A Green House

Brad Schreiber of City View Real Estate built a fit house. I thought this was interesting--what makes a "green" house:

l. Exterior materials--he chose limestone quarried from Indiana ( He lives in Chicago) and General Shale brick from Kentucky.

2. Location: The FitHouse is roughly two miles from downtown Chicago, a distance easily accessible by bike or train. Restaurants and shops are a short stroll away.

3. Low-emission materials: Sherwin Williams paint and stains, Armstrong flooring material, cabinetry and insulation are all low VOC, meaning hat they don't release significant toxins into indoor air.

4. Heating and cooling systems: Trane's CleanEffects heating and cooling system filters 99 % of allergens from the air. Thermostats are multizoned so the system can maximize efficiency as heating or cooling needs change from floor to floor.

5. Water Use: Water heating is carefully regulated to help save energy. As demand fluctuates, a processor regulates the amount of water being heated by a high-efficiency , Energy Star-certified boiler. Storage tanks recirculate the hot water, allowing the boiler to turn on less often.

6. Triple-paned windows:"among the most energy efficient available" Schreiber says. They also seal out noise.

7. Recycled roofing: Although the roofing material looks like slate. It's actually made of recycled industrial rubber and plastic

8. Extra insulation. Ordinarily studs-supports that hold up interior walls--are set flush against exterior walls. Here the studs are offset half an inch, leaving room for insulation between the studs and the exterior walls.

9. Natural light: Clerestory windows help provide natural light, which floods from the penthouse down the staircase to the floors below. The more natural light you have the less electric light you need.

10. Greenroom: Rooftop landscaping provides extra insulation, absorbs rainwater, and reduces reflected sunlight

11. Recycled decking--Trex decking used on the garage-top terrace is made of a combination of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic.

Trilogy at La Quinta

Trilogy Homes at La Quinta is another Active Adult community in the Coachella Valley. It is built by Shea Homes and was home to the Skins Game for the last couple for years.

Trilogy will consist of 1200-1400 single family, detached single story homes.. 12 different floor plans are presently offered. Average home sites vary from 6500 Sq. Ft to over $15,000 Sq. ft, many with veiws of the golf course

The fitness center and spa are state of the art with an indoor walking/ running tract.

Homeowners Association dues are presently $268.00 a month.

Sun City Shadow Hills

Sun City Shadow Hills is the newest Del Webb Active Adult community in the Coachella Valley. It is located the in the foothills of the Shadow Mountains with easy access to the I 10 Freeway and major sites in the valley.

The community is set on 800 acres and will have approximately 3200 homes when complete.

There is an 18 hole championship golf course and tennis courts. The recently completed clubhouse and recreation center is fabulous, with meeting rooms, pool tables, card tables etc.

The fitness center has panoramic view of the mountains and state of the art equipment. There is both an indoor and outdoor pool.

As of this time there are 19 models, some of which are still being offered at the new home office.
Already there are activities and clubs, albeit not as many, similar to Sun City Palm Desert.

Sun City Palm Desert-Premier Active Adult Community

Sun City Palm Desert, located in the Coachella Valley, CA is the premier Active Adult Community in the Coachella Valley.

Not only is this desert location beautiful with mountains all around, greenery from the golf courses and common areas and many man-made lakes within the golf courses it is a wonderful place for active adults to live. We have 2 18 hold golf courses, 8 tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, bocci ball, 3 gorgeous clubhouses, 2 complete workout centers with the latest equipment and trainers, one indoor pool and spa, 3 outdoor pools and spas, 2 restaurants, a U.S. Postoffice and a great library.

There are 86 interest clubs including computer club offering lessons to every level, crafts with sophisticated equipment and lessons, mah jongg, bridge, canasta, rummy cube, gardening, a yacht club with remote control boats, a car club, an astronomy club, a camera club. The Solo's club is very active. There are social events & world class entertainment. We even have a baseball field that fields 6 winning softball teams including a co=ed team. There is a cycling, bowling and hiking club and the travel club is always on the go. I could go on and on but there is hardly an interest not addressed

Our homeowners dues rank among the lowest in the area for a gated community with security.

All homes are fee simple, so although the Association takes care of the greenbelts and public facilities, homeowners are responsible for their own maintenance.

We are in driving distance to majoy casino's. There is world class theater and music at the Mc Callum Theater. El Paseo rivals Rodeo Drive and 5th Ave. for great shopping and eating.
Fine dining restaurants abound in area.

Medical care at Eisenhower Medical Center is wonderful, it has been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country. Lucy Curci CancerCenter, on the grounds of Eisenhower, has won many awards.

There are many fine art galleries nearby as well as the wonderful Palm Springs Art Museum, and The Living Desert ( an experience not to be missed--a desert zoo that has native plants and animals and one of the most fabulous model train exhibits that I have ever seen)

One last note, although I know I have probably left out a great deal, that we get our power from Imperial Irrigation District so our bills are much lower than the other power companies in the area.

Let me know what you think.