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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.
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Passive Solar Heating: Increased interior mass; 90% recycled cellulose super insulation; perimeter foundation insulation; efficient windows; radiant barriers; buildings oriented for optimum solar gain.
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Passive Cooling: No need for air conditioners in homes; increased interior mass; whole house fans; radiant sun barriers; ceiling fans; optimum cross ventilation.
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Active Solar Heating: Water for pool is preheated by solar panels. Buildings are pre-plumbed for future domestic panels.
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Low Electricity Use: All lights are fluorescent; energy efficient refrigerators.
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Hydronic Heating System: One energy efficient boiler per building.
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Reduced Asphalt: Parking at periphery of site and gravel parking stalls.
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Low Toxicity Materials: Bamboo flooring; cellulose insulation; low toxicity paint; low formaldehyde materials; Marmoleum flooring, Tectum acoustic tiles in common building.
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Responsible Water Use: Low water use fixtures. Dual flush toilets.
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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.
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Responsible Waste Stream Management: No vinyl flooring; refinishable Marmoleum floors
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Responsible Resource Use: Low construction waste; recycled cellulose; sustainable ceiling tiles.
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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.
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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.
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Minimum Impact: Minimum grading and tree removal. Buildings clustered to leave 60% of site as open space.
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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.
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Reduced Driving: Studies show that folks who live in cohousing drive 25% less and own fewer autos.
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Preserves Rural Nevada County Agrarian Feel: Building where services exist (sewer and water), reduces county wide sprawl.
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Handicap Accessibility: Exceeds state and national requirements by more than 10 fold.
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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.
The Cohousing Company
Nevada City, CA 95959