For example, creating a natural sound barrier is integral for the composers cottages, as are solar collectors and passive lighting for the visual artists dwellings. We re still evaluating the interior heat systems as there is significant cost and environmental impact in introducing radiant floor heating systems, primarily with bringing gas lines up the hill, says Larry Strain. Paint, carpet and the mechanical air moving systems affect pollution and the environment the most. We ve already addressed using zero or low-VOC paint and eliminating carpet, so just the mechanical system decision is left, he continues. Most importantly, the cottages must meet the needs of the artists, so we re working to make them as green and energy efficient as possible, he adds.
Materials are one-time costs while energy is a life of building cost.
We re striving to go beyond what s mandated by Title 24 and choose the most durable, cost-efficient materials, such as metal roofs that last fifty years instead of twenty, and also make rainwater harvesting possible. Title 24 is the minimum requirement for energy efficiency for new construction, as mandated by the California state energy code. Both Stastny and Strain anticipate integrating smaller interior finish items as daily reminders to residents of the commitment to environmentally friendly design, such as soy-based resins for countertops. Even the landscaping goes beyond merely preserving the existing old-growth trees and heritage plants indigenous to the region. Two riparian corridors exist on the site and are traversed along day and night by numerous deer, birds and other woodland denizens.