Welcome Center - Sustainable Building

Constructed using the Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) sustainable building guidelines, our Welcome Center combines rustic ranch architecture with a modern environmental ethic, reflecting our vision of a community that lives in harmony with the land.

We hope the Welcome Center will lead the way for others in our community to move towards a more environmentally friendly way of living.

Here are several of the sustainable building practices we used in our Welcome Center:

• Passive heating and cooling methods reduce energy costs and minimize carbon emissions.
• Low-E windows prevent heat loss during cold periods and heat gain during summer.
• Much of our interior lighting is provided by the sun; the rest by highly efficient, long lasting compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Low-VOC paints improve air quality and prevent respiratory illnesses that have been contributed to conventional interior paints.
• Energy Star rated appliances and low-flow toilets are present in the kitchen and bath areas, and a tankless water heater provides hot water on demand more efficiently than a conventional water heater.
• Recycled materials like our reclaimed barnwood floor and siding high in recycled content contribute a rustic charm to our building and keep useful materials out of our landfills.
• Drought tolerant native landscaping is water efficient and blends in with the surrounding environment.
• Biodegradable, phosphate-free and chlorine-free cleaning products keep our local water and wildlife resources safe from pollution and are safer for humans.