What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
The emphasis on south-facing glazing maximizes the effect of the ample New Mexico sun to warm the building in winter, while overhangs and surrounding trees keep it cool in summer. The adobe walls and concrete floors form a large thermal mass to hold the heat gathered on cold days, and the Marvin high-efficiency windows, ample insulation and tight seals around all openings conserve that heat. Custom thermal interior window shutters also help hold the heat on winter nights, and keep out daytime sun on summer days. The adobe walls provide a natural balancing of the humidity year-round, and help purify interior air.Property Description
Each of these structures was lovingly sited, designed and built in harmony with the land and the elements, using passive solar principles, sacred geometry and many local and recycled materials. The open floor plan interiors of the buildings allow flexibility in how each is used.
The walls of the house are 14” thick traditional adobe, and some wood frame. The thermal mass of the adobe, along with the stained concrete floors, naturally regulate the interior temperature and humidity for year-round comfort. The 12’ ceilings on the main floor are planked and beamed with local fire-killed Douglas fir. That same fir forms the upstairs floor, and all the floors were lovingly hand-finished with beeswax and linseed oil. The interior framed walls were painted with the soft earth tones of Bioshield clay paints.
A wrap-around deck at treetop height offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, even to the distant highest peaks in the Gila Wilderness, in the daytime. And on most nights there are brilliant dark-sky views of the Milky Way…. the deck also provides a great sleeping space.
The walls of the guest house are of 10” thick Rastra (85% recycled Styrofoam, 15% concrete), with the back walls bermed into the earth for maximum efficiency. Large south-facing windows allow sunlight by day, and skylights bring moon and starlight into the redwood sleeping loft at night. The patterning in the concrete-stabilized adobe floor invites both expansion and grounding. The walls, cabinets and ceiling here were also finished with Bioshield clay paints.
Both the house and guest house have hydronic radiant floor heating, along with 4 year-old EPA certified high-efficiency wood stoves as alternative heat sources. All the structures are supplied with water from an excellent well, and electricity from an off-grid solar PV system, via underground lines.
The studio building and greenhouses were built in 2011. The studio is of frame construction with saltillo tile floor and a large redwood loft that could be used for sleeping, storage, personal retreat, etc. There are lots of light and ventilation, and heat is supplied by an EPA certified wood stove.
Each of the 250 sq ft solar greenhouse domes has 3ft deep garden beds built inside below-grade rammed-earth and recycled tire walls that are covered with epdm pond liner. The greenhouses were built from kits supplied by Growing Spaces http://growingspaces.com/ and can provide a year-round source of food, herbs, flowers, etc. The solar-powered fountains aerating the ponds serve to humidify the air in summer and act as thermal mass in winter, as well as providing the soothing sound of flowing water year round. Passive solar vents automatically open and close panels of the domes for ventilation. Automatic drip irrigation is installed, and there is also rainwater available from the nearby catchment tank at the studio. There is a figure-8 footpath surrounding the greenhouses, aligning them with the Earth's infinite abundance.
Outside the house are a spiral perennial and herb garden, as well as a raised-bed vegetable and flower garden enclosed within 8’ fencing.
The house's interior doors, trim and cabinets are all of solid wood construction.
The downstairs sitting room easily doubles as a guest room, giving both guests and hosts an entire level to themselves.
Organic gardening methods and materials have been used exclusively for the greenhouses, and all outdoor gardens and houseplants. No herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers have ever been used.
Elevation at the house is approximately 6800 ft, so temperatures are about 8-10 degrees cooler than in Silver City. This, plus the surrounding trees and the efficiency of the buildings, keeps them quite cool in summer, so a fan is needed on only a few evenings each year.
All appliances convey: 15 cu ft propane refrigerator/freezer in the house, high-efficiency Staber washing machine, a Honda generator, and a 4 cu ft electric refrigerator/freezer for the guest house/studio. A Breezecatcher solar dryer is installed, and there are gas and electric hookups near the washer if an indoor clothes dryer is desired. More than one cord of aged, cut, split and stacked hardwood is on the land ready to be used.
Neighborhood Description
A rural residential area of site-built homes on 5 to 15 acres, nestled among pinon pine, juniper and oak woodlands. There is ample privacy afforded by the trees, yet neighbors can easily be walked to. The area is only 6 miles from the town of Silver City, but is very quiet and feels quite secluded.Market Area
Silver City is a town of about 10,000 residents. Its traditional downtown area has shops, hotels, restaurants, art galleries, B & B’s, and churches. Western New Mexico University offers a thriving lifelong learning program, museum, art exhibits and performances to the community. Gila Regional Medical Center brings first-class health care to the area. Silver City is featured in the September, 2014 issue of Sunset Magazine for its “growing arts scene, panoramic hiking and adventurous dining."School District
Silver School District, Aldo Leopold Charter SchoolsCommunity
Silver City is the gateway to the 550,000 acre Gila Wilderness, the first-designated wilderness area in the country. Among its many wonders are the Gila Cliff Dwellings, which, along with numerous hiking trails, campgrounds, and hot springs are a scenic 2-hour drive from town. It lies between the Gila and Mimbres River valleys, which are home to many small farms. Less than an hour away is the Faywood Hot Springs Resort http://www.faywood.com/ , and many other hot springs are also in the area.Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Mountain
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | no |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Hydronic Floor Heat (radiant) |
| Cooling System | Passive Cooling |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | Other |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Off the Grid |
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Adobe |
| Exterior Finish | Stucco |
| Interior Finish | Other |
| Interior Paint | No VOC |
| Floor Material | Concrete |
| Roof Material | Asphalt Composition Shingle |
| Window Material | Wood Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Fiberglass |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | carport_detached |
| Number of Cars | 1 |
| Garage Area | 300 sqft |
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