Sweet Fern Wins EEBA Excellence Award

We are thrilled to share that Alair Asheville | Red Tree Builders has been honored with the EEBA Excellence Award for ZERH Custom Home Over 2,500 sq. ft. for our project, Sweet Fern. This national recognition from the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) celebrates homes that set the benchmark for high-performance, healthy, and resilient design  –  and Sweet Fern embodies all of these qualities.

A Home Designed for Resilience and Energy Independence

The 2,974-square-foot Sweet Fern Residence was designed from the ground up to be fully electric, net-positive, and able to operate independently of the grid. At the heart of this home is a forward-thinking energy package that integrates a SPAN Smart Panel, a 10.5–11 kW rooftop solar array, and three Tesla Powerwalls, creating a system that is both elegant and powerful.

With a HERS score of -9, Sweet Fern produces more energy than it consumes  –  a milestone that reflects not just efficiency, but true energy autonomy.

Intelligent Energy Management with SPAN + Tesla Powerwalls

Unlike many projects where renewable systems are treated as add-ons, Sweet Fern’s energy solution was part of the design conversation from day one.

• The SPAN Smart Panel allows the homeowners to monitor and control every circuit in real time, ensuring critical loads like HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting are prioritized during an outage.
• Tesla Powerwalls (40.5 kWh of storage) allow the home to run for extended periods off-grid without sacrificing comfort.
• Thoughtful planning of panel locations, conduit runs, and battery placement maximized performance while keeping the system visually unobtrusive.

The result is a seamless, intuitive energy system that eliminates the guesswork of traditional backup systems, providing peace of mind no matter the weather or grid conditions.

Beyond Code  –  Setting a New Standard

Sweet Fern does more than check the boxes for today’s green building standards  –  it points toward the future of sustainable living. Alongside its renewable energy package, the home features:

• Geothermal HVAC system for efficient, even heating and cooling
• Smart ventilation systems to maintain healthy indoor air quality
• Heat pump water heater to reduce energy use even further

Together, these systems create a home that is not only beautiful but also prepared for the challenges of a changing climate.

A Model for the Future of Homebuilding

For Alair Asheville | Red Tree Builders, Sweet Fern represents the next evolution of custom homebuilding: where technology, sustainability, and design work together to create homes that are as resilient as they are refined.

This EEBA Excellence Award is a testament to the vision of our clients, the dedication of our team, and the potential for residential construction to lead the way toward a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable future.