New IronHorse Initiatives Are Sensitive to the High Desert
May 25, 2007Here at IronHorse, we know how precious our high desert environment is
to the livability of our communities. That’s why we have initiated some
big commitments on a development-wide scale to further our 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. In response to IronHorse’s
commitment to Earth Advantage® Certification and Weather TRAK “Smart”
Irrigation Controllers, project manager Randy Jones said, “As a
company, Brooks Resources has always found creative ways to be
sensitive to our high desert environment. 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.”
