Don Ferrier, founder and owner of Ferrier Custom Homes, has built a home around Eagle Mountain Lake that he claims will create as much energy as it uses. Being called a “net zero” home, it’s a relatively small house, which he’s calling the Casita, around 1,500 square feet, and it will be powered by a 45-foot tall wind turbine. Ferrier also used recycled materials in building the home, saying it cost more money, but that the savings would be realized within a couple of years.
Ferrier Custom Homes is known for building and remodeling environmentally efficient homes, and started out building homes that were earth-sheltered in the 1980′s, becoming one of the earliest adopter of building eco-friendly homes across North Texas. They have won numerous awards, including: National Association of Home Builders 2007 Green Builder Advocate of the Year; Energy Value Housing Awards 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009; Dallas Builders Association’s 2007 & 2008 Vesta Award: Best Green Built House; and the Dallas HBA’s 2009 McSam Award Winner: Green Builder Advocate of the Year.
Ferrier is also starting construction on what he hopes will be the area’s first net zero energy subdivision, in Flower Mound, which is near the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Construction will take place on The Rheudasil Farms development, named after the city’s first mayor. Dennis Shingleton, the chairman of the Fort Worth Sustainable Development Task Force, said he is excited by Ferrier’s project and hopes to make the Casita the poster home for sustainable residential development. Ferrier also hopes to build more net zero homes in neighborhoods such as Terrell Heights, or others as properties become available.
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Mitch writes on real estate, finance, and many other things.