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IBIS Completes 12 Solar-Powered Townhouses in California
Published: November 09, 2007
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By Lisa Iannucci, Correspondent
Sebastopol, Calif.—IBIS Builds, a developer specializing in green building, has completed the Florence Lofts, a community in Sebastopol, Calif., consisting of twelve solar-powered townhouses.
The builder has submitted this community to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the hope of obtaining a gold certification from the council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.
“All materials are chosen from a collective consciousness perspective that balances financially sound and environmentally friendly decisions,” Steven Sheldon, IBIS Builds founding partner and architect, tells MHN. “We apply strict environmental standards to materials we use--it's not just its status, accessibility or price point. We integrate environmentally sound building decisions, ecological materials and renewable resources into all our living and work spaces.”
Prices start in the high $700,000s. Units include such features as a large terrace, built-ins, bamboo flooring, and polished, colored concrete with integrated radiant heating. Additional ground floor space can function as a workspace or stand-alone living space. Kitchen and bathroom countertops are made of PaperStone, an attractive and durable material created from recycled paper products.
The homes are energy efficient, with concrete floors that provide thermal mass, allowing solar gain during the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer. Exterior ground surfaces and pathways are constructed of permeable materials that absorb rainfall and return it to the local water table. Excess water not reabsorbed is cleansed through a bio-remediation site located at the property’s south end. Plant roots absorb toxins from the runoff which then travels through the city’s storm drain system to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, to the Russian River and on to the Pacific Ocean. Water from bathroom sinks, showers and laundry areas is distributed for plant irrigation, saving up to 150,000 gallons of water per year.
The off-gassing VOCs commonly found in indoor environments is dramatically reduced through careful selection of non-toxic building materials chosen for their impact on human health in the live/work environment.
