Green Home Reflects Developer’s Commitment to Sustainable Living
Sustainable building isn’t just good business for Neyer Properties president Dan Neyer– it’s a lifestyle.
Dan and his wife, Kris, live in their new green home on top of Wiedemann Hill in Newport, Kentucky. Their home incorporates the same sustainable techniques and products he uses in his commercial and medical office buildings throughout greater Cincinnati.
It is the third LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ -certified home under its LEED for Homes program in the state of Kentucky, according to U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics. There is one LEED-Gold in Covington, and one LEED-Silver in Lexington.
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. Green homes use less energy, water and natural resources, create less waste, and are more durable and comfortable for occupants, according to the USBGC.
“We wanted to build a green home to reduce dependency on energy, eliminate pollutants, and re-use nature’s resources,” said Neyer. “Having a green home also emphasizes how it’s possible to incorporate business endeavors with personal pursuits.”
Wiedemann Hill consists of high-end homes of varied architectural styles clustered at the top of Watch Hill Lane in Newport, Kentucky. The development was the site of CitiRama and CitiFest from 2002-2004 and was named a top 10 Cincinnati Magazine neighborhood in 2007. Fifteen completed luxury homes sit atop the hill today, many of them fronting breathtaking views of the city of Cincinnati.
The five-story home is designed in a mixture of Second Empire Victorian and Italianate styles. It is complete with mansard roof with renewable and simulated slate tiles, covered porch with built-in fireplace on the top floor, and a roof terrace large enough for guests to enjoy the view of the skyline while allowing room to play cornhole and other games.
The home is impressive without being imposing; three floors sit above street level, and two are built into the hill. The Neyer home sits on piers drilled into bedrock in the t-intersection on top of Weidemann Hill, hosts a three-car garage, and tall, formal windows on the second and third floors. The Energy Star®-rated home features two decks on the back side of the home with spectacular views of the downtown Cincinnati skyline. It’s also just a 10-minute commute to Neyer Properties’ Keystone Parke headquarters in Cincinnati.
Neyer Properties is developing the site. Thirteen lots are still available.
Having been involved with the design and construction of millions of square feet of commercial property over a 30-year career, Neyer wanted the challenge of designing his family home. Studer Residential Designs, Inc. of Cold Spring, Kentucky, assisted.
“This home is our living, breathing laboratory to learn the benefits of living green personally,” said Neyer. “What we kept in mind was to have the first floor for family living. Kris and I want to be able to entertain and use the space as we grow older, so we incorporated an elevator through all five floors. We also wanted to position the house to take advantage of views of the city.”
Green features include high-efficiency geothermal heating and air conditioning systems, high-efficiency water fixtures, rain barrels, and Energy Star® appliances. Recycled materials were used throughout construction, and solar panels are positioned in the side yard.
Perry Bush Custom Homes was the builder, and green building consultant Barb Yankie of Green Building Consulting helped guide the project through the LEED application process. Neyer’s 5,590-square-foot home is rated silver under the council’s point-based merit system, the third highest LEED level behind platinum and gold.