 After constructing more than 15,000 green homes, Pulte Homes has built more ENERGY STAR homes than any other builder in the US to date. In communities nationwide, Pulte Homes ENERGY STAR appliances, low-flow toilets, low emissions windows, right-sized heating and cooling systems and tight building envelopes, which help reduce energy loss. In some southwest communities, Pulte Homes include water conservation and re-use landscape designs.
Pulte's Sierra Morado community in Tucson is part of the master-planned Community of Civano, which has been designed to integrate residential living with shopping, workplace and education in a concept called mixed use. It helps achieve green living, but also makes aggressive sustainability goals that include:
- Reducing potable water consumption among residents by 65 percent.
- Reducing home energy consumption by 50 percent.
- Reducing internal vehicle miles by 40 percent.
- Reducing landfill-destined solid waste.
- Creation and operation of a community nursery, garden and learning center
Pulte has developed a system for reducing landscaping water usage through outdoor water-saving tactics and systems, and has also installed dual flush low-flow toilets and tankless hot-water heaters in Sierra Morado homes. They do this to allow the homes to consume less water despite the fact that they are located in a desert climate. As a result of the insulated hot water pipes, less hot water is wasted as it travels to its destination (your tub, sink, etc.) while maintaining a much more consistent desired temperature. This saves homeowners in both energy and water consumption as water does not have to be run for an extended period of time in order to achieve the right temperature, nor does temperature fluctuate, causing the user to run the water again.
Other home communities have taken similar measures as well as other special characterstics. Some have special windows, paints and other unique amenities that exceed local standards for sustainable buildings. Future homeowners can look forward to similar developments from Pulte Homes as they continue to build communities and individuals homes that promote green lifestyles and sustainability. Through their efforts to create energy-efficient homes that conserve other natural resources such as water, EnviroCitizen.org is not surprised that Pulte Homes has been recognized for their projects and efforts within the building industry as well as the green community. One can only hope that other companies will follow in their footsteps and begin making eco-friendly, energy-efficient homes more accessible to the majority of the population.
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