As the award-winning building company that has pioneered to set the standard in healthy, green home building in the Triangle as well as North Carolina at large, M Squared Builders and Designers is achieving new heights as the preferred builder at Rougemont’s Elderberry Retirement Village, a rural co-housing “eco-village.” Best described as a creative alternative to urban living, Elderberry will consist, at its completion, of 18 green and energy efficient homes at a maximum of 1,200 square feet each. The community is located 30 minutes north of Downtown Durham on a picturesque 10-acre property, offering  space for farm animals, organic food and flower gardens, wooded trails, a central courtyard, and a Common House for cooking, eating, entertaining, crafting, and other special events. All of these amenities combine to provide residents the ability to live simply and sustainably, in a village where they can support each other as they grow older.

M Squared Builders and Designers President Michele Myers has been a part of Elderberry since the community’s inception. “We liked Michele from the start,” says Mary Bennett, one of the Elderberry developers. “We like the fact that her company is local and we like that she only builds certified green and healthy, energy efficient homes. Even more, we like that M Squared has adhered to these principles for many years – Long before it became a popular thing to do. When we asked around, from bankers to home owners, we found that Michele and M Squared have a stellar reputation. Having M Squared at Elderberry is a perfect fit.”

M Squared is equally pleased to be part of the team at Elderberry. “It’s exciting to see healthy, green, and energy efficient housing become mainstream,” says Michele. “As Mary said, we’ve been building this way since the late ‘90s; most often, however, in larger homes. We’re delighted to fill this need in a smaller footprint.”

Home owners at Elderberry are delighted as well. “I can’t say enough good things about M Squared,” says home owner Rosemarie Sawdon. “The entire M Squared team was extremely helpful in customizing the plan for my home. I’d been through the home building process in previous homes and I knew what I wanted in this home. Having worked for the environment for many years, I was impressed with Michele’s knowledge in green building. She kept her word on everything she said she would do for me, at the price that was in the contract. Although I had down-sized several times, I fretted a little about moving into a 1,200 square foot home. I’m happy to say that my home has a spacious feel and I don’t feel cramped at all. If I were to do it again, I would absolutely choose M Squared again.”

Jeff Everson has similar sentiments. “My wife Anne and I are still getting settled into our home, as it was just completed in January. We love it! We’re first-time home owners, so we needed a lot of hand holding throughout the building process. We had lots of questions, and everyone on the M Squared team gave us good advice. We now have a 1,000 square foot home that feels much bigger… They worked with us on tweaking a plan to make it right for us. We love the fact that our home is tight and solid; we don’t feel air intrusion the way we did our previous apartment. Michele explained the building process to us, showing us why she takes certain steps and uses specific materials. Once we went through the design phase and pricing was quoted, no prices increased. We’re very happy with our home.”

An M Squared duplex of two homes in Elderberry is on this year’s Green Home Tour, sponsored by Green Home Builders of the Triangle. One home is 707 square feet and the other is 1,200 square feet; both are under construction, making it easy for M Squared to show what makes these homes special as they are being built. “As a graphic designer, I had a very clear idea of what I wanted,” says Joyce Hopkins, the client for which the 1,200 square foot tour home is being built. “I’ve been working with M Squared for well over a year to design my home and bring it to fruition. Although I own a townhome and a 100 year-old restored home, I’ve never been through the building process until now. M Squared has walked me through the process, assuring me that they want my house to be perfect for me. My experience has gone very well. I’m excited about how I want to live in this home and how M Squared is helping me get there.”

Learn more about M Squared and Elderberry by visiting 92 and 94 Elderberry Lane in Rougemont during the Green Home Tour May 2 – 3, and 9 – 10, noon – 5 pm. Take Route 501 to Rougemont; turn right on Red Mountain Road. Drive approximately 3 miles and turn left on Moriah Road. Next turn left on Elderberry Lane; then right into the parking lot. The homes are on the right. Also learn more about M Squared and Elderberry by visiting www.msquaredbuilders.com and www.elderberrycohousing.com.