New Homes Promise a Green Future

The new Idea Show House in Macomb Township is a breath of fresh air.

Dubbed “the home of the future,” this 3,168-square-foot model was built using green technology and based on a study of luxury yachts, which showcased efficient ways to maximize space.

Built by Arteva Homes and Dominick Tringali Architects, both in Bloomfield Hills, the model is the collaboration of more than 30 green companies that, combined, earned the Energy Star Plus designation (50 percent more energy-efficient than typical homes built a decade ago).

“Here in Michigan, not a lot of people are going to want to spend money to put green stuff in a home, so we put green products in at the same price,” says Vito Terracciano, partner at Arteva Homes. “We found wood floors and recycled leather floors all at the same price as a non-recycled product.”

The home has a Lennox energy-assisted heating-and-cooling system, which uses solar power, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting, all of which reduce electrical consumption. Jenkins Brick Co. supplied the bricks, which were manufactured in a gas-powered landfill.

Other green elements include Sherwin-Williams low-voc interior paint, Berloni eco-friendly cabinetry, sustainably harvested certified timber from Dillman & Upton, and a high-efficiency landscape irrigation system to conserve water.

The concept is attracting interest. “I sold three homes in the last two weeks,” Terracciano says. “People are coming from all over.”

Information: ideashowhouse.com.