First certified green home

8094 Preble County Line Rd, German Twp.

PRICE: $525,000

OPEN HOUSE: Aug. 16, 2-4 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: Ohio 725 to south on Preble County Line Road

HIGHLIGHTS: About 4,500 sq. ft., 2007 certified green home, geo-thermal heating/cooling, 15 acres, forest with walking trails and creek, private entrance in lower level, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2-car, attached garage

FOR MORE DETAILS: Debra Montgomery Sibcy Cline Inc. (937) 307-1362

Any objection to building a green home fades away after viewing this one at 8094 Preble County Line Road in German Twp.

The façade looks like any other custom home created to fit a country/park-like setting. Features include a covered wrap-around porch supported by pillars with square-ish stone bases, a steeply gabled roof and attractive brick-and-stone trim combined with siding, which appears to be made of wood panels.

But the difference is in the construction details that are not immediately apparent. Owner John Hecht produces a list of major green features, which were thought through with his architect, Bob Hausman of Centerville, before building on the 15-acre property with a natural clearing where the house sits.

“This is the first certified green home in the Dayton area,” Hecht said. “This home was only slightly more expensive (to build), and it feels no different than a regular home.”

On a walk around the exterior, Hecht points out, “This beautiful ‘wood paneling’ is actually cement. It will never have to be painted again.”

Hecht calls attention to the rain chains, which appear where normally, a spout attached to a gutter would be. Water spirals down the chain, sounding like a fountain as it makes its way to the ground.

Listed for $525,000, this home offers about 4,500 square feet of living space on two levels with four bedrooms and two baths.

“There are lots of windows for brightness and the cross-breeze,” Hecht said.

Porcelain tile covers the floor in the entry, where angled French doors lead into the study with double windows.

A contemporary chandelier centers the open dining room. The ceiling rises 12 feet above the great room, which has a wood-burning fireplace with a brick hearth and a white mantel.

“The fireplace was a challenge,” Hecht said. “It is an air-tight system and doesn’t make a draft.”

A wall of windows adds a panoramic view of the back forest and greenspace with a vegetable patch at one end.

A tiered breakfast bar circles above the semi-circular counter in the kitchen, which offers 42-inch cherry cabinets.

Stainless-steel appliances include the smooth-top range, the built-in microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Wrap-around shelves are installed in the walk-in pantry.

In the breakfast area, atrium doors open to a deck to enjoy the forest view. The laundry room has a deep tub, a closet and access to the two-car garage.

The main bedroom suite has four windows and a paddle fan with lighting. In the adjacent bath, the shower is surrounded with ceramic tile and has a corner seat. There are two separate, tall vanities and a walk-in closet.

Two more bedrooms on the main level share the hall bath, which has a tub and shower.

Living space extends to the finished lower level, which was designed as a possible in-law suite with a private entrance from the exterior.

The sitting area/family room has an electric fireplace with a full-brick hearth. If using the lower level as recreation space, there is an area for a game table. The fourth bedroom is placed near the full bath.

One of the most important green features is the geothermal heating/cooling system. This system uses a water loop powered by two small electric pumps. When cooling, the excess heat from the system is used to heat water. Hecht said the additional cost of the system has been recovered by low utility bills.

Green materials used in construction include composite decking, Myratek siding and manufactured stone.

“You don’t find land like this often with a creek and a forest,” Hecht said.

“It’s a tiny piece of heaven,” he said.