Broad Street Commons   Nevada City, California

Back to Sustainability | Cotati | Pleasant Hill
World Bank | Sonora | Sutter's End | Nevada City

• Solar Electricity: 35 Kilowatt photovoltaic system provides 80% of the community’s electricity through 35 inverters net metered so they feed into the  public utility grid when generating more electricity than the community needs.

• Passive Solar Heating:  Increased interior mass; 90% recycled cellulose super insulation; perimeter foundation insulation; efficient windows; radiant barriers; buildings oriented for optimum solar gain.

• Passive Cooling:  No need for air conditioners in homes; increased interior mass; whole house fans; radiant sun barriers; ceiling fans; optimum cross ventilation.

• Active Solar Heating:  Water for pool is preheated by solar panels. Buildings are pre-plumbed for future domestic panels.

• Low Electricity Use:  All lights are fluorescent; energy efficient refrigerators.

• Hydronic Heating System: One energy efficient boiler per building.

• Reduced Asphalt: Parking at periphery of site and gravel parking stalls.

• Low Toxicity Materials:  Bamboo flooring; cellulose insulation; low toxicity paint; low formaldehyde materials; Marmoleum flooring, Tectum acoustic tiles in common building.

• Responsible Water Use:  Low water use fixtures. Dual flush toilets.

• Responsible Forestry:  Advanced framing; 25% to 40% less lumber used to build the same square footage; less than half the lumber used for a typical new house.

• Responsible Waste Stream Management:  No vinyl flooring; refinishable Marmoleum floors

• Responsible Resource Use:  Low construction waste; recycled cellulose; sustainable ceiling tiles.

• Air Quality:  There are no wood stoves in any of the 34 homes; no auto garage attached to houses, a common cause of indoor air pollution.

• Walkable to Downtown:  Goods and services (dentist, store, church, bus stop, work places) are available without getting into a car; pedestrian/child/elderly friendly site design.

• Minimum Impact:  Minimum grading and tree removal. Buildings clustered to leave 60% of site as open space.

• Responsible Landscaping:  Planting more than 90 new trees; indigenous grasses & wildflowers; minimum water use and other key permaculture attributes; on-site drain water management at densely planted bio-swale; water retention on site.

• Reduced Driving:  Studies show that folks who live in cohousing drive 25% less and own fewer autos.

• Preserves Rural Nevada County Agrarian Feel:  Building where services exist (sewer and water), reduces county wide sprawl.

• Handicap Accessibility:  Exceeds state and national requirements by more than 10 fold.

• Appropriate Architecture:  Architecture that fits with the cultural heritage of the area; green within context.

• Community:  This intergenerational community allows for sharing resources, such as autos, camping equipment; education regarding using less water; less resources; less energy; and just less.  Community facilitates environmental stewardship.  The secret ingredient to sustainability is community.

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