EcoLogic Developments

Eco comes from the Greek word oikos meaning "home."  Logic also comes a Greek word, logos, meaning "rationality."  EcoLogic, then, means the "rationality of home."  Further, the prefix Eco has come to denote environmental concerns as the modern disicpline of ecology has taught us to understand the earth as our ultimate home.  Thus, EcoLogic Developments strives to take the logic of long term environmental concerns as the foundation for a rational approach to creating human habitations.   

The Quest for Sustainability

Defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations, sustainability is the elusive ideal that we are pursuing.  EcoLogic is a triple bottom line company that seeks to be an agent for social and environmental progress while also being profitable.  We recognize that we fall short of true sustainability in many ways, but our belief is that moving from what is the case towards what ought to be the case is the very essence of ethical behavior for a business, or an individual/family.   

Our Story

( My thanks to Frank Ruggiero at the Mountain Times for the original story, which I have updated and corrected a bit.) 

Dr. Andrew Saldino has heard all of the arguments that an education in Philosophy is entirely impractical, and he isn’t buying it.  “I believe that the most abstract education is really the most practical one--because this kind of learning teaches you how to think and discover what’s important, and there’s no formulas for learning those things.”
The former Lees-McRae College philosophy professor encouraged his students not just to think about how to solve problems, but which problems are really worth solving.

In starting a company, EcoLogic Developments, and working to create a new, environmentally oriented subdivision in Boone, Saldino thinks he’s found a problem worth solving, and he's practicing what he preached by trying to implement his lofty principles into the business world.

The subdivision is called Weekapaug Grove, and it is aiming to be the greenest subdivision in Boone.

The name has a twofold meaning. "Weekapaug" is Native American for "edge of the water," and the property is situated near two perennial streams that feed Kraut Creek, of which Saldino is a fan. It also references "Weekapaug Groove," a popular tune from jam stalwarts Phish, of whom Saldino's a phan.

Located on Junaluska Road, within walking distance to downtown Boone and Appalachian State University, Weekapaug Grove, still under construction, doesn't only boast picturesque views of the surrounding mountains, but green building practices that go above and beyond regulation and recommendation.

In developing Weekapaug Grove, Saldino was determined that it meet his own criteria for pushing the envelope of sustainability in Boone.

Defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meets their own needs, Saldino believes that the core principles of residential sustainability are, in order of importance, “Location, Intelligent Construction, Compact Design, Solar Orientation and Design, Resource Protection, Community Orientation, Renewable Energy, Growing Food, and Imagination.” 

Saldino explains how some of these principles apply to Weekapaug Grove.  “First, where you live is as important as how you live, environmentally speaking.  If you build an incredibly green house, but you do it 10 miles out of town and have to drive there everyday, then you are mitigating a lot of good that you are doing.  So the most environmentally friendly thing about this place is that is right in town, and if you want, you can walk or ride your bike to everything Boone has to offer.
“Every lot and house on the development has excellent southern exposure, so we can utilize the sun’s energy to heat our houses in the long Boone winters.  Also, every house in the development has to meet third party environmental certification standards, and of the four houses already built, three are Healthy Built Home Gold, and one is LEED platinum, which is the highest you can get.”

In addition to this, the community also features a 1.4 shared common space that is the centerpiece of the development.  “This is the best land in the entire development,” Saldino says, “and it is going to be a wonderful park with a large shared vegetable garden area, a composting system, rain water catchment, and an incredible permaculture design to maximize the amount of food that we can produce on site.”   The site used to be an old orchard, and many mature apple and cherry trees still dot the property.

The other elements are green icing on an organic cake. The development boasts four large bioretention areas (also known as rain gardens), which will be used to control all storm water runoff, keeping it on premise rather than in the streams.  Stormwater runoff causes both flooding downstream and significant pollution of our waterways.

"The idea is that none of the storm water from the site leaves the site, but gets filtered back into the ground, which, eventually, purifies it, and allows the trout downstream to keep more of our industrial pollution out of their bodies, " Saldino said.

"It's costly and difficult to do this kind of bioretention system, and to my knowledge no other development in Boone has done this," said Saldino, who admits to receiving a few funny looks from contractors when pitching the job. "But part of it is putting your money where your mouth is. I am proud of what we are doing here, but in the end I realize that this is only a baby step toward truly sustainable development.  There is still an awful lot of resource consumption involved here, and my hope is that those who choose to get involved in this project will push it in a more sustainable direction with their choices for how to build and collectively manage the common space.  Hopefully we’ll have a plug in electric vehicle owned by the community, and other innovations like that, but that will depend on who comes abroad.  I would rather set a good framework and let inspiration continue to guide the development "

Saldino is cautious about what he can and should try to do as a developer.
"As a green developer, there's a fine line to navigate between providing what the market wants on one hand and trying to push the market towards more sustainability.  There's only so many people willing to pay for being green. Should I put solar hot water on the roof when it raises the cost of a house $8000 and payback on that investment (even with the tax credits) will probably be almost 20 years.  At this stage, I’d rather drop the price by $8000, prep the unit for solar hot water, and let whomever buys the unit decide if they want to make that investment.  If I get too aggressively green in my buildings, I may price myself right out of the market and not be able to make it.  If I can’t stay in business, then my principles mean next to nothing in real life.”

“I am trying to create an ethical company, and to me, that means moving from what is the case towards what ought to be the case,” Saldino states. 

Dr. Saldino is a self-proclaimed "developer by accident," resigned from his professorship in May 2009 to develop Weekapaug, which he considers a "project of philosophy in action."  He now heads EcoLogic Developments, a company "in pursuit of sustainable living."

"Two of my favorite courses to teach were logic and environmental ethics," he said. "In starting this business, I felt like we desperately need an approach to land development that understands and respects the deep impact of our choices as consumers of real estate on the planet earth and its inhabitants.  If we can’t figure out to consume less, a lot less, we are big trouble,” Saldino professes.  “And it is real question in my mind as to whether our modern lifestyle is compatible with the aims of sustainability.”

Saldino admits he has no training as a developer, "but I can read, think, and figure out who to talk to." He's also contracted who he calls the best of the best when it comes to green development, including designer Adrian Tait with GreenMan Studios and David Bennert of Asheville-based Innova Homes.

Saldino bought the 3.5 acres of land in May 2008, devoting two years of planning and execution to reach its present state - two townhouses and two single-family homes to be completed by the end of July, with six remaining lots.  Currently two townhouses and six lots remain for sale.

Weekapaug Grove will host an open house on Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., showcasing the homes, lots and common space. All visitors can sign-in for a chance to win a $200 raffle.

And why should people visit?

“How does walking to town with a great view of mountains sound to you?  Better yet, how does a $50 per month estimated winter energy bill sound?  These townhouse are tight.  Really tight.  And made to last.”


Weekapaug Grove is located at 493 Junaluska Road. Heading northbound on King Street, turn right on Water Street and follow signs to the open house.