Be inspired at Stonehurst Place, winner of the prestigious EarthCraft Home and Southface 2008 Renovation Project of the Year for our eco-friendly transformation.

This 1896 National Register historic mansion has kept its period feel after the installation of modern rainwater harvesting systems, unobtrusive mounting of ten solar thermal panels that heat hot water used throughout our bed and breakfast inn, and a greywater recycling system to conserve water by safely re-using treated greywater for toilet flushing.

Not-for-profit group Southface’s EarthCraft House™ home renovation program, along with industry-leading guidelines published by the “Green” Hotel Association, were followed in this green renovation by owner and designer, Barb Shadomy.

In 2007, Barb began to bring together all elements of this high-tech and energy-conscious project: historically sensitive renovation design incorporating whole-house icynene insulation to reduce energy use, efficient HVAC systems and low-VOC materials to improve air quality, along with rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling to lower water usage.
 

How it Works

Rainwater is collected from the roof into covered gutters and channeled through underground pipes around the house to underground (3,500 gallons) Water Storage Tanks. Self-contained motors in the storage tanks pump rainwater out to irrigate our beautiful landscaping and flower gardens, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.

At Stonehurst Place we go the extra step to pass City water through a six step purification system. This purified water is used throughout the house as crystal clear drinking water, in laundry, sinks, dishwashers, and for bathing and showering.

Our purified water also supplies the Solar-Heated Water Tanks, three insulated tanks located in the basement. Glycol heated in Ten Solar Panels is piped to the basement where it heats the water used in the house. When there are no sunny days, our water is heated using two gas water heaters.

Separate plumbing lines channel water from sinks, bathtubs and showers into the Brac Greywater Recycling System.

The Brac Greywater Recycling System takes in greywater, filters and treats it, then sends it up to the toilet tank reserves for flushing (what a waste to flush clean drinking water down the toilet!) Waste blackwater is piped from the house to the city sewage system.

More information on these systems can be obtained from our partners at:

www.rainharvestcompany.com

www.soenso.com

www.southface.org

www.earthcrafthouse.org

EarthCraft House™, created in 1999, is a residential green building program of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association in partnership with Southface. This program serves as a blueprint for energy- and resource-efficient homes.