Click on image for slideshow Click here to download this home's product data sheet.

Clark Residence 2011 Green Leaf Award recipient for: Exemplary - Indoor Air Quality Owner: Jack Clark Builder: Mark Giorgetti, Palo Santo Designs LLC Size: 1,558 SF New construction, completed May 2011 Certifications: Pursuing LEED-H Gold, estimated HERS index: 24

Sustainable Features:

• Landscape/Site - “No disturbance” zones clearly established on site to minimize disturbance to native landscape during construction, revegetated disturbed areas with native grass hydro-seed.

• Water Efficiency - Very high efficiency plumbing fixtures, including 1.5 gpm faucets, shower head, and a 1.2 gpf (average) dual flush toilet; short plumbing runs; 100 % of the roof rain water is collected in 2,200 gallon storage for irrigation.

• Energy Efficiency - Passive solar design, using to the NMSEA guidelines, including high U-Factor windows and doors, appropriately designed overhangs, fenestration sizing, high thermal mass interior walls, earthen floors and earthen plasters; high performance building envelope with thermal bypass inspection; 95% efficient furnace; no A/C; CFL and LED lighting and ENERGY STAR® appliances and ventilation; 2.5 kW grid tied photovoltaic array and solar thermal sized for domestic hot water, with built-in expansion designed for future solar thermal space heating; main heating source is biomass.

• Materials/Resource Efficiency - Rubble trench foundations and earthen floors to minimize concrete use; earthen plasters with low embodied energy; framing waste factor less than 10%;  all recyclable waste materials diverted from landfill; advanced framing to reduce wood; certified wood; pumicecrete and adobe wall systems use local materials; adobes salvaged from local demolition project; 

• Indoor Environmental Quality - Natural and non-toxic wall and floor materials and finishes; low-VOC paints, stains and adhesives; heat recovery ventilator with HEPA filtration; radon-proof foundation; garage/car port detached and unheated; daylighting with glare control.

• Innovation in Design/Features - An integrated design team approach has been used throughout the design and construction process, with close collaboration with our HERS/Green Raters, project owner, and key sub-contractors to maximize the cost-effective energy efficiency and green features within a proposed budget and with the use of non-conventional, local and low embodied energy building materials. Active and passive solar has been maximized within the budget and built-in capacity for increased renewable energy usage has been designed for the future. 
  

"This house uses local, natural, non-toxic materials like pumicecrete, adobe and earthen plasters to create a healthy, comfortable living environment."