Atlanta Magazine’s Home
March/April 2008
Earth! Fire! Wind! Water! Heart! The forces of nature, which empowered Captain Planet, are now driving EcoManor – the new home of Rutherford and Laura Turner Seydel, who are known for supporting the environmental education foundation named after their favorite animated superhero, which Laura heads. The Seydels – co-founders of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Fund, who have been recognized by the Georgia Conservancy as among the state’s top environmentalists – seized the opportunity to build “green” when a 350-year-old oak fell on their guesthouse. “It is about lifestyle for us,” explains Laura. “I’m an avid recycler. We drive hybrid cars, and we fill every seat belt. We eat locally grown and organic food. The house was just the next step.” Their $1.5-million Peachtree Battle-area home was the first private residence ever to earn certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the EarthCraft House, and the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat programs.
