SAN JUAN ISLAND HOMES

Vendors Provide Support for Natural Balance House On San Juan Island

posted 12/30/2009
When and Glen and Deb Bruels decided to build a “deep green” home on San Juan Island, they were determined to share the process with as many people as they could. By using their new home as a demonstration project, the Bruels could offer a web cam during construction and tours after completion so the general public could see how certain sustainable and energy-efficient products are actually used. Interested people would have more than magazine pictures to look at – they could experience the real thing.

Because the Natural Balance Hous will showcase luxurious waterfront living in balance with the natural environment and featuring a host of green products, the Bruels discovered some vendors wanted to be involved in a special way – by providing sponsorships.

"We support the whole green movement, and we belong to the San Juan Builders Association so we wanted to be a part of this project,” says Kevin Kartak, owner of AAA Kartak Glass & Closet based in Everett, Wash. "We'll be providing shower doors and closet systems for the ‘Natural Balance House.'"

The Bruels are still fully paying to have their house built -- sponsors don't give them free products for their home. Instead, sponsors support the educational outreach of the project by defraying some of the costs. Enabling other homeowners or potential homeowners to see and learn how the sponsors' products work in an actual home is important to them. This is especially true for companies that are pushing the envelope and want to showcase how a certain product or system can be used in a particular design.

One of those companies and a project supporter, Core Design, based in Bellevue, has modeled the rainwater harvesting system that shows how the residents of the home can use rainwater from the roof to provide all of their domestic water needs inside the home, including drinking water.

"We appreciate being aligned with such reputable designers, contractors and representatives (involved in this project)," said Rob Stevens, principal and senior engineer with Core Design. "To be respected as a leader in the industry is really only possible by being aligned with projects such as this." Core Design also provided pro bono services for an Extreme Makeover Home Edition home in Kirkland.

For a list of current supporters of the Natural Balance House, please visit: www.naturalbalancehouse.com/supporters/

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2010

editor@sanjuanislander.com

About Us | Advertising Info | Contact Us | Privacy Policy