Residents and buyers at Nobility Crest, a luxurious resort-like 55+ community located in Ocean Township, Monmouth County have been seeing green and being rewarded for it- in the form of money in their wallet and better, eco-friendly surroundings.

When construction first began, the developers of Nobility Crest had already jumped on the "green" bandwagon, incorporating high impact changes into this elegant community that resulted in energy efficient homes that would be easy on the wallet and the environment alike.

First and foremost, Nobility Crest LLC partnered with Energy Star to create Energy Star qualified homes. These eco-friendly homes help protect the environment while providing residents significant savings on their utility bills.

"In 2007, we built a total of 84 Energy Star Qualified homes," asserts Marlene Santaniello, President of Nobility Crest at Ocean. "This figure is equivalent to planting 8.40 acres of trees, eliminating the emissions from 58 vehicles, and saving 32,256 pounds of coal!" She adds, "We are thrilled to be partnered with Energy Star and together, we are making great strides in protecting the environment and helping residents save money during this difficult economy. We estimate that our Energy Star homeowners have saved over $37,548 cumulatively on their utility bills."

Simple yet significant residential appointments that are adding to the "green" effect at Nobility Crest include Kohler brand low flow toilets that use 20% less water than standard toilets. Kohler water-saving sink faucets and showerheads are also used in each home and use roughly 30% less water than standard fixtures produced before 2004.

Whirlpool appliances are also used within each home and they, too, are energy-efficient and use roughly half the electricity of comparable models sold before 1993. "While this brand is slightly costlier than the generic brands often used by competing communities, their efficiency pays off in the long run," states Santaniello.

Lighting fixtures fall into the green category as well, because they employ fluorescent bulbs which typically draw a significantly lower level of energy, and again, homeowners reap the rewards in the form of lower electric bills. Motion censored lights have been installed in the common areas and gathering rooms to support energy conservation as well. Additional offerings include a variety of low or no -VOC carpets and flooring products that really support the green effort by emitting lesser amounts of volatile organic compounds.

And when considering the overall impact of building green, size matters too. "Smaller homes require fewer resources to construct and maintain," asserts Santaniello, adding that the small size of the community plays an important role as well. "The clubhouse and pool area are literally just footsteps from each home, which makes this community pedestrian friendly, thus eliminating the need to drive to and from the clubhouse."

And while green construction is often associated with stark simplicity, that's not the case here, where luxurious single level homes are nestled within stunning mid-rise buildings that evoke the essence of a five star hotel, and top-of-the line products can be found everywhere.

"We have dual Otis elevators in every building," states Santaniello, who is quick to point out that they are the best elevators money can buy, which explains why customers rarely see them in residential buildings nowadays-they are often substituted with whatever system is the cheapest-but this is not the case at Nobility Crest, where everything is done to the hilt.

The opulent common areas, corridors and soaring lobbies feature Durkin carpets, which again, are extremely expensive but highly durable and worth their cost in the long run, and really add to the upscale nature of the community.

Floor plans also support the eco-friendly effort, by using oversized windows and nine foot ceilings that allow for plenty of natural light. In addition many of the kitchens are open and flow directly into the living area, making the homes feel spacious yet cozy.

In addition to impressive architectural and designer accents, there is a 4300 square foot clubhouse featuring a fitness center, along with a luxurious lounge, computer and billiard rooms. In the courtyard outside sits an impressive heated beach entrance pool & whirlpool spa, putting green, bocce court, and life size chess set. Beautifully decorated theme rooms are also located within each building, and include a library, card room and movie theatre.

Nobility Crest also offers an outstanding location that includes close proximity to beautiful beaches, championship golf courses, and restaurants, thus eliminating the need to drive long distances. And for those who frequent New York and Atlantic City, the drive is roughly one hour. "It's the best of both worlds here in terms of accessibility and location," claims Santaniello. "Upscale surroundings in a secluded park-like setting, yet everything, including the gorgeous beaches of Avon & Spring Lake are close by."

For buyers who've always wanted a place down the shore, there are still a limited number of quick delivery homes available; all offering fantastic incentives that reflect thousands of dollars in savings and have been specially priced for a limited time only.

Interested customers can view Nobility Crest's on site sales center, which is open daily from 10 am - 6 pm, and offers several beautifully decorated models. Prices begin the $300,000's. For more information, please call (732) 922-3377.