Home Improvement: LED Lighting

In the past, we have highlighted some of the improvements we have made to our high-performance home in Briar Chapel, such as installing a hot water reciculator and solar power system.

Most recently, we have started to replace some of our incandescent lightbulbs with LED lighting. For example, we swapped out some of our 60W bulbs with Cree's new 9.5W dimmable LED light bulbs, which you can pickup at Home Depot for around $10-13. We chose the 2700K version, which offers a warm (soft) white color.

Unlike CFLs, these LED bulbs look and light very similarly to the incandescent bulbs we've all grown up with. They contain no mercury, and light up instantaneously. They are backed by a 10-year warranty, and are designed to deliver up to 25,000 hours of light for your home (about 22.8 years according to the specs). Best of all, they use at least 84% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which translates to $1.14 per year based on 3 hrs of use per day.

Now, we know some of you are wondering why we would spend $10-13 on a single lightbulb, so consider this... a regular incandescent bulb costs $1 and uses $7 of electricity a year if used three hours a day. A Cree bulb may cost $10, but it uses 10% of the electricity, costing $1 a year. And while an old-school bulb will burn out in less than two years at that rate, LED bulbs will keep working for more than 20 years. Besides, Cree is based right here in the Triangle, so it feels good to be supporting our local community while reducing our energy needs.

Our only complaints about these new bulbs is that they emit a soft "buzzing" sound when on, and they will not dim as low as our incandescents used to (from white to yellow light). Otherwise, for these two Watt-watchers, the LED bulbs make a lot of sense now that the prices have come down tremendously.

Briar Chapel Home Sales Up 45 Percent

Sales in Briar Chapel surged 45 percent YTD over the same period last year. This is very much in line with Triangle home sales, which are up 41 percent in April as buyers continue to snatch up properties from an ever-shrinking inventory of homes on the market.

Increasing demand and dwindling supply is creating plenty of frustrated buyers, as the most sought-after homes sell quickly – typically after receiving multiple offers. More specifically, the average time on market to sell across the Triangle is down 14% to 107 days.

In fact, the Triangle now only has a 3-month supply of homes on the market at the current pace of sales. This is down from an 9- to 10-month supply a year ago.

Low inventory levels, and the intense competition for the homes that are selling, is helping to boost home prices 4.5 percent in the Durham-Chapel Hill market in March compared with the same period a year ago, according to CoreLogic. In addition, 70 percent of the homes that sold in April were at or above their list price, up from 58 percent in January, according to MLS.

To learn more about these latest statistics, read the recent article by News & Observer.

Get $1000 Towards Solar Power System from Southern Energy Management

As many of you already know, we recently invested in a 4.8kW solar photovoltaic system on our home in Briar Chapel. So far, we have been extremely pleased with the results, and wanted to share our experience with you in the hopes you might also consider generating your own clean energy.

Our system consists of 20 Bosch Aleo Mono 240 panels, a Power-One PVI-4.2 Inverter, and eGauge home energy monitor. It is mounted on one side of the roof above our garage (pictured above). We were able to take advantage of State and Federal tax credits to offset 65% of the total cost of the system. In addition, we also received a $3980 rebate as members of Progress Energy's Sunsense Program.

In addition to the obvious feel-good aspects of generating our own energy, the system has provided several benefits so far:

• Reduced our monthly energy costs - our last power bill was only $16 compared to $95 last year.
• Reduced our HERS rating from 78 to 51.
• Improved the value of our home.
• Improved the return on money we had sitting in the bank from virtually nothing to 6-7%.

We chose to work with Southern Energy Management (SEM), a talented team of folks who handled the entire project from start-to-finish. This was the same company that did our original home energy analysis when we built our home.

If you'd like to learn more about how SEM can help you save money on your utilities and become more energy independent, complete this form to schedule a free consultation. In addition to determining whether it makes sense for you to invest in solar, they'll provide you with an estimate to purchase and install a similar system. As a reader of this blog, you'll also receive $1000 off the current best promotion featured by SEM should you decide to proceed with purchasing a system.

Highlights from Triangle Green Home Tour in Briar Chapel

In case you didn't get a chance to attend the recent Triangle Green Home Tour, we thought it might be helpful to highlight some of the innovative, high-performance features that were on display in the "Madison" entry by Homes By Dickerson in Briar Chapel:

• Nest Learning Thermostat: 89% of programmable thermostats waste energy - about $173 a year, on average - because most people don't bother to program them. The Nest, on the other hand, learns what temperatures you like and builds a schedule automatically. The device can also sense when you're away from home, and turns itself down when you're gone. You can even connect to it from a smartphone. By programming iteself, the Nest can save up to 20% on your heating and cooling bills. See a demo of how the device works.
  
  
• Solar-Ready Option: Homes By Dickerson now offers its customers the option to add a solar power system during the construction of their home. In the event a homeowner is not quite ready to invest in renewable energy, they offer the option to make the home "solar ready" by installing a dedicated electrical circuit and conduit for future solar panels.
  
  
• Tankless Water Heater: natural-gas, tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water. Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters that heat and reheat water all day long, even when you're sleeping or away from home, tankless units save money on your energy bill by heating water only when needed. Since they are a fraction of the size of their larger predecessors, they also save valuable space. With a life expectancy of up to 20 years, they last twice as long as traditional water heaters. They also provide homeowners peace of mind by eliminating the concern of flooding due to a ruptured tank.
  
  
• Advanced Framing: there was a great demo in the garage that showed how 2x6 exterior walls and advanced framing techniques allow for additional formaldehyde-free insulation to be installed, and how these work in tandem with radiant barrier roof sheathing and ZIP System air and moisture infiltration barrier to improve efficiency.
  
  
• Sealed & Conditioned Crawl Space: the builder installed a see-thru floor to demonstrate the use of a sealed and conditioned crawl space, which provides a controlled environment for more efficient operation of cooling and heating systems in addition to several other benefits.
  
  
• Independent Testing & Certification: a third-party (Southern Energy Management) conducted performance testing in order award Energy Star and NAHB green certifications.
  
  

This green-certified home is currently listed for sale at $494,900. If you would like to schedule a showing, please contact Peter Winkler at 919-360-1285 or Jennifer Winkler at 919-593-3662.

View the Tour

Briar Chapel Open House Weekend

There are over 40 homes open for viewing in Briar Chapel this weekend (April 27-28). To find these homes, you can either stop by the information center and pickup a copy of the map below, or follow the directional signs throughout the neighborhood. If you do come out, be sure to see the "Madison" at 688 Bennett Mountain Trace (Lot 77) and then head over to 371 Tobacco Farm Way and say hello!

 

Northwood High School Ranked 6th in NC

Congratulations to Northwood High School, which was recently ranked the 6th best high school within North Carolina by US News & World Report. 

Briar Chapel is located in the Chatham County School district. Residents currently attend Perry Harrison Elementary, Margaret Pollard Middle, and Northwood High Schools. Woods Charter School is another popular option with residents, which is located on-site and ranked in the Top 50 Best Public High Schools in the United States.

Briar Chapel Residents Enjoy Award-Winning Cuisine Nearby

The residents of Briar Chapel certainly get to enjoy their fair share of great, award-winning cuisine around the Triangle area.

In January, Durham and its food scene were catapulted into the national spotlight when Southern Living magazine named it the South's Tastiest Town. Durham has more than seven hundred restaurants, which are all within a 15-45 minute drive from Briar Chapel. Of these, 52 independently-owned restaurants have been recognized on a regional or national level.

Back in November, Fearrington House Executive Chef Colin Bedford was acclaimed both regionally and nationally for his sophisticated Southern cuisine, and named Grand Chef by Relais & Châteaux. In his four years as executive chef, Bedford has maintained the Fearrington House Restaurant’s AAA Five Diamond award and also helped Fearrington earn acclaim that includes being ranked one of the top hotel food destinations in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in 2012. Bedford is one of only 21 Grand Chefs in the United States. Fearrington House is about a mile from the entrance to Briar Chapel.

Most recently, Chapel Hill's Lantern Restaurant was nominated for the 2013 James Beard award in the Outstanding Restaurant category, and is a semifinalist for this prestigious award. Chef/owner Andrea Reusing was named Best Chef in the Southeast in 2011. Lantern is located about eight miles from Briar Chapel.

8th Annual Triangle Green Home Tour April 13-14 & 20-21

The 8th Annual Triangle Green Home Tour starts today! This free, self-guided event will feature over 30 entries, and will be held on April 13-14 and 20-21, 2013 from Noon to 5pm.

As always, the tour will allow you to examine a number of green building features in a wide variety of homes in all styles and price points -- ranging from Habitat for Humanity and entry-level homes to custom luxury entries.

This year, Briar Chapel will have seven homes on the tour, which are listed below. However, it is important to remember that ALL homes in Briar Chapel are required to be green-certified upon completion. So, if there is a particular home for sale that you like that's not on the tour, Jennifer Winkler would be happy to arrange a private showing for you. Give her a call at 919-593-3662.

• 688 Bennett Mountain Trace (Homes By Dickerson)
• 502 Bennett Mountain Trace (Forever Home)
• 23 Sagebrush Trail (Forever Home)
• 102 Owen Towne Road (Saussy-Burbank)
• 69 Summersweet Lane (Saussy-Burbank)
• 22 Tobacco Farm Way (Saussy-Burbank)
• 45 Serenity Hill Circle (M/I Homes)

To learn more about the tour, visit www.TriangleGreenHomeTour.com. Otherwise, Peter Winkler has some extra tour guides if you need one - just stop by his office at 371 Tobacco Farm Way in Briar Chapel. You can also view a virtual list of homes on the tour by downloading the iPhone or Android app.

Woods Charter School Ranked in Top 50 Public High Schools

Woods Charter School, one of the schools here in Briar Chapel, made the list of Top 50 Public High Schools in the U.S.

This public, charter school offers a challenging preparation for attendance at university, with an emphasis on character development. The school has a long history of strong student performance as measured by state testing, AP pass rates, and SAT and ACT scores. The school is often recognized for its small class sizes, close student-teacher relationships, and a caring school community.

Awards, Rankings, and Alumni:

• Rated among the Top 200 High Schools by the Washington Post
• 52% of faculty have advanced degrees
• North Carolina Honor School of Excellence
• 90% of seniors enrolled in AP courses

Homes By Dickerson Inventory Homes

In case you don't have time to build a home from scratch, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to find a home in Briar Chapel. You may consider a resale, such as the one we posted recently, or one of the new inventory homes being built by a member of the builder team.

Since Homes By Dickerson was just selected as the "Builder of the Month" by Newland (the developer of Briar Chapel), we thought it was appropriate to highlight a list of their inventory homes. This is in addition to the 15 pre-sale homes they're in the process of building to customer’s specifications.

Move-in Ready!

• Millhaven: 1856 Briar Chapel Pkwy, Lot 473
  3br, master down, 2.5ba, 2004sf, $305,000 (MLS#1858126)
• Jackson II: 1878 Briar Chapel Pkwy, Lot 475
  4br, master up, 3ba, 2285sf, $310,000 (MLS#1858128)

Ready in April

• Finley: 1862 Briar Chapel Pkwy, Lot 474
  3br, master up, 2.5ba, 2000sf, unfinished 3rd, $304,900 (MLS#1863917)
• Oberlin Ranch: 463 N. Serenity Hill Cir, Lot 617
  3br, master down, 2ba, 2000sf, $310,800 (MLS#1866886)
• Finley: 444 Tobacco Farm Way, Lot 621
  3br, master up, 2.5ba, 2000sf, unfinished 3rd, $311,950 (MLS#1867217)
• Madison: 688 Bennett Mountain Trace, Lot 77
  4br, master down, 4ba, 3201sf, $494,900 (MLS#1861951)
  Green Home Tour Entry

Ready in May

• St. James: 699 Bennett Mountain Trace, Lot 92
  5br, master down, 4.5ba, 3559sf, $533,900 (MLS#1866914)

Ready in June/July

• Oberlin Ranch: 2154 Briar Chapel Pkwy, Lot 483
  3br, master down, 2ba, 2000sf, $315,250 (MLS#1875933)
• Montclair: 335 Dark Forest Dr, Lot 15
  4br, master down, 3.5ba, 2900sf, $422,135 (MLS#1867118)
• Oakmont: 649 Bennett Mountain Trace, Lot 91
  4br, master down, 3.5ba, 3511sf, $534,900 (MLS#1873524)

If you would like to schedule a showing of any of these homes, or would like more information on other available homes in Briar Chapel, please call Jennifer Winkler at 919-593-3662.

Just Listed: 60 Hill Creek Blvd

If you or someone you know is looking to get into Briar Chapel for under $225K, then you'll want to be sure to check out Jen's new listing at 60 Hill Creek Blvd.

Whether you prefer to enjoy the great views from the wrap-around front porch, or the solitude of the fenced-in back yard from the large screened porch, this home has both! Here are just some of the highlights:

• Green-Certified Craftsman Cottage
• Built by Saussy-Burbank in 2011
• 3 Beds & 2.5 Baths
• 1500 sqft two-level detached home
• Fenced back yard w/ storage shed
• Wrap-around front porch
• Screened-in back porch
• Fireplace w/ built-ins on each side
• Hardwoods on main level
• Granite & subway tile in kitchen
• Priced for quick sale at $222,900

This home won't last long! So, if you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them get in touch with Jennifer Winkler ASAP at 919-593-3662.

5th Annual Briar Chapel 5K & Earth Day Celebration on April 20th

I hope you will join us for the 5th Annual Briar Chapel 5K & Earth Day Celebration on April 20th from 9:30am to 1pm!

The 5K race and kids fun run will begin at 9:30am near the new Boulder Park and wind through Briar Chapel's roads and parks. A live DJ will be on-hand to entertain spectators, and runners can enjoy post-race massages, as well as refreshments from local vendors.

Advanced registration is $20 and includes a locally-made organic t-shirt and goodie bag. The chip-timed course is a USATF-certified course (download map). Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 male and top 3 female finishers, as well as age group winners. If interested, you can register here.

After the race, Briar Chapel will be hosting an Earth Day Celebration from 11-1pm where you can enjoy beer from Carolina Brewery and refuel with various food truck offerings from Parlez Vous Crêpes, Great American Meltdown, and The Parlour! Other activities include live music from Vintage Hwy, cornhole, bocci, horseshoes, and other games. Attendees can also plant seedlings to take home and start a garden, take part in a building activity with NC Planetarium, decorate a flower pot with the Scrap Exchange, and more! The post-race party is free and open to the public.

Proceeds from these two events benefit the Abundance Foundation, whose purpose is to increase public awareness of sustainable energy usage and local food consumption.

Upcoming Events Near Briar Chapel

Looking for something fun to do near Briar Chapel during the month of February? Here are a few options within a short 15 minute drive...

• Attend TEDxUNC, the Chapel Hill version of the original TEDx conference that began 26 years ago, which will be held this Saturday (9th) from 9am to 12:30pm in Memorial Hall on UNC's campus. Featured speakers will include Andrea Reusing (chef-owner of Lantern and James Beard Award nominee) and fashion designer Alexander Julian. Visit www.tedxunc.com for ticket info.

• Sample local craft beers while tasting cheese, charcuterie and more at Southern Season's Beer Extravaganza this Friday from 5-8pm. Visit www.southernseason.com for more info. 

• Browse the diverse artwork for sale at the annual Fearrington Folk Art Show on Saturday & Sunday, February 16-17 from 10am-5pm. Visit www.fearrington.com for more info.

Boulder Park Coming to Briar Chapel

Briar Chapel will be unveiling a new park in April, it's largest one to date!

Boulder Park, named after the massive boulders that were found while grading the site of this picturesque two acre landscape, will include a number of new amenities for residents to enjoy. These include a fire pit, pergola, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, chess/checkers tables, vineyard and community garden.

Here is a rendering of what the park may look like once complete...

If you are interested in building a home adjacent to Boulder Park, please contact Jen Winkler at 919-593-3662.

Nest Learning Thermostats Gaining Popularity in Briar Chapel

A growing number of Briar Chapel homeowners and builders are installing the Nest Learning Thermostat in their high-perforamance homes to improve efficiency and comfort.

This nifty little device was designed by Tony Fadell, the guy who designed Apple's iPod. In addition to its sleek looks, the Nest is the world’s first smart thermostat that can adapt to your lifestyle. While ordinary thermostats require you to program them to turn on and off at certain times and temperatures (which most people never do), the Nest features sensors and algorithms that automatically adjust to the way you live.

For example, it can sense whether you're home or not, and then build a model of temperatures that feel comfortable to you based on adjustments you make to the unit. In short, it uses all this information to create a temperature schedule that’s personalized to your lifestyle - one that keeps you comfortable while saving energy.

Another great feature of the Nest is its connectivity to the Internet. This allows you to control it with an iPhone, or download updated software as it becomes available.

Check out this video to see the unit in action...