Charlotte startup Atmos is going green with a push into the Triangle.
The custom home-building platform is partnering with industry professionals in the region to build North Carolina's first net-zero energy neighborhood. This means each home will produce as much energy as it consumes.
Nick Donahue, Austin Kahn and Matt Rastovac launched the platform in late 2019 to give potential homebuilders the ability to create the home of their dreams. Atmos' online platform makes a selection of vetted local Realtors, architects and contractors available in one place, allowing users to customize their home-building experience from conception to move-in.
Donahue said that though Atmos is already operational in the Triangle, its main focus has been on the Charlotte market. Now, however, the startup is ready to deepen its presence in the region.
"We’ve been hyper focused on the Charlotte market, so we haven’t been doing the things in Raleigh and Durham that we've done there," he said. This is our first real push to double down in (the Triangle) now that we feel like we’ve figured out a strategy that works in Charlotte really well."
Donahue said Real Estate Experts broker-owner Jodi Bakst, who specializes in green builds, approached Atmos several months ago about partnering on the Chapel Hill-based development project. He said the startup was tasked with customer acquisition, working with the developer and builders, and floor plan customization.
The development, called Array, will be 60 acres with at least 12 custom-built, net-zero energy homes. Each property will have rooftop solar panels, an electric vehicle supply and a harvest stormwater for landscaping. The community will include open green space, a central pond, walking trails and a garden.
"This is the first of its kind in North Carolina and hopefully not the last ... I think this is a great trial run to help people see what’s possible," he said. "The customer base is a very tight, niche group, and in general, people very much like to be part of a community and not just feel like they’re in some track neighborhood."
The homes are expected to cost about 50% more per square foot than the Triangle region's average new build. Donahue said five of the homes are already pre-sold, and those customers will likely spend upward of $1 million. Construction on the homes will begin in mid-2022, shortly after the roads are completed.
"This kind of build requires a certain amount of scale to get the cost down," he said. "As more and more people see that it’s possible, more will move in this direction as long as we can continue to make it look enticing and easy."
Eventually, Donahue said, the goal is to bring similar developments to Charlotte and other markets.
"I think the point of this is, hopefully, showing net neutrality is possible, and that honestly is the key for us," he said. "We’re trying to see if this is feasible and something we can do in Charlotte or anywhere we are."
