From inception, Briar Chapel was designed to promote the long-term health and well-being of its residents and the surrounding area. Sustainability doesn’t entail just a few “green” elements but rather a comprehensive mindset that guided Briar Chapel’s development. Our commitment to sustainability includes the following elements:
The Land and Nature: The land plan at Briar Chapel carefully nestles homes and amenities into the existing topography, preserving the natural landscape, 900 acres of open space and indigenous wildlife. To learn more about our green principles in action, visit the Landscaping Information Center for the latest information.
Natural Resources. We repurposed materials uncovered during construction as well as historical elements, like a reclaimed tobacco barn. Briar Chapel’s waste water treatment system, makes the reclaimed water used to irrigate the common areas. This allows us to reduce use of the county’s potable water resources. (The waste water system is owned by Old North State Water, a private utility, and operated by Integra Water. For more see the sewer section of the page Utilities Serving Briar Chapel.)
Green-Built Homes: All of our houses are built according to the rigorous, third-party NGBS standard, producing energy efficient, healthier homes. (See more on that below!)
Community Partnerships: Sustainability encompasses the social and economic health of the local area as well. Briar Chapel forms strong partnerships with local organizations and nonprofits to provide resources and invest in the growth of the entire region.
Health and Wellbeing of People: Our community encourages residents to pursue a healthy, active lifestyle both indoors and in nature. Copious open spaces and miles of trails, a fitness center and a wealth of opportunities to build social relationships all nurture the social, emotional and physical health of those who call us home.
NGBS-Certified: NGBS (National Green Building Standard) is a rigorous, third-party certification. The NGBS standard requires that the home is designed and built to achieve high performance in six areas: site design, resource efficiency, water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and building operation and maintenance. What does this mean? A Briar Chapel home is 24 percent more efficient than the average North Carolina home, and as a whole, our homes have saved residents over $2 million in energy bills since inception.
HERS Index: A rating system that measures a home’s energy efficiency. It can range from 0 to 150+, and the lower the rating, the higher the energy efficiency of the home. The average North Carolina home holds a HERS rating of 86, while Briar Chapel homes score much lower at an average of 62.