Couple get dream home, in ‘green’

Through 25 years of marriage, Greg and Stacey Brown dreamed of living on the beach.

In a matter of hours, they watched their dream home pieced together — literally.

In the first of its kind in Orange County, the Browns watched as their LEED-platinum certified house — which all but ensures it as the most eco-friendly home on the block — was assembled just a short walk away from the sand and waves in Newport Beach.

“We just wanted to do something a little different,” Greg said with a smile, looking on as a 250-ton crane put the second story of his house into place.

LEED-platinum certified means the building was built with the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design requirements in mind. The award is backed by the U.S. Green Building Council. A LEED-platinum certificate is the highest award a building can earn.

Basically, the Browns home on 44th Street has “green” or eco-friendly features in sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and indoor environmental quality.

The Browns said they like modern architecture, and it’s a good thing because there’s nothing retro about the home.

The two-story, 2,200-square foot home will have solar panels on the roof. It uses recycled glass and wood for the interior, and low-flow plumbing to save water.

The home was actually built off-site in three months before Thursday’s installation.

It will be one more month before the Browns can move in.

The home cost about $605,000, according to LivingHomes, the company that designed it.

“Compared to buying a regular home, it was less hassle. Less stress,” Greg Brown said. “Some of these other homes took up to a year to be made. Meanwhile, we’d be inconveniencing all the neighbors.”

Stacey Brown said that the home might be a bit expensive up front, but there are a lot of savings built inside that will pay off over time.

“This is the way we ought to be going with home building anyway. This is the way the industry should look,” said Glenn White, whose house next door remained unscathed during the installation.

Others, like George Nevin, had a cooler reception to the scene unfolding near his home.

“It’s a little different than the rest,” he said. “After we stare at it for a little while, maybe we’ll get used to it.”