Northwind development to bring 25 new green homes to Northside

Potterhill Homes has a long track record building homes in the city.  In 2005 and 2007 Potterhill built the Citirama neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and built another 60 single-family homes at the Mills of Carthage.

"The city holds a special spot in my heart," says Potterhill Homes president Carolyn Rolfes.  The dedication to investing in the city will continue this winter when Potterhill opens the new model unit for their Northwind development in Northside.

The model unit will be LEED-certified and feature energy efficient appliances and geothermal technology that will use the Earth's temperature to naturally heat and cool the home.

Rolfes notes that all homes will have the option to become LEED-certified and built to the same standards as the model home.  The geothermal technology is an additional upgrade, but one that will pay for itself quickly.

The geothermal systems will cost anywhere between $9,000 and $13,000 depending on the house.  "You get a 30 percent tax credit on that and will save about 40 to 50 percent on your utility bill," says Rolfes, who believes the geothermal system pays for itself in savings over one month when compared to the additional costs added to a typical mortgage.

Buyers will be able to choose from 15 different house plans that are approximately 1,800 square feet and will cost about $170,000.  The community is located on a hilly and heavily treed site located across from a 25-acre nature preserve that includes a hiking trail.  Northwind is also just a few short blocks from Northside's popular neighborhood business district.

"I love Northside; we have been talking about this opportunity for a few years now.  It is a really neat community and fits with what Potterhill Homes does," says Rolfes.

Rolfes says the green focus of this project is perfect for Northside because its residents are already some of the most green people in the city, and says that they're not going green because it's trendy, but because it's right.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
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