The 2008 Parade of Homes – a single site open house that showcases the latest in landscape and interior design – went green this year by exhibiting 10 eco-friendly model residences in Clay’s Country Meadow neighborhood.
However, attendees were not interested in the energy-efficient alternatives.
“What we hear from builders when we offer to make a quote about going with a green alternative … is that people still go for the aesthetically pleasing product,” said Mary Thompson, the executive officer of the Home Builders and Remodelers of Central New York an Association of Professionals that puts on the annual event.
More people go to get landscaping and interior decorating ideas, the tough part is getting them interested in the green options, Thompson said.
In the end, the builders build for the customers, she added.
The initial higher cost of going green is to blame, said Carmen Mufale, project manager for Summerset Homes, which built one of the models. He does not think customers have the extra money to spend right now with the economy.
There is a countertop product made out of recycled bottles that looks just like granite, but since it’s more money people won’t buy it, Mufale said.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Customers would rather buy the last piece of granite on earth, than that piece made of recycled bottles.”
Not all of the green improvements were superficial. The builders made the homes with features including energy-efficient furnaces and insulated walls, Thompson said.
Builders are just catching up with the green trend, so customers are slowly following, she said.
About 20,000 people came to see the fully decorated and landscaped models from Sept. 6 to 21, according to Thompson.
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