The Newcomers’ home is green — but not on the outside.

Quint Newcomer, director of the University’s campus in Costa Rica, and his wife Lori Bork Newcomer, who runs Bork Architectural Design and teaches adjunct in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, have built their Athens home with a “holistic” mindset.

This holistic approach has been verified by Southface Energy Institute, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable design. The home received a platinum certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — the highest certification available, which only seven residential homes have achieved in Georgia.

Professors Quint Newcomer and his wife Lori own one of the seven Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified homes in Georgia. Perks to their home include lower utility bills and a healthier indoor environment. Devin Webb/Staff

“It’s great when people say they’re building green, but the certification really takes that claim to the next level,” Lori Newcomer said.

The certification made the Newcomers’ home the first residential building in Athens to receive the honor.

But for the Newcomers, the desire for certification did not only come from a desire for sustainability — it’s also about the future of design.

“It was sort of two-fold — for one, it was just something we did to build the house sustainably,” Newcomer said. “Second, being in the architectural industry, I want to help drive market forces, and I think LEED helps to do that.”

A sustainable home

The specifications necessary for LEED certification gives Newcomer a peace of mind.

“It makes us feel really good,” she said. “To be honest, it was one of the leading factors in wanting to build new construction instead of looking for existing housing stock — just knowing what we’re living in and that it’s safe for our family.”

Those specifications are far-reaching, meaning every facet of sustainability was taken into consideration during the building of the house.

“It spans from how we deal with rainwater runoff to water usage inside the house — the quality of air in the house, energy efficiency, the materials we use,” Newcomer said. “It pushes you a little more than you would otherwise when you aim to build green.”

Alfie Vick, associate professor in the College of Environment and Design, cited other benefits to being LEED-certified: lower utility bills, a healthier indoor environment and reduced environmental impact.

“I think we have the materials, technology and the know-how to build efficient and beautiful homes and it would be silly not to,” he said. “It is simply a better house to live in.”

Another important factor in the sustainability of the house is the decreased presence of toxins. Many products that go into houses contain harmful ingredients: cabinetry typically has plywood with formaldehyde and adhesives, and many paints and stains have volatile organic compounds.

“A lot of the general public is aware of the importance of energy efficiency, but I think a lot less people are aware of how many toxic things products are made of,” Newcomer said. “There are alternatives that aren’t hard to access.”

But not hard to access doesn’t necessarily mean the products are always stocked.

Newcomer said many companies have safer products on backorder that they are more than happy to ship to the store.

“The more demand and people are aware to ask, the more it will change the marketplace,” she said.

And that’s exactly how she said she wants to see the market change.

A sustainable future

By integrating sustainability in her work and personal home, Newcomer hopes to stimulate the demand for more sustainable products.

“I think it pushes suppliers and subcontractors when they’re going through the LEED process,” Newcomer said. “My hope is that they turn that around and use it on future products.”

Vick agreed that this method of pushing the market is effective and has already been seen in the market today.

“For example, 10 years ago it was nearly impossible to find low-VOC paint,” he said. “Today, due to the increased market demand driven by green building, you can buy low-VOC paint at your local hardware store.”

Newcomer, who said she found her sustainable side in her husband, hopes to incorporate the products into her own work to promote the market.

“My husband’s degree is in environmental management, so he is basically an environmentalist,” Newcomer said. “Since I’ve been married to him, I’ve learned so much from him on the state of our world today and I think that’s partly his influence on me — it’s become a very dominant factor in my work.”

Her business, Bork Architectural Design, now incorporates some of the specifications needed to complete LEED certification.

“You just have to know to look for it,” she said. “I did a lot of research on my own, but it’s good because I now know where to go for future projects.”

Using the specifications as models for residential construction is an idea Vick supports, as residential property is just as important as commercial.

“The LEED Rating System has grown in use throughout the commercial construction industry and its impact on building performance has been proven,” he said. “However, in order to really maximize the potential of green building it has to be applied to all buildings, including residential homes and including existing buildings.”

Newcomer said she recommends striving for LEED certification for every home because, in addition to the economy, it strengthens the quality of houses on the market.

“I think it’s really worth it to have it tested,” she said. “Having the certification helps push other related industries to put more green products and offers out there. It’s good for the future of the home — it would be nice to pass off the home to someone else and have them assured it was built in this manner.”

Vick echoed her sentiments and said although LEED certification is geared toward new construction endeavors, it is still doable for houses already on the market.

“At this point, LEED certification for homes is for new construction and major renovations,” he said. “However, don’t forget that many of the recommended strategies are also applicable to existing homes. If we are able to reduce the resources necessary to build and operate enough of our buildings we could really start to envision meaningful solutions to the big regional issues of water supply and energy production.”

For those who feel they do not have the resources to complete all the standards necessary for certification, Newcomer said a less intense certification exists — EarthCraft certification.

“It’s a great first step for people who are interested in having green certification in their home,” she said. “However, I’ve had success in affordable housing with LEED — if you can do it in affordable housing, anyone can do it.”