In early June 2008, Hasentree was named a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary. Fewer than 75 communities have been awarded this prestigious designation nationwide, and Hasentree is one of only five in North Carolina participating in the program.

Audubon International is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), environmental education organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. The Gold Program is Audubon International's highest level Signature Program. Participants register prior to the completion of the design of the community and work closely with Audubon International to apply sound environmental conservation and sustainable development practices while planning, designing, building, and managing a development. The Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary designation is an esteemed honor recognizing high performance and the extensive measures taken in sustainable design and development.

• Creating building envelopes that limit the disturbance to the land
• Doubling the size of buffers along streams
• Saving and protecting as many trees as possible
• Using natural drainage systems and swales around structures to help manage storm water
• Using green products like certified wood, salvaged and reclaimed building materials, recycled carpeting or low VOC paint components
• Creating a Green Course program that educates architects, builders and homeowners about the green, sustainable building practices they can use when building in Hasentree
• One of the most significant things at Hasentree is the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, which will recycle up to 50 million gallons of water each year to irrigate the golf course and other community landscaping