Bryant Park will be island's first green neighborhood

Hilton Head Island's first green neighborhood is under construction off Spanish Wells Road, where builder and developer Howard Feldman is creating 12 small but elegant, easy-on-the-earth cottages.

A local custom builder-turned developer, Feldman is making The Cottages at Bryant Park, his first community, conform to the guidelines of the Earthcraft House program. These standards focus on building practices and product selections that promote a healthier house -- one that is energy and water efficient and doesn't harm the environment. The voluntary program offers developers and builders a "menu" of guidelines, allowing them to select how they will make their site, structure and work practices meet the standards.

"You kind of pick and choose what you want to do to achieve a minimum number of points," Feldman said, admitting, "I probably went a little beyond what was required."

Earthcraft House employs independent inspectors who visit each project and test the house for air leakage. Additionally, Feldman is building to Energy Star (www.energystar.gov) specifications and will obtain a certification from this government program as well.

The Cottages at Bryant Park also have been selected as South Carolina's pilot project for the "Build America" program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Under this program, Feldman has committed to certain standards that result in at least a 40 percent more energy efficient home, as compared to the standard local building codes, he said.

Armin Rudd, an engineer sent by the Build America program, came to the Cottages at Bryant Park last week to test the first model for air leaks and the efficiency of the HVAC system. The house passed with flying colors.

"These guys are the gurus when it comes to green building practice and energy efficiency," Feldman said.

To make the homes energy efficient, Feldman said he spent about 15 percent more "at a minimum," compared to typical construction costs. However, the eventual owners of the 1,600-square-foot model Rudd tested will probably pay only about $300 per year in electricity bills. The yearly bill for a conventionally built home of the same size could easily be four times as much.

While much of the environmental focus of the project is seen in the homes themselves, the developer is also taking steps in the development itself. The single family cottages are arranged around a central green courtyard, with a pool to one side. The driveways, sidewalks and parking areas are made of pervious paving, which allows rain water to soak into the ground. The crew who cleared the building envelope saved all the trees that were removed -- stumps and all -- and later ground them into mulch, which will be used to landscape the community.

The community is one variation of local response to the challenges of small lots. An innovative site configuration and floor plans echo the work of designer Ross Chapin, who has become famous for the cottages he has built in Seattle. The community is also inspired by architect Sarah Susanka's not-so-big home movement.

To best take advantage of the homes' limited space , Feldman has added built- in components that make the most of stair landings, attics, and hallways. Upscale appointments including top of the line appliances, bamboo flooring and expert craftsmanship provide luxury. The cottages range from about 700 square feet for $340,000 to about 1,750 square feet for $495,000. All of the homes have detached garages in a grouped parking area.

Feldman, and real estate agent Mike Thorpe of Re/Max Island Realty, who's marketing the property, hope buyers of all ages will embrace this alternative to condos, with its carefully articulated public and private spaces. The exceptional quality of the indoor air means the homes will be especially attractive to buyers with asthma or allergies, Thorpe said.