From its inception, project7ten was created to provide a three dimensional real life example of a functioning cutting edge home, which uses as little energy as possible, conserves water, incorporating recycled materials, without sacrificing great design. By participating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Residential Pilot Program, authored by the United States Green Building Counsel [USGBC], we knew the perimeters on sustainability and environmentally progressive issues would be involved in every decision in the design process and in the choice and use of materials. Further, by partnering up with significant corporations, who are like minded and environmentally conscious, we knew we were committing to a project that was being undertaken at the right time, with the right message. From the outset, every decision went through a filtering process; "is it green, is it the latest and greatest available, is there a reason to use this material?" Even before construction began, we put this idea into practice. During the demolition of the old house on the site, we sent the wood not affected by termites to Guadalajara to be used in the construction of homes for low-income families. The old foundation slab was removed and sent to a concrete recycling center. When mixing the concrete for the new foundation we used 30 percent fly ash content. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal mining and a highly polluting substance when not recycled, thus by using it in cement, the carbon output was reduced, and the bad stuff got turned into the new foundation at the home. We did the same for the poured in place cement walls that surround the property. The framing of the house was built utilizing FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) lumber, a process that uses faster growth wood, which combines well managed removal of lumber from the forests and insures proper reforestation. Our construction waste was sent to a wood-recycling site.  The windows, donated by Fleetwood, are extremely energy efficient, acting as both an insulation barrier and a light source. We worked with Fleetwood, to insure we could achieve high energy ratings and efficiency, while maintaining a very indoor outdoor seamless type of living environment with a modern design. Bamboo flooring was used in the interior of the house because aside from its aesthetic appeal, it is considered a renewable resource due its high growth rate. LEED also promotes durability in its program, and Bamboo floors require very little maintenance when cared for properly. Ultratouch donated their product, recycled denim insulation, to fill the walls, with healthy non-toxic effective insulation. The insulation is made from post industrial waste from the manufacturing of blue jeans, waste that used to end up in landfills. It is a totally safe material and can be installed without the use of gloves or masks. We chose to use radiant heating, warm water which is pumped through pipes in the floor, to heat the house. It is a healthy way to heat a home, (no dry air pumped through ductwork) and it’s highly energy efficient. On sunny days, Permacity solar panels on the roof  heat the water and and a different set of solar panels provide the electricity to pump that warmed water throughout the house for both potable and non-potable (the radiant heat) purposes. The electric solar panels double as overhangs, creating natural shading and keeping direct sunlight off the home during the hot months. In addition, we installed a series of skylights which are thermostatically controlled so as to allow hot air to escape when the house is too hot, and to close automatically when the house cools down. With the help of solar panels, in a normal year, this house will produce more electricity than can be used by a typical family of four. We used only GE Energy Star appliances throughout Project7 ten. Energy Star approval ensures the appliances are as energy efficient as possible, and with the GE all stainless steel appliances they look really cool too. The lighting throughout the house will not include a single incandescent bulb, ones we all grew up with, but ones that are highly inefficient with short life spans that throw off unnecessary heat. Instead the fixtures throughout the house will use either the latest in compact fluorescent bulbs or LED lighting, some of which have an expected life cycle of 50 Years! All of these will be provided by GE Lighting. Many of the fixtures will include motion detectors, controlling the lights inside the house as well as the exterior. Leave a room and a few minutes later the lights will turn themselves off! Water conservation was taken into consideration, in every aspect of 710. A drip irrigation system is being used rather than an aboveground sprinkler system, which loses water to evaporation. The water filtration system is Life Source. The garden was graciously designed by Art Luna Landscaping and most of the plants are drought tolerant, indigenous and non evasive. A grey water system has been installed, which filters and reuses water from the washing machine and showers, storing it for irrigation. An underground cistern will collect 75% of the rainwater from the storm gutters and store that water for later irrigation of the landscape. The hardscape is permeable so that when it rains, water seeps back into earth so as not to cause erosion. The showers faucets and toilets, all by Kohler, utilize the latest technology in water conservation, low flow faucets, toilets that are dual flush, add a high degree of efficiency, without sacrificing design. Interior decoration was also taken into account because having an atmosphere free from toxins and chemicals is part of our GREEN philosophy. Only sustainable and environmentally friendly furnishings were chosen from Viesso, Modern Outdoor and Steelcas. Many of the fabrics used to cover the furniture are cutting edge beautiful recycled materials supplied by Knoll Textiles. Viesso utilizes only Forest Stewardship lumber in the manufacture of their frames, and Steelcase was thinking cradle to cradle many years before the concept made its way into the environmental landscape. Walker Zanger donated all the recycled glass and porcelain tile used in the bathroom floors, showers and walls. Ceasarstone provided the countertops used throughout the house, which has some recycled content, and is highly resistant to bacteria, and durable making it extremely easy to keep clean and healthy. All of the finishes, including the exposed wood beams in the ceilings, showcase low VOC Benjamin Moore paint, producing beautiful colors while supporting a healthy environment and preventing any off gassing. From the ground up, inside and out, this home is practical, thoughtful, highly functioning and GREEN. Click here for pictures.