And it’s not just green space this community offers, with builders like Landmark Homes, green homes are being floated into the mix as well.

At first glance, you’ll notice the Willowmere show home offers a unique layout with little wasted space. However, there’s more than meets the eye. Stuart Wen, marketing co-ordinator with Landmark Homes, points out that the many standard specifications lend not only to better energy and water consumption, but also to being easier on your wallet.

“There are a lot of mechanical features in our homes that are highly desirable,” says Wen. One such feature is the standard 50 gallon high-efficiency hot water tank. The energy efficiency is increased further due to direct power venting. Saving on water is essential to the builder, which explains the standard dual flush toilet in the powder room, but it is the shower on the main floor that is getting most of the attention. Barb Nagel, area manager, says it’s a popular option due to its functionality for most families.

By far the biggest highlight of the home though is a 15-foot by 12-foot sunroom. With a second fireplace (the first is in the great room, of course), two skylights and four massive windows, this sunroom is easily the hottest room in the home. Literally.

But if the large windows are of concern for energy efficiency, fear no more with the standard low-E (low-emissive) coating on all the windows. The generous helping of glass throughout, including transoms above all main floor windows, is protected by the low-E coating, which reduces heat loss or heat gain depending on the season. “It also inhibits fading on furniture, hardwood flooring, and anything in direct sunlight,” says Nagel. With the quantity of windows, it won’t be necessary to turn on any lights during the day. This same concept was considered when they added the interior windows between the hall and laundry room.

The massive kitchen also has no shortage of light in its prime perch just off the sunroom. The “chef’s dream” as some call it, notes Nagel, has tonnes of counter space spilling over to the distinctive eating bar attached to the island. The two pantries on either side of the fridge maximize storage space without compromising design. Landmark’s standard specifications include 42-inch-high upper cabinets to flow with the nine-foot main floor ceiling.

The bonus room ceiling towers at a massive ten-foot height due to the staggered stairway, while gallery walls are “appealing and appropriate for people who travel and collect large art pieces or furniture,” says Nagel. Finishing details are always something Landmark takes pride in, she says.

Case in point in the ensuite bath, a grand five-foot by three-foot ensuite shower is fully tiled with glass doors and sleek plumbing fixtures. With a corner soaker tub, this master retreat fits the mould of a perfect spa environment. To top it all off, the venting window is one feature seldom seen in ensuite bathrooms.

Air quality is also something often overlooked, especially in new construction areas where dust is free-flowing. The builder’s standard 91 per cent high-efficiency furnace with a heat recovery ventilator maintains the air quality.

And other noticeable touches are made with keeping air quality top-notch. “Our hardwood is factory-finished keeping airborne contaminates to a minimum,” says Wen. Meanwhile, another standard feature is the titanium shelves in the closets, as Nagel says an “off-gas” emits from white painted shelves. The furnace includes a programmable thermostat, an environmentally-conscious feature that allows owners to pre-set temperatures for when they’ll be away, using less energy.

Aside from energy efficiency, the actual building envelope is taken into consideration, with studs in all Landmark homes now 24-inches on centre, allowing for the maximum use of insulation while reducing the amount of wood required.

Metal garbage bins have been replaced with recycling bags at all Landmark’s building sites. When full, these bags, which don’t rust like their metal predecessors, are taken to a depot where anything that can be reused or recycled is sorted out.

The Willowmere is not only aesthetically-appealing, but a trip to the show home allows visitors to leave with a clearer conscience. “Our handouts at the show home are printed on 100 per cent recycled paper and produced using non-polluting reusable wind-generated energy,” says Wen.

Landmark’s head office and show home minimize energy use as well, by turning off all lights and computers at the end of the day, and Wen says the builder is making every attempt to go paperless, a near-impossible feat within the industry. Nagel says she has eliminated bottled water from her show home and now only offers filtered water from the refrigerator instead.

This is one eco-friendly builder sure to make the competition green with envy.

For more information about Landmark Homes, or the Willowmere, visit http://www.landmarkhomes.ca