The north veranda is the second of the home's four porches, accessible from the living room, garage and screened porch. This gracious covered veranda is designed as a passage between the garage and the house, and as an outdoor living space. The cottage-style garage, with its working shutters and s-shaped dogs, is visible from this porch. But don't be fooled by its charm; it's got major eco-cred. This high-tech space is sealed and exhausted separately from the rest of the house, preventing car fumes and other contaminants from migrating into the living areas.
A wide staircase leads from the house to the open-air dining area, which contains a surprise gift from the host of the Green Home special, Carter Oosterhouse. This beautiful table, which Carter made from recycled lumber and metal, can seat eight comfortably.
Permeable concrete pavers in the dining space harvest and filter rainwater, purifying it before it reaches the water table. The Tradition community collects storm water from the street, stores it in a network of retention ponds then uses it to irrigate neighborhood lawns. The home's rain-sensing irrigation system automatically restricts the home's system during wet weather.
The north veranda offers easy access to the fire pit, which is one of the Green Home's most unique features. This gathering space features six Adirondack chairs and a replica of a 19th century a syrup kettle made by local artisans.
Like the syrup kettle, most of the materials used to construct the house were manufactured or harvested within 500 miles of the site. This reduces transportation costs and associated greenhouse gases, while encouraging a healthy local economy.
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