Imagine a home that warms up the floor on chilly mornings before you even get out of bed. Or how about having the ability to control everything from lighting, music, and window shades from a single control panel? These conveniences might seem like luxuries reserved for Hollywood stars but they are, in fact, elements of good design and a sign of the growing convergence of innovative technology and sustainable applications.

For Bill and Janet Dorf, these and other automated features make living in their Reems Creek Village smart house convenient, enjoyable, and environmentally responsible. Bill is a creative soul who retired at the ripe old age of 36 from a successful career as a New York handbag designer (Bags by Bill Dorf). A constant thinker, he found that idle time did not settle well with his innovative nature. After moving to Asheville, he obtained his real estate license and soon began learning the art of homebuilding as well the application of new science to create smarter, greener homes.

Bill’s first project was a sprawling, 7,000-square-foot residence and education center called, The Center for Advanced Building Technologies. The home was featured in the Parade of Homes, but the idea of whole-house systems integration, or eHome, was new and there was not a lot of interest. His enthusiasm, however, was not daunted. Understanding the value of good design, solid technology, and efficient building, he was confident the idea would take hold. So confident, in fact, that he went on to get his contractor’s license, buy a 125- acre parcel in Weaverville and create Reems Creek Village.

Bill and Janet now live in the home Bill custom designed as a showcase model. The 4,200-square-foot stone and stucco home is beautifully appointed with 10-, 12- and 20-foot coffered and tray ceilings, Venetian plastered walls, four direct vent gas fireplaces, and mosaic stone tiled floors. Built in cabinetry and detailed moldings create a luxurious environment. Although these aesthetic appointments are impressive, it’s what you can’t see that gives this home its great value. “The contractor has both the opportunity and the responsibility to meld the art of the architect, the craftsmanship of the tradesman, the knowledge of the building scientist, and the concerns for the environment,” says Bill.

The whole-house system integration includes computerized lighting, recirculating hot water, sound systems, motorized shades, and water leak protection. The home is wrapped in a corrugated plastic preventing water vapor from entering the foam filled walls. Soundproofing gaskets are placed between the drywall and framing. Rinnai tank-less hot water heaters conserve energy. The energy recovery HEPA air filtration and whole-house water filtration systems create a healthy indoor environment. There’s also a central vac and a 20-kilowatt generator, a four-zone digital programmable thermostat, surge protection, and a remote leak protection unit that shuts the main water off as soon a leak is detected anywhere in the house.

Bill is applying his design savvy to every eHome in Reems Creek Village, which serves as an example that luxury and convenience can reside harmoniously with environmental stewardship.