Homes By Hamrick





Homes exclusively listed by Sandee Hamrick Coldwell Banker Triad (336) 996-8503 Web Site


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Home Place Nov 4, 2007

Sunny Side

By Cindy Hodnett
HomePlace Writer

One reason that is often offered about why green building has been slow to catch on is that the movement lacks marketing appeal. While it's easy for industry experts to present the nuts-and-bolts of green technology, it can be difficult to translate that into an eye-catching headline or engaging news article. However, for anyone who ever wanted to see firsthand why things like solar power can be cool, this afternoon's open house at Lot 13 in Spring Lake Farm should be No. 1 on the day's activity list.

Imagine the decadence of enjoying a long, hot shower without having to wait for the water to heat up. You walk into the bathroom, and before you can hang your robe over the chair, your water is ready, thanks to a motion-activated sensor. Not only is the water the perfect temperature at the start of your shower, it will also stay pleasantly warm throughout because the combination of solar power and collectors keeps all water for the house at a consistent level.

After your shower, you step out onto a warm slate floor. On cold days, you turn the energy-efficient thermostat for the floor's radiant heat up a bit, not worrying about the almost nonexistent cost of doing so. When you have extra time, you luxuriate in the claw-foot tub, enjoying the high-end beauty of the bathroom, and you marvel that your favorite indulgences are going to earn you an incredible tax credit in a few months. Maybe it's time to buy those thick Egyptian towels you've admired.

There's no doubt about it, solar power can lead to hedonistic pleasures. But it can also lead to an elegant property with lovely water views at Don Hamrick's 2007 Parade of Homes Gold Award winning home in Spring Lake Farm.

Hamrick is one of the Triad's best-known green builders. For years, he has combined state-of-the-art energy-efficient technology with the style expectations for a luxury home, proving that green building is something that can work in all communities.

"This is my fourth spec home with solar power," Hamrick said during a recent visit to the award-winning house. "We've set the bar, and now people are coming on board to solar. If everyone in the United States did Energy Star, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil by a minimum of 15 percent."

Hamrick's home in Spring Lake Farm is a roomy transitional with four bedrooms and three full baths. Finished space is in the 2,800-square-foot range, and a "conditioned" basement offers another 600 to 800 square feet that can be adapted in a number of ways.

"There is room for another full bedroom and bath in the basement, along with space for a kitchen and playroom," Hamrick said. "Because the basement is conditioned space, it stays warm all the time, so there are a lot of possibilities."

All of the bedrooms in Hamrick's home have views of the small lake that runs along the back of the property. In addition, soaring windows in the family room and an adjacent, open yet covered deck with a see-through fireplace incorporate the outside scenery into the home's everyday routine, bringing to mind images of a vacation home, but without the travel to distant locales.

Although primarily a main-level-living design, the upstairs bedroom or bonus room offers future homeowners a great place for a getaway. A "mini-split" heating and cooling controller provides temperature moderation in a room that is often hard to keep comfortable in many homes, and a private bath makes the space a nice option for guest or teen quarters. The mini-split is just one of many of the green features Hamrick included in the home, and when people visit, he is happy to walk them through the others with a comprehensive product display in the garage.

"When we build a house, it makes an impact on energy usage for the rest of its life," Hamrick said. "If we build energy-inefficient McMansions, then we have impacted the environment for a long time. Homeowners pay more, we deplete our natural-gas reserves and we're using more fossil fuels. It doesn't have to be that way, and this house shows how a few changes can make a big difference."

To see Hamrick's award-winning home in Spring Lake Farm this afternoon, take Business 40 East to Highway 158 (Reidsville exit); continue 2.5 miles on Highway 158 to a right turn at second Stanley Drive sign; follow Stanley to a right turn on Spring Lake Farm Circle; the house is ahead on the right. Lot 13 in Spring Lake Farm lists for $519,500 and has four bedrooms, a great room, breakfast room, kitchen, dining room, laundry and enclosed porch. For more information, call Sandee Hamrick, Coldwell Banker Triad, Realtors, at 336-996-8503 or 336-813-6775. Don Hamrick is a member of the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem. For more information on HBA, call 336-768-5942.