Sustainability

Designed for as a vacation retreat for a golfer, this condo in Palm Springs was designed to maximize energy efficiency and green finishes.  A particular emphasis was placed on selecting healthy and non-toxic finishes.  Since Summer temperatures in Palm Springs can exceed 120 degrees, our strategy was to use extensive thermal mass of tile and stone to keep things cool year-round, and provide durability and a long useful life.As you enter the condo, you are greeted with a long wall of gorgeous ledgestone tile sourced locally from reclaimed stone.  Finished with a zero-VOC, water-based sealer, the stone provide a rich texture and feature wall from the entry to the living room.  The flooring throughout is a rich travertine tile that provides a unified look.  Natural wool carpets (with natural jute backing) was used in the bedroom areas to complement the stone floors.The kitchen features deep, black granite for the counter and backsplash.  Tiny LED strip lights provide energy-efficient accents at the under-cabinets and in the toe kick areas.  High rated EnergyStar appliances were used to cut the energy use by over 30%.  All of the lighting uses long life, color corrected and dimmable LED bulbs for maxmimum control and energy efficiency.To complement the stone,  sustainably harvested makore wood (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)) was used for all of the built-in cabinets and the unusual wine cabinet in the kitchen.  All of the wood was finished with zero-VOC, water-based sealers, and we used push latches to avoid the need for additional hardware.The wine cabinet is the special focal point of the entire living area.  Featuring organic horizontal ribs of wood, a refrigerated wine cabinet for 55 bottels is cleverly concealed.  Custom seals were created to maintain the refrigerated air and not waste energy while keeping the wines cool.  The tower uses a recycled and recyclable "eco-resin" from 3-Form featuring natural stalks of thatch.  LED lights are used to allow the entire cabinet to provide ambient light with little energy use.The bathrooms feature recycled glass mosaic tiles over a field of matching travertine.  The same tiles were used on the floor and walls to maximize material efficiency and minimize waste.  The warm colors provide comfort while remaining cool to the touch.  Ultra-low flow water fixtures, including dual flush toilets, were used throughout the project to cut water use by over 30%.All recycled content materials were verified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).  Using our energy modeling, this project uses over 30% less energy and 30% less water than a traditional project.  And the best part is that these features did not cost any more to implement, meaning that we could put the money into the finishes.The warmth, durability and attractive of natural stone tile made it the obvious choice.  Since our client is an avid golfer, we needed something that repel the scuffs of his golf shoes and dragging his golf bag.  We need something easy to clean and that would maintain a consistent appearance.  The stone tile was unmatched in these benefits and we are thrilled with the final outcome.