A new home going up in Contra Costa county, California is soon to be rated one of the greenest most sustainable new homes in the bay area. The home built by contractor Joseph Metz exceeds the rating system established by the Bay area organization Build It Green by over three times the minimum!
So what makes this house so green?
Let’s start with the heating, which radiates from the floor with solar hot water as the source. Say goodbye to cold floors! From the ground up this adds comfy warmth and an evenly controlled temperature thru out without any of the high dust residue of conventional heating systems. Further enhancing this warm atmosphere is a comfort barrier inherent in the airtight construction. It’s like the whole house is protected by a soothing blanket- with lots of windows! In fact every thing about this house from the reflective roof to the 24†overhang to the duo pane windows and doors keeps it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And good news for the consumer, with solar electric panels one can expect the monthly utility bill to be down to the base rate of “around 12 bucks a month,†says Metz. Not only economically wise but also this solar electric system helps reduce our dependence on coal and natural gas power plants adding to helping to improve the quality of life for the entire planet.
Another green aspect of the home is reduced indoor air pollution. Many typical building materials give off toxins. When your children sit on the carpet for example, they are breathing in various invisible poisons. The EPA has stated that the quality of indoor air can sometimes be up to 100 times worse than the outside. This home’s construction minimizes potentially toxic materials by using no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint indoors and low VOC paints outdoors for example. The interior is designed without using wall-to-wall carpets that typically trap biological hazards or vinyl, which exude toxins. Air is circulated by a state of the art ventilation system, which delivers the cleanest filtered out door air into the house and lessens indoor air pollution, enhancing health and quality of life issues.
Built by reducing waste by 80%, there were no waste dumpsters even needed at the construction site. The walls are constructed not in the conventional way which typically clogs up our landfills, but instead uses a technology of structurally integrated panels which are factory cut resulting in a much more efficient use of materials and it turns out to be a much better insulator as well. All the concrete on the site has used cement mixed with fly ash and slag, which removes toxins from the waste stream and creates a stronger, more earthquake resistant foundation.
The second floor will have bamboo flooring which is readily renewable and beautiful recycled light fixtures thru out are used whenever possible. Plans are in the works for the landscaping which will use native seeds and plants, which means low maintenance- no more mowing or wasteful water usage.
What people perceive when they hear ‘green’ usually means cold, cheap and ugly. In actuality, the basic 3 R’s, reduce, reuse and recycle is what green construction is all about. On Teresa Street in Martinez, this means efficiency, elegance and excellent craftsmanship. But the biggest benefit is that it helps preserve our environment. As Metz sums it up, “I think we need to start taking care of each other and the world we live in. The best way for us to do that is to build as green a home for myself and for others as well.â€
For further information contact:
Klaus Chalupa 415-412-2370
Or
Joseph Metz 510-710-3939
For technical information contact [email protected]
For price quotes contact [email protected]