Posted: October 21, 2008 Post Expires: April 21, 2009
KnowItAlz
We are building a “Green” 4200+ square foot family care home for people with early stage dementia in Winston-Salem, NC. My father has Alzheimer’s disease and lives with me in my home, so my driving passion to build this home is for people like him to have a nice place to live. I also believe that anyone building a building in this day and age should do it “green”.
I am searching for energy rebates, tax credits, low interest loans, manufacturers rebates, and companies who are looking for a project like this one to use as a showcase, who may offer us a reduced up-front price in return for advertising and PR. In other words, we need extra money up front in order to get this wonderful project built with all of the energy and eco-friendly features we desire.
I have hired a LEED certified architect and we plan to build the home to LEED for Home specifications, as well as to the NC licensure guidelines for Family care homes. The architect is Jill Spaeh out of Greensboro (http://www.spaehae.com), We are hoping to utilize solar hot water, gray water, rain water collection, geothermal heating and cooling, Energy Star everything, local building materials, etc.
We will also be teaching the residents about recycling, composting and Sustainable living. We will have vegetable, herb and flower gardens. These will not only preserve the earth for the next generation, but the sorting and gardening are both great mental activities that really help people with dementia.
I think this is the first private family care home in NC to go totally green, but I am not positive. Please let me know if you have any questions, and please email me any information about how you may be able to offer us some money, advice, or lead us in the right direction to find the funding and help we need.
