Myrtle Beach Hearald

Sterling Homes goes all green

Clinch Heyward (left) and Harry Dill (right), receive official certification as a green builder from industry leader Environments For Living (EFL) representative David Bell on June 26. Sterling Homes is the first EFL Certified Green Builder on the South Carolina coast.

In an unprecedented move designed to raise the level of quality home building along South Carolina’s coast, Sterling Homes (formerly Hall Custom Homes), announced that, effective immediately, each and every home the company now builds will be certified “green” by industry leader Environments for Living (EFL).

While Sterling Homes’ commitment to environmentally and economically sensible building has revolutionized the company’s approach to construction, there’s an even more impressive benefit to the homeowner.

“We’ll build ‘green’ at no additional cost to the consumer,” according to Sterling Partner Clinch Heyward. Sterling Homes owners Heyward and Harry Dill bought into the ethics of green building early on.  “Not only are ‘green’ homes better for the environment”, says Dill, “but they also add a little ‘green’ at the bank, because they are simply more energy efficient”.
Heyward and Dill cite five major components of true green building: 1) proper materials, 2) proper site development, 3) water conservation measures, 4) energy conservation measures, and 5) enhanced health quality.

The partners agree, “Until you experience it yourself, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Who wouldn’t want a home that’s healthier, more comfortable, higher quality and with a higher resale value?” Heyward adds, “Building ‘green’ — especially to EFL standards — is a quantum leap, but it’s the right thing to do. We recognize that homes serve generations, long outliving the client. Before we build, we send plans to EFL for approval. But it doesn’t end there. EFL continues to check construction in progress before issuing certification.
“Certainly, there are ‘different shades of green’ out there. We searched extensively for a certification source that would lend credibility and power to our green commitment. EFL fit the bill, providing an extensive set of standards that go beyond what’s now being touted as ‘green’”, EFL Certification, among other things, guarantees a home has proper insulation, energy efficient windows, tight construction, fresh air ventilation and ‘pressure balancing’ to control moisture, tightly sealed air ducts and energy efficient heating/cooling equipment. It also means the home has been outfitted with Energy Star approved appliances, lighting fixtures, carpets and more.

Recently, Sterling Homes was chosen lead builder in Withers Preserve’s Balmoral neighborhood, the area’s only community where green energy-saving technology is a standard feature. Four model homes have been completed using the new guidelines.