Eco-Friendly: Neighborly Johns Island community gearing up for new phase of energy-saving homes

  • Saturday, July 21th, 2012
    Rocking chairs mark the front porch of this two-story residence in The Villages, which is known for its laid-back style (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    Rocking chairs mark the front porch of this two-story residence in The Villages, which is known for its laid-back style (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A trio propel themselves via skates and scooter along one of the neighborhood lanes. The Villages sports a mix of families, young professionals and retirees (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A trio propel themselves via skates and scooter along one of the neighborhood lanes. The Villages sports a mix of families, young professionals and retirees (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A hammock is an appropriate furniture choice for one of the many front porches (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A hammock is an appropriate furniture choice for one of the many front porches (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A resident at The Villages in St. John’s Woods uses a rotary mower to cut the grass, indicative of the community’s sustainable nature (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A resident at The Villages in St. John’s Woods uses a rotary mower to cut the grass, indicative of the community’s sustainable nature (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A colorful vine grows up this mailbox pole in the 148-home community on Johns Island. The neighborhood has 148 houses (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    A colorful vine grows up this mailbox pole in the 148-home community on Johns Island. The neighborhood has 148 houses (Photo by Laura Olsen/Olsen Imagery).

    This cutaway shows the formidable shape of a structural insulated panel. Charleston-based Amerisips is using the SIPs to reduce energy costs in its homes at The Village Place, a new phase of The Villages in St. John’s Woods (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff).

    This cutaway shows the formidable shape of a structural insulated panel. Charleston-based Amerisips is using the SIPs to reduce energy costs in its homes at The Village Place, a new phase of The Villages in St. John’s Woods (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff). Buy this photo

    Plumbing lines lead from rooms to rids in the Amerisips houses, so that water can be turned off individually to work on a leak (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff ).

    Plumbing lines lead from rooms to rids in the Amerisips houses, so that water can be turned off individually to work on a leak (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff ). Buy this photo

    Apollo Systems solar panels like this one attach to the roof and double as shingles. CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain manufactures the product and Amerisips is installing the high-end equipment in its homes at The Village Place (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff).

    Apollo Systems solar panels like this one attach to the roof and double as shingles. CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain manufactures the product and Amerisips is installing the high-end equipment in its homes at The Village Place (Photo by Jim Parker/Staff). Buy this photo