The grass is always greener...
by Jay Ferracane
As soon as our first son was born, we realized that from a physical location and an eco-conscience standpoint, we were not where we wanted to be. We knew there had to be a better place, and we knew that there had to be a better way.
Our hurried lifestyle in the ever-increasingly material and wasteful environs of the Silicon Valley needed to change for the benefit of our children and ourselves. We embarked upon a series of trips to find that place. We called these our “Grass Is Greener” tours. As it happened, the “green” in our ad-hoc-titled search would turn out to have multiple interpretations, the closer we got to this new place.
We traveled across the United States, literally, trying to find the right place. After five years of searching, considering, visiting, reconsidering, second-guessing, revisiting, we found the right place: Boulder, Colorado.
This whole effort began with the future in mind—not just our own future, but that of our children. We soon realized there was an inherent consideration that we had to include in our future—the future of our greater home—the earth.
We had always done what we could to make sure our family impacted the earth in positive rather than negative ways. Continuing to do what we could as good stewards of the earth in a conventional home clearly was not an option for us once we found the thinking, conscience, and craftsmanship that went into 1579 Redwood. From the first time we visited the house, which was right in the middle of construction, we knew there was something special about the connection between our family, the house and the earth. Here is where our “Grass is Greener” tour took on its deeper meaning. Green is such a catchphrase these days, but it is the foundation upon which this house was built. From the materials used to the way the house sits on the lot and interacts with the earth and sun, to the way a family would inhabit it, all revolved around a core principle of sustainability. The house is more than the sum of its parts. The home is the product of a vision for a better future, seen by its creators for its new family, far before we came on the scene. Our solar home, with all its considerations of how we all fit into the world we share, makes sense. |
THE FACTS
Contractors
Energy Features
- Passive solar design
- Drywall acting as thermal mass
- 3.5kW grid-tied PV system
- Space heating and cooling provided by a hybrid heat pump
- Heat-recovery ventilation
- Large-capacity tankless water heater
- CFLs
- Energy-efficient windows
- Blown-in insulation in walls and ceiling, and rigid foam board insulation
- Programmable thermostat
- Energy star appliances
Green Features
- Green Points: 112
- Advanced framing techniques
- Use of engineered lumber
- Fiber-cement exterior siding
- Bamboo flooring, wool carpets,
marmoleum
- Natural quartz countertop material
- No-VOC paints, low-VOC varnishes and glues
- Eco-cabinets, FSC wood doors
- Humidifier and advanced filter
Water Features
- Xeriscape and low-water lawn
- Drip irrigation
- Pervious pavement
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Re-Use/Salvage Features
- Utilized construction & demolition waste
- Most furniture is recycled or made from recycled materials
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