delivers two air exchanges per hour to ensure good air quality. 

Such sustainability measures, along with her green expertise, will help Demerski to sell the home, she believes. The green knowledge also was invaluable in helping her to land the listing. In fact, she doesn't think she'd be the listing agent without it. "The developers would never have known me from the next guy. They wanted representation in a green way," she comments. 

And that representation entails being able to explain all the technical aspects of a green house. "We have the necessary training to understand the lingo, to know what r-value means and to be able to discuss the things that make a difference to people looking for a green house," she adds. 

Demerski also is tapping her green knowledge to market the property through media stories and by advertising it at several green home Websites, includingwww.lowimpactliving.com, www.greenbuilder.com, www.greenhomesforsale.com andwww.listedgreen.com. 

She has another marketing leg-up. A 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is being included in the sale of the property. The clean diesel car was awarded Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year® at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year. 

"It's another way to advertise the property and get people to the house," comments Demerski. "The idea behind the car was to offer buyers a complete green living package."