The Low Down On Green Living
September 29th, 2008
Playa: A LEED Platinum Home in a McMansion Neighborhood
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Some diehard environmentalists consider eco-mansions an oxymoron at best, with militant types even setting fire to greenwashed mega-homes! But eco-mansion haters sometimes ignore an inconvenient truth: Huge homes are constantly getting built, and most of these are anything but green.
That’s the impetus behind “Playa” (above), a case study green home being built in Westchester, Calif., by Go Green Construction. The house, admittedly, will be huge — 4,300 square feet huge, to be exact — and located in a neighborhood that’s not particularly public transit-friendly. On the other hand, Playa’s also pre-rated for LEED platinum, serving as a self-described “living laboratory of green design” in a neighborhood full of ungreen McMansions.
The rooftop view from Playa (left) alone shows the need for green building in this neighborhood, where smoggy haze floats above multi-story single family homes. In contrast to the massive footprints of its neighbors, Playa will boast a full solar array, graywater recycling system, living walls, and smart house automation which allows residents to control the power of the house remotely.
When I stopped by to see the house-in-making last week, I could already see how Playa will be lit up with natural sunlight from the atrium. I also saw proof that Playa’s building materials really are green — as evidenced by the FSC certification stamps on the wood!
All the green features incorporated into Playa are enough to inspire any eco-builder: High efficiency spray foam insulation, low-E glazing double pane windows, Energy Star rated appliances, tankless water heating system, and an elecric car recharging station are just some of the eco-extras to admire. And of course, Playa’s low-VOC painted rooms will be lit with LED and CFL bulbs. Outside, a drought tolerant and native plant landscape will complement the permeable pavement.
Go Green Construction also took care to make sure the old materials didn’t go straight to the landfills. The previous structure was carefully deconstructed (above); 95% of materials were reused or recycled with the help of Habitat for Humanity and other organizations and companies.
Playa will be completed in early 2009, when it’ll open for tours and workshops to educate the public and industry professionals about the feasibility of building green. I plan to visit again in a few months to see firsthand all the state of the art eco-tech appliances and systems in action!
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Comments
Damien Newton
September 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Great article, Siel.
While I’m personally not a fan of the eco-mansion, I concede that they are a heck of a lot better than your typical McMansion. There is one corollary benefit of this kind of development, the open houses provide fantastic places for people to get ideas for their normal urban houses. Not everyone can get out to EcoHome or the Eco Village to get their ideas.
Siel, green LA girl
September 30th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
You bring up a great point — Playa IS a case study green home — and the attention it gets can certainly inspire non-mansion-owners to incorporate green elements without necessarily building a mansion of their own
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Paige
October 8th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Wow, it’s so good to see that green is starting to filter into “luxury.”
I know there are still a lot of people out there who think that going “green” means sacrificing a comfortable lifestyle. It’s actually so much easier than you’d think- especially when you spend a little time doing research!
For example, my parents were adamant about getting a hot tub (I know, I know- not what you would consider an eco-purchase). BUT- after doing research, we discovered a company called Dimension One Spas whose spas & hot tubs are made from 100% recycled milk jugs and are so well insulated that they minimize the use of a heater. Plus, they’re filtered using a patented ozone UV light system so the water is cleaned without any chemicals.
For all those luxury home owners who want to minimize their impact on the Earth, I would highly recommend checking this company out. Their website is: http://www.dimensiononespas.com.
Happy Eco-Living!
Siel, green LA girl
October 8th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Some may argue that a hot tub goes rather beyond merely “comfortable,” but your perspective’s interesting — Most people tend to see the green marketplace as catering too heavily to the luxury market — and only later allowing for a trickle-down effect to the less affluent markets — but your view’s quite the opposite –
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Frank, Mike
November 24th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I’m personally not a fan of the eco-mansion, I concede that they are a heck of a lot better than your typical McMansion. There is one corollary benefit of this kind of development, the open houses provide fantastic places for people to get ideas for their normal urban houses.
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