Located on a site in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as it meets the high mountain desert, Doug McDowell and Jim Satzinger have collaborated to develop a family Casa that combines Santa Fe’s rich human history with environmentally intelligent practices and spacious human scale design. In addition full vistas of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and sunrise and sunset can be appreciated from the homes integrated portal.
As part of McDowell Satzinger commitment to Healthy Living, the Residence at Casa de Las Lomas will include several strategies of health and sustainability to provide the owners with a high performance built environment that is in balance with the surrounding natural landscape. McDowell Satzinger Fine Homes stated design goals include promoting optimal health and well being by creating healthy buildings, and holistic environments; all while using an approach to provide a comfortable and spacious experience of a large custom home within a smaller sized home. Sensitivity to durability, longevity, and low life-cycle costs all serve to protect the owner’s investment, as well as McDowell Satzinger’s approach to sustainability. Thoughtful attention to social and psychological sustainability has resulted in buildings carefully oriented to optimize day-lighting and exterior views, as well as land developed in such a manner as to provide protected view sheds. The creation of a strong connection to the Southwestern landscape, color, light and history is crucial to evoking one’s deeper sense of well being and the goal to help people experience a healthy energy efficient home and a balanced lifestyle.
In addition, seven interest areas derived from the United States Green Building Council have been identified as a way of facilitating and measuring what may constitute healthy and sustainable design.
•Innovation and the careful attention to the design process help ensure durability and quality control, while allowing new technologies or initiatives to influence the design. Jim Satzinger holds a Leed Certified Professional Certification and his knowledge have led an integrated design team that worked closely together throughout the entire design and construction process. Built by McDowell Satzinger, which combines two of the best known and highly respected custom homebuilders and designers in one project.
•Striving to build sustainable sites encourages the use of locally appropriate, native landscape materials, careful control of erosion, site runoff and pollution, as well as attention to materials that could negatively affect the surrounding landscape. The site of the casa will include plant species native to the High Mountain Southwestern desert, and direct water into vegetated natural arroyos to slow runoff, allowing water to percolate and recharge the site. Pocket gardens and select water features will attract birds & local wildlife.
•Crucial to the desert climate, are strategies of water efficiency. An effort to reduce the demand for fresh water through the use of efficient, high performance design will help to protect this precious resource. The Villas will reduce demand for water with careful landscape choices, as well as deliver water more efficiently with a high efficiency irrigation system, and high performance interior plumbing fixtures. Examples include dual flush toilets, low flow sinks and aerated shower heads that deliver the feel of luxury while using less water.
•The use of energy and a buildings effect on the atmosphere is an area of concern striving to lessen energy demand and the associated release of harmful compounds into the atmosphere. The Casa uses methods such as Double Core Insulated construction at the exterior walls and high performance windows to contribute to an energy saving building envelope. Deep overhangs keep direct sunlight off the glass, and thick masonry floors with radiant in floor heating reduce temperature fluctuations in the home by their “thermal mass.” Other energy saving strategies at the Villas include highly efficient appliances, solar heated hot water, as well as very efficient mechanical systems. A synergy was developed with The General Electric Company and Masco Corporation. McDowell Satzinger are a certified ecomagination homebuilder and are complying with The Environments for Living Program. These programs combine the best of today’s technology, sustainability and green construction methods and materials while also providing the Owner with a third party verification for the Green Certification, Leed Certification and Heating and Cooling Warranty. Masco will provide extensive onsite testing at no cost to verify proper installation and quality control. This was done as part of the GE’s ecomagination Home Builders Program and Environments for Living initiative to reduce energy consumption, reduce utility rates paid by the owner, and guarantee the owners’ comfort in their homes.
•Smart choices of materials and resources make a huge difference on how the Casa feels feel and how it impacts the environment. Also, by reducing construction waste through waste management planning, efficient construction and purchasing, demand for raw material is minimized. The design employs the use of natural and traditional materials in new and innovative ways, and specifies materials and cabinetry high in recycled or reclaimed content. Wood from managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council help to protect dwindling virgin forestland. Every opportunity has been taken in the Casa to specify products with low or no VOC’s, as paints, carpets, and adhesives can release harmful toxins in the indoor air of a home for years after its completion.
•Steps taken to ensure high indoor environmental quality such as, high performance ventilation, air filtering and air handling, as well as generous natural light and air flow through an abundance of operable windows and doors, help to ensure healthy air quality and reinforce a connection to the outdoors. Combustion appliances, such as fireplaces, were selected to minimize negative effects on indoor air quality by selecting sealed gas fireplaces. The Casa will also endure a week long “flush-out” to rid the home of any residual construction-borne contaminants prior to occupancy.
•Homeowner’s awareness and education ensures that the prospective user of the high performance home understands what sustainable measures have been implemented and how to operate and maintain them. GE’s Smart Command Enviro Monitor monitors indoor water consumption and includes a programmable thermostat, Security System Control, Lighting Control, Solar Production Monitoring and an intercom and home audio package. Manuals, warranties, and DVD’s are provided to owners explaining how the systems in their homes work. Part of this goal also is to educate the Sustainable Homes Owners as well as to raise public awareness of the efforts to create sustainable architecture.