LIVING IN A GREEN HOME SHOULD MAKE EVERYONE FEEL GOOD, BUT A HEALTHY HOUSE IS A MUST FOR PERSONS WITH ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES. 

That’s why building The Meredith, a 2001 Parade house in Durham’s Treyburn golf course community, was a labor of love for its builder, Michele Meyers, who started building green because of severe allergies. In fact, after it was built, the 4,084-square-foot, two-story luxury home was certified as a Health House by the American Lung Association. Meyers’ company, M Squared Builders, has since received numerous awards for its green homes.

The Meredith boasts all the green bells and whistles, including a sealed crawl space that improves the quality of indoor air as well as the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of the home. It also features Icynene foam insulation for walls and ceilings, a sealed HVAC system, energy recovery ventilation system and two carbon monoxide detectors. The Legacy Weathershield windows and patio doors are Energy Star compliant, the glass is low E and a Beam central vacuum prevents dust from resettling during use.

Also, the Corian counters have no glues or resins, paints and primers have no VOCs, and all caulks, glues, duct sealers and dry-wall joint compounds in the home are non-toxic and solvent-free.

But because a home is healthy doesn’t mean it can’t be luxurious. In addition to formal living and dining rooms, The Meredith has a breakfast room off the gourmet kitchen, four bedrooms, four full and two half baths, plus a studio/bedroom with bath over the three-car garage.

And what a view! The charming wrap-around porch overlooks a driving range, #1 Green and Treyburn Country Club.

The Meredith, at 216 Tennwood Court, Durham, is listed with Linda Craft and Team at Re/Max One Realty.

See next week’s Saturday Real Estate section for Part II of Greening the American Dream, which will feature more moderately priced green homes.