 DosVesta is in a Portland neighborhood that has caught EnviroCitizen.org's attention. This home fits right in with its green surroundings. The multitude of green touches attest to the amount of thought and effort that was put into this design. The inside is absolutely beautiful and is further enhanced by natural light during the day. The exterior is equally remarkable. In an area of the country known for its green practices, this project was featured on the Build-It-Green tour of homes. It is a wonderful way to demonstrate green living.
For energy use and generation, there were lots of things done to earn en excellent green building rating. Renewable energy was purchased so that the unit can be off the grid, meaning that the unit doesn't use conventional energy. In fact, the building has earned an Energy rating of 80-99; a rating that means that the building is almost as efficient as a building can get. Each unit has a programmable thermostat. For the appliances and equipment, only units that meet ENERGY STAR standards were chosen. The heating system is also very high efficiency. The windows open to cut on cooling costs as well. When it comes to lighting, energy-efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs were chosen. Skylights and other natural lighting features were strategically planned as well. Innovative technology such as motion sensor controls were installed so unoccupied rooms don't use unnecessary energy. With all of these green features, it is no wonder the home is recognized within the green community.
Water conservation practices are practiced regularly. To encourage smart water use, there is a rainwater harvesting system which uses rain barrels to capture and harvest the rain. Water heating is done using a high-efficiency water heater turned down to 120 degrees so that no more energy is used than necessary to heat the water. Insulated water pipes or tanks are in place to ensure no heat goes wasted once the water is heated.
Building materials were carefully chosen throughout the construction process, too. Low-VOC interior paints and adhesives were used and water-based wood finishes were used on all floors and panels. The floors themselves were even built from renewable bamboo. Any other wood used is FSC-certified so you can be sure that it came from a sustainably harvested source. For the elements that are new construction, the materials were sourced locally. Fiber-cement exterior siding was used which is an eco-friendly material. During construction there was a minimal use of new materials. For materials including the carpets, the Reclaim program will be used for the materials once it is time to replace them.
EnviroCitizen.org believes that this project was a truly fantastic feat with more features than we can describe. This home is now fully furnished and ready to go. The goal of this project was to create a retreat-style haven where people can become more in touch with the beauty of the Earth itself, and EnviroCitizen.org believes they have successfully fulfilled this vision.
|
