DAVIDSON – John Marshall Custom Homes recently completed just the second home in Davidson to achieve the internationally recognized green-building certification known as LEED.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental, and the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded LEED Silver certification to the home at 631 James Alexander Way in downtown Davidson, according to Rodney Graham, owner of John Marshall Custom Homes. To earn the prestigious rating, homes undergo a technically rigorous process that includes a home-energy rating and onsite inspections to verify the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound and a healthier place to live.

John Marshall Custom Homes also built the first LEED-certified home in Davidson in 2010 at 233 Catawba Ave. Green homes enjoy substantially lower utility bills and may qualify for advantageous financing, lower insurance rates and government incentives, Graham said.

The three-bedroom home in Davidson Springs features low-e argon windows, a conditioned crawl space and attic, spray foam insulation, instantaneous water heaters, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency gas furnaces and air conditioners and mechanical ventilation.

Find more information at the John Marshall website, www.johnmarshallcustomhomes.com, or at facebook.com/greenbuilder.