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Title:	Energy-Efficient Basics Presented To Mohave County Residents
Author:	Donna Neuman, Managing Editor/Reporter
Source:	Golden Valley Gazette
Date:	September 20, 2006

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Energy-Efficient Basics Presented To Mohave County Residents

Dorado Development Group Brings Experts On 'Green' Building To Golden Valley


GOLDEN VALLEY, AZ-- As much as 40 percent of all items that end up in the county dump comes from new building construction. "Green" building eliminates that waste by utilizing recycled and recyclable materials.

Some 35 people who attended the first in a series of seminars pertaining to alternative home and commercial construction learned there are ways of building a community from the ground up that will protect the environment, natural resources and human health, and not break the bank in the process.

Ron Hubert was the main speaker at the Sept. 11 meeting at KC's Restaurant in Golden Valley. Hubert is chairman of the Laughlin Ranch Sustainability Development Council and project director of the Sustainable Communities Program Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University.

The meeting was sponsored by developers of the Dorado master-planned community proposed for the area of North Teddy Roosevelt Road. That community is going "green," and will be a sustainable community that takes care of current human needs without harming the environment for the future, he said.

A Fork In The Road
"You here in Golden Valley are facing an important fork in the road right now," he said, using a slide photo shot from a satellite 18 miles above the Earth's surface. "Mohave County is one of the fastest-growing, if not the fastest-growing place in the United States."

He showed another slide, this one of Las Vegas, and said the lay of the land and the number of square miles there are similar to Golden Valley's.

"This is one way Golden Valley could go if no one does anything about the way it is developed," Hubert said. "Las Vegas is running out of both water and space. It's ready to expand. Driving it is an overall combination of general growth taking place and the completion of Route 93 in 2008. When that happens, you can expect a dramatic increase in traffic here."

Golden Valley is among the most logical places for Las Vegas's overflow, he said.  "It is the first community along that route with the infrastructure already in place to allow growth."

Rather than allow the valley to become a carbon copy of Vegas's overcrowded neighborhoods, smog and water shortages, now is the time to put some safeguards into place and start some smart community planning, Hubert said.

Sustainable communities incorporate several strategies that protect the environment now and in the future, while enhancing the quality of life for the people who live there, he said.  Some of those strategies include the innovative concepts of community layout, transportation options, infrastructure, recreational opportunities, public buildings and services, and land use density and diversity.

Protecting Our Future
The ideas won't appeal to everyone, but studies have shown they increase home ownership, create a sense of community and eliminate the need for a lot of expensive infrastructure, such as water and sewage treatment plants. Hubert said.

And studies indicate that given the choice, the majority of homebuyers prefer buying in an urban setting, rather than rural.

Hubert quoted Winston Churchill: "First we shape our buildings, then our buildings shape our lives. Sustainability means meeting today's needs without limiting our future needs. It comes from a United Nations policy," Hubert said.

Those involved with sustainability today know a great deal about what works and what doesn't, how to save a considerable amount of money on building technologies and materials and improve the quality of the buildings.  But local building codes and regulations can inhibit advancement and hold a community back from developing in a way that protects the future.

Laughlin Ranch incorporates a constructed wetlands biological water treatment system as opposed to a traditional sewage treatment plant. The system purifies the wastewater and provides a lush recreational area at the same time, he said. It also creates a much smaller drain on energy.

And passive solar and wind power generate most of the electricity, saving even more on energy costs.  Sustainable communities also create plenty of opportunities for small business entrepreneurs, the return of "mom and pop" businesses, he said.  "It's faster, easier and cheaper to start a business in a sustainable community," he said, citing business and university partnerships and innovations.

A Wise Investment
Matt Ackerman, architect, founder and principal of Catalyst Architecture, and former president of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, said "green" buildings save money for their owners, are healthier to live in, and are in general better for the planet.

"We spend 90 percent of our lives indoors," he said. "In some buildings the indoor air can be up to five times more toxic than outside air.  This is due to heavy chemical usage in our building materials, combined with the fact that homes are simply constructed more air-tight than ever before.  Deliberate ventilation strategies are critical."

"Green" buildings typically utilize non-toxic materials, paints, and sealants. They also incorporate natural ventilation as well as properly selected and installed insulation.  These structures may harvest and collect rainwater, make use of "graywater" systems, and usually feature native landscape design, all intended to conserve water-- our most precious resource.

Properly designed, a "green" home can save residents around 50 percent on their heating and cooling bills, compared to the cost of operating a conventionally designed and constructed residence, he said.

"While the upfront investment can be a little more, the advantages usually far outweigh the cost.  These benefits include ongoing energy savings, less maintenance, and a healthier indoor environment.  There are also governmental and utility incentives for alternative energy usage as well as energy-efficient building, improvements and maintenance" Ackerman said.

High Performance Schools
Chuck Burke, a nationally known expert in high performance school design from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, said Arizona and Nevada are building more new schools than any other states in the union.

The National Best Practices manual was developed through a collaboration of high-performance schools.  "It has everything you need to know and it's full of low-cost ideas. It's packed with information," he said.

Arizona holds boasting rights to Desert Edge High School, No 3 in the top 20 "green" schools in the United States.  "It's something Arizona can really be proud of," he said.

It's also a model Arizona schools had better look at closely as the deadline draws near for an energy-tightening measure for schools that's coming in 2009.

"Every school district has an energy budget. In the past, if the district went over its energy budget, the state would pick up the rest. State money no longer will cover those expenses in 2009," he said. "Schools have to start looking now at ways to plug those energy leaks and make their buildings a lot more efficient."

Those remedies are found in the Environmental Protection Agency's Tools for Schools book.  "It comes with free software for air quality designs for schools," Burke said.  Setting high standards for communities and for schools doesn't have to be expensive.

"For every dollar you invest in a 'green' building, you eventually get $10 back," he said. "Look at it this way: Waste is lost wealth. Your lost wealth. Consider doing this as a community and keep your money here," he said.


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