Zero Net Energy Home Preview: Bend, Oregon Tour of Homes

We're so excited to host at many open houses this weekend at the kick-off to the 2011 Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes - a showcase of Bend, Oregon real estate! While the actual tour starts at noon on Friday, July 15 we are co-hosting a special "Premiere and Reception" event at one of the very special homes on the Tour: SolAire Homebuilders' Zero Net Energy home. The first zero net energy home in Bend! 


Join us on Thursday, July 14 from 5-7 p.m. at 2328 NW Dorian Way in Bend, Oregon's NorthWest Crossing neighborhood. Cindi and Mike O'Neil and other representatives of SolAire Homebuilders will be available to explain the advanced energy-saving features that make this home unique. The home has created a lot of buzz in advance of the Tour, so this will be an opportunity for a casual and unhurried "look and learn" experience before the Tour begins.

And don't forget to visit us during the Tour! Nearly 25 percent of this year's tour homes are in our home neighborhood of NorthWest Crossing. We'll see you there! 

Bend, Oregon Zero Net Energy Home Takes Shape!

We're thrilled that the Zero Net Energy home in Bend, Oregon's NorthWest Crossing is making progress, with walls up and ready for "greening." But those walls will remain "open" for a little while yet.

That's because there's an "Open Wall Open House" planned for May 7, from 1-4 p.m. that will display some of the energy-efficient features of the home. The walls will showcase a special

EcoSeal product, installed and visible to visitors, to help them understand the comprehensive air tightening measures that go hand-in-hand with additional insulation.

One of the most ambitious targets in green building design, Zero Net Energy, has been associated with expensive custom homes that showcase leading-edge environmental technology. Now, thanks to developers Joe Emerson and Ann Brayfield, the home under construction in this forward-thinking Bend, Oregon neighborhood puts the Zero Net Energy concept squarely in affordable territory.

The three-bedroom home is located at 2328 NW Dorion Way. SolAire Homebuilders of Bend will have it ready for big Bend, Oregon real estate showcase: the 2011 COBA Tour of Homes in July.

The home is co-listed by brokers David Sailors of GoBend Realty and Alison Mata of The Garner Group Realtors and Development LLC.

Zero Energy? We Say Hip, Hip Hooray!

We are pleased to be co-listing (with GoBend Realty) a Zero Net Energy Home in NorthWest Crossing, being built by SolAire Homebuilders in Bend. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the property, which is located in Bend, Oregon on the corner of Dorian Way and Newport Hills Drive, last Tuesday.

What does "Zero Net" mean you may ask? Just that - the home will contain features that that define the most advanced elements of green building. It will use a combination of passive and active solar energy to average zero electrical consumption over the course of a year. Building materials, finishes and mechanical systems will embrace healthy home, clean air and sustainable building concepts. There's some more information on the concept here.

At The Garner Group in Bend, Oregon, we believe in going green. Many of our agents are green-certified. Our offices are located in the sustainable Bend, Oregon neighborhood of NorthWest Crossing. We are so excited to represent this new home, which is scheduled to be in the Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes 2011.

The home will qualify for certification as an Earth Advantage Zero Net Energy Home, Earth Advantage Platinum Home, Energy Star Home, Energy Trust of Oregon Advanced Performance Home and Oregon Department of Energy High Performance Home.