IronHorse Commits to Environmental Initiatives
May 15, 2007IronHorse today announced that it has committed to two development-wide
initiatives to further its goal of environmental stewardship and
conservation. IronHorse will require all homes to be Earth
Advantage-certified for energy efficiency, healthier indoor air and
materials re-use. In addition, IronHorse requires the WeatherTRAK
"Smart" Irrigation Controllers, which use satellite-based scheduling
software and real-time weather forecast data to automatically adjust
irrigation water application rates and times based on plant needs.
"As
a company, Brooks Resources has always found creative ways to be
sensitive to our high desert environment," said Randy Jones, project
manager for IronHorse. "Bringing this commitment to IronHorse and to
the community of Prineville was always part of our plan, and we are
excited to be able to start fulfilling our stewardship and conservation
goals for IronHorse through such workable, proven and positive
initiatives."
In order to gain Earth Advantage certification, homes will be asked to comply in the following areas:
-Resource efficient building materials from framing to finish work, including the incorporation of recycled materials;
-Indoor
air quality through the use of less toxic construction materials and
floor coverings, plus air filtration systems and controlled fresh air
integration; -Environmentally responsible building practices may
include the use of nature-scaping, less toxic outdoor wood, water
efficiency and proper disposal of construction materials; and
-Energy
efficiency through improved duct sealing, high efficiency windows and
heating systems, efficient lighting and appliances, shade trees and
other nature-scaping.
All homes in IronHorse will also be
required to install WeatherTRAK systems, which provide weather-based
irrigation management. The system's smart controllers result in precise
irrigation scheduling along with daily, real-time weather updates. It
saves water by only providing plants and landscaping with the water
they need at a given time. WeatherTRAK has been shown to reduce water
usage by up to 59 percent in residential applications, thereby saving
water and the customer's money.
Jones continued, "Not only do
these new requirements help lessen impact on the environment, but they
also have important homeowner benefits. Homeowners in IronHorse can
look forward to breathing healthier air, lowering overall energy costs
and decreasing water bills. It's a win-win."
