Palomino Ridge Residence
Features:
- Energy Star appliances
- Solar thermal hot water system with supplemental tankless water heater
- Solar Photovoltaic system, providing 100% offset for electrical demand
- Very low flow plumbing fixtures
- Greywater landscape irrigation system
- Drought tolerant landscape design
- High efficiency electric heat pump heating system
- Heat recovery fresh air ventilation system
BURNS RESIDENCE
Features:
- Maximized southern exposure
- Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS)
- Photovoltaic Panels
- Large roof overhang
- Ceiling fans
- Natural daylighting
- Fluorescent lighting
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Exterior integral color plaster
- Radiant heating
- Zero-VOC paint
- 50% fly ash concrete
- Pre-painted window/roofing fascias
- Recycled glass tiles
- Wheatboard cabinetry
- Fiber-cement countertops
- Bamboo
- Sunflower-seed board
- Greywater irrigation
- Natural ventilation
Award Winner:
2004 The Sustainability Project Award for "Distinguished Residential Remodel and Garden"
2004 Santa Barbara Contractor's Association Award for "Green Building of the Year"
Complete green remodel and strategic additions to an older Riviera house; energy-efficient windows and insulation, hydronic heating, with finish wood from downed local trees.
MUSICANT
Features:
- Building energy performance exceeds Title 24 by 28%
- Foamed insulation
- All electric energy use offset by onsite solar photovoltaic:
- Radiant heated floor
- Shading, cross ventilation and ceiling fans for summer cooling
- Abundant daylighting and skylights
- LED lighting
- Natural clay interior wall finish
- 50-00 gallon rainwater cistern of cob construction
ROOT 217
Features:
A new "facade" and serving area for a “sustainable foods" fast-food restaurant on the UCSB campus. The design includes features such as a large recycled-glass serving counter, LED lighting, and a palm-wood back wall.
Materials:
- Reclaimed palmwood finish panels
- Greenguard Certified Zero VOC paints
- High Efficacy LED lighting
- Recycled glass countertop
- High recycled content decorative translucent panels
- Natural and durable material choices
VICTORIA GARDEN MEWS
Features:
- Small units
- High levels of insulation with rigid exterior insulation
- Very high efficiency windows
- Double-drywall thermal mass
- LED lighting
- Energy Star appliances
- Operable awnings
- Passive healing and cooling
- Solar hot water and tankless water heaters
- Solar electricity
- Ultra plumbing fixtures
- Gray water for irrigation
- 15.000 gallon cistern
- sustainably-harvested and reclaimed woods
- Central vacuum with HEPA fillers
- Natural clay interior walls and ceilings
TIPTON HOUSE
Site:
- Building sited to minimize disturbance to oaks and other environmentally sensitive areas
- All storm water is captured for reuse or retained on site
- Light colored terrace and site paving designed to reduce "heat island" effect
- Access road paving uses a pine resin aggregate binder in place of asphalt
- Exterior lighting is shielded to reduce light pollution
Energy:
- High levels of spray foam insulation for thermal efficiency
- Air-tight construction, high-performance windows (112 U-value, SHGC), solar shading devices
- Designed for natural cross ventilation and passive solar space heating in south-facing rooms (which convert to screened porches in summer)
- Geothermal heating and cooling (using the thermal mass of 0 degree water in an existing underground cistern)
- Solar Collector for domestic hot water
- High efficiency heating equipment and controls with third-party inspection
- Ceiling fans
- Daylighting (no lights should be needed during the day)
- Energy Star appliances
- High efficacy lighting
- Time clocks and motion sensors limit electric light usage when the building is not being used
- Very efficient Rumford-type fireplace
- Solar Photovoltaic panels supply 114% of the building's electric needs (Net-Zero energy use)
- Water: Roof rain water collected (2 cisterns at 2500 gal.) and used for flushing toilets; very efficient water fixtures
- Waterless urinals and dual flush toilets
- Drought-tolerant native landscaping (requires no irrigation).
Materials:
- Metal roofing for durability, fire resistance and solar reflectivity. Fiber-cement siding for durability and fire resistance.
- Sustainably-harvested framing and finish lumber, windows and doors
- 20 percent fly ash substituted for cement in concrete
- Exposed. polished and stained concrete floor slabs
- Reclaimed interior finish wood
- Natural clay interior wall finish
- Solid surface recycled paper countertops
- Natural linoleum countertops
- Recycled content ceramic tile
- 20 percent locally-sourced materials
The owners wanted to minimize their use of water and energy, and to maximize their use of recycled materials. Acting as their own contractor and searching for reclaimed materials and products, they consciously crafted the house to be a model for low-impact living in our region.
The water conservation story is particularly compelling:
• The landscape on the small lot has been designed, along with the house, to evoke a Greek island setting, a favorite from the owners’ travels. The yard is largely covered with attractive gravel, and the plantings of olives and fruit trees are appropriate for any Mediterranean climate.
• The roof rain water drains into four 1,000-gallon underground plastic cisterns. The stored water is pumped to a hose bibb, and the owners hand-water the plants nearest the cisterns. The water typically lasts through the summer.
• A grey water system collects waste water from sinks, showers, and the washing machine, and distributes it to fruit trees. This early system has recently been overhauled and updated.
• The owners have over 25 years of experience with these systems and are happy to share the challenges as well as the successes.
