| Homebuilders across the country will soon be looking | | | | temperatures. |
| to Santa Fe, NM as a guide and inspiration for new | | | | Santa Fe is the birthplace of the Architecture 2030 |
| levels of excellence in green and low-enviro-impact | | | | Challenge, which encourages builders nation-wide and |
| building. Santa Fe is emerging as the national leader in | | | | globally to achieve 100% carbon-neutral construction |
| green building standards, in large part with the help of | | | | of homes and buildings by the year 2030. |
| Santa Fe homebuilder Faren Dancer. | | | | The City of Santa Fe and The Santa Fe Home |
| Dancer and the Santa Fe Area Home Builders | | | | Builders Association are the first in the country to |
| Association (SFAHBA) are raising the bar on green | | | | adopt the 2030 challenge and are seeking to |
| building standards. They were instrumental in the | | | | mandate it through policy and codes. |
| city's adoption of green building codes that are based | | | | The new Santa Fe building codes establish minimal |
| on a challenge to build only carbon-neutral homes by | | | | and optimal standards in 6 categories: |
| the year 2030. The SFAHBA has 800 members | | | | Site Impact, which reflects the degree of disturbance |
| throughout Northern New Mexico. | | | | to the land where the home is built. This also includes |
| Earlier this year Dancer broke ground on a net-zero | | | | how much the site is renewed after construction. |
| home that will achieve the highest designations | | | | Energy Efficiency, which factors the net energy use |
| awarded for green home design and performance. | | | | of the house (how much produced minus how much |
| The Emerald Home, as it is called, is a pilot project | | | | used). A net-zero house produces all its own energy. |
| that will embody the highest level of the new Santa | | | | A higher performing house will produce an abundance |
| Fe building codes. | | | | of electricity, which can be sold back to the gird. |
| Dancer's design and construction blends the best of | | | | Energy efficiency is improved by insulation, |
| new technology and traditional conservation building | | | | energy-efficient appliances, energy-saving lighting, |
| principles in a high-end custom home. (See artist's | | | | passive heating and cooling, renewable energy |
| rendering.) | | | | sources (geothermal, wind, solar), and various energy |
| Here are but a few design features of The Emerald | | | | conservation techniques. |
| Home: | | | | Resource Efficiency refers to the amount of energy |
| * All cabinets, wood flooring, tiles and interior doors | | | | used to build the house. This can be ameliorated by |
| are supplied from salvaged materials. | | | | using recycled and salvaged materials, purchasing |
| * Tiles are made of 100% recycled glass. | | | | materials locally (reducing transportation fuel usage), |
| * Windows are triple glazed heat mirror windows | | | | and using construction methods that minimize energy |
| with insulated frames. | | | | use and environmental impact. |
| * The home's heat is provided by a geo-thermal | | | | Water Efficiency, which can be improved with water |
| (ground source) heating system. | | | | catchment systems, low-flow faucets and shower |
| * The home features an impressive photovoltaic (PV) | | | | heads, low-flow or dual-flush toilettes, |
| solar electric system including a PV tracker that | | | | drought-resistant landscaping, and low-water use |
| follows the sun's trajectory. | | | | evaporative cooling systems. |
| * Skylights are constructed with a solar and gel | | | | Healthy Indoor Air Quality, which is influenced by the |
| technology that will increase the insulating from the | | | | toxicity of building materials used within the house |
| typical R2 rating to R20. | | | | (carpets outgas chemical fumes and cabinets often |
| * Cellulose wall insulation, made from recycled | | | | contain formaldehyde). Long-term, an air filtration |
| newspaper, will be used throughout the home. | | | | system will ensure that the air inside a well-insulated |
| * In construction, Dancer will only use framing studs | | | | house will not get stale. |
| made from recycled scrapwood. | | | | Homeowner Education is the final category of building |
| * The interior walls will themselves be compressed | | | | standards and quite essential. As Dancer says, "You |
| earth blocks using dirt that is excavated and | | | | can build a zero-energy home, but if the homeowner |
| manufactured on-site. | | | | doesn't understand it, they will quickly lose the |
| * Wood beams and vigas (often fashioned from | | | | benefits." Homebuilders are required to provide |
| newly cut Canadian timber) will be made from | | | | specific instructions to homeowners so that they can |
| salvaged, hand-hewn beams from Minnesota. | | | | understand and properly maintain the home's design |
| * Cisterns for water catchment will deliver water by | | | | features, and most importantly, incorporate |
| a gravity-feed method, augmented by solar pumps. | | | | conservation techniques into their lifestyle. |
| * Bathrooms will be furnished with dual-flush toilettes, | | | | The construction of Dancer's Emerald Home is being |
| which offer the choice of a lighter or heavier flush. | | | | videotaped as part of an online zero energy building |
| * A hybrid evaporative cooling system will use 1/2 | | | | course made possible by a United States Green |
| the water of an ordinary system and divert its | | | | Building Council (USGBC) educational grant. This course |
| back-flush water for outdoor irrigation. | | | | will be offered by the Santa Fe Community College |
| * Absolutely no use of toxic or outgassing materials. | | | | will offer in 2009. The city of Santa Fe will also |
| That includes paint, caulks, sealants, finishes, | | | | incorporate the video in an educational program to |
| adhesives and carpet. | | | | teach builders about green building techniques. |
| * A filtered air exchange system will continuously | | | | This home is featured on the internet radio show |
| bring in fresh air without compromising interior | | | | The Renewable Minute. |