Civano Homes Combine Solar and SustainabilityPrinciples to Create a New Eco-Community

Project: SolarBuiltLLC Homes at Civano

Contact: Gale and Richard Marsland (520-743-7111)

Location: Tucson, AZ

Rear entry to unit showing garage with photovoltaicpanels and dry creek landscaping, (Photo Credit:Margot McDonald)

Demonstration

Recognized by Sunset magazine in 2004 as the “BestNew Community,” Civano is a diverse housingdevelopment in Tucson’s challenging Sonoran Desert.Builders and developers established the followingsustainability goals for the community that includesplanning elements espoused by the “New Urbanism.”The goals of the development are to:

* Significantly reduce energy consumption (all Civanohomes are designed to use 50% less energy than atypical home of the same size)

* Significantly reduce potable (drinking) waterconsumption,

* Reduce internal vehicle miles by building apedestrian-friendly neighborhood,

* Reduce landfill destined solid waste, and,* Integrate working and living environments.

Several home-builder corporations participate in theproject, allowing potential buyers an array of designoptions in the selection of the features of their home, Allof the builders however must meet Civano’ssustainability goals.

The project in this case study has been built by one ofthese home-builders who have focused on achievingregionally appropriate architecture that addressesaesthetics as well as energy and resource efficiency.

Project Description

The community of Civano rests on the southeastern edgeof Tucson on an 818-acre site. In addition to the housingdevelopment that is zoned for residential and live-workoccupancy, there are common spaces including acommunity garden, recreation areas, and a communitycenter.

The homes by SolarBuiltLLC are designed to reduceenergy through a well-insulated, high thermal massbuilding envelope that is also constructed usingenvironmentally friendly building materials. Back-upheating is accomplished by means of a gas furnace orradiant floor heating and additional cooling is availablefrom an air conditioning unit with an efficiency ratingSEER 12. Ceiling fans add to interior comfort andowners are provided with the option of replacing the airconditioner with a high performance evaporative cooler.

Measures have been taken to ensure good indoor airquality as well as energy efficiency. For example, agarage separate from living space reduces the potentialfor exhaust reaching the interior, internal fans exhaust tothe outdoors, and healthy interior finishes are used thatminimize off gassing and dust collection.

Electricity for the homes is generated by a 2.58 kW DCarray of photovoltaic panels located on the garage roofs.Solar hot water systems are installed to pre-heat (or fullyheat, depending on sunshine availability and hot waterdemand) domestic hot water. A solar distiller is alsoavailable as an option to the unit.

Indoor-outdoor relationships are enhanced throughporches on the east-west sides. In one unit type(SolarCourts), every room has a connection to theoutdoors. Exterior spaces designed for thermal comfortincrease livability and effectively extend the size of theliving unit. A “Flex space” on the street frontage easilyaccommodates live-work scenarios that can include officeor retail uses.

May 2004 Pub#:

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Interior view of Living Room and upstairs loft.

Photo Credit: Margot McDonald

These homes go beyond the sustainability goals for thecommunity through the use of recycled, healthy buildingmaterials that promise to increase the lifespan of thesebuildings above conventional construction materials.

Examples of Reused and Recycled-Content Building Products

• Interior framing: Steel studs with recycledcontent.

• Interior finishes: Tile made with post-industrialwaste content.

• Carpeting: Carpet made from PET recycled plasticand carpet pad from recycled materials.

Examples of Sustainably Harvested orEnvironmentally Friendly BuildingProducts

• Exterior Walls: Integra Masonry Block Walls withblown-in foam insulation and recycled-content steelstuds.

• Exterior Finish: Low maintenance exterior with noexposed wood or stucco.

• Roof: Engineered wood framing members.Corrugated, rusted metal roof and metal trim usedover Great Room. Garage roof uses recycled contentsteel trusses.

• Concrete Floor Finish: Stained and scoredconcrete floors reduce use of carpeting and wood asfloor finishes.

• Interior finishes: No chemical drying agent inMurco-brand drywall compound. Non VOC paintsused.

• Lighting: Daylighting is supplement by energyefficient fluorescent lighting.

Examples of Water Conservation andEfficiency• Rainwater catchment: Roof drainage directed to

irrigate landscape and to drainage swales for siteretention and groundwater recharge.

• Reclaimed water: Reclaimed water used forirrigation.

• Xeriscaping: Native and drought tolerant plantsused in landscaping.

• Water conservation: Low flow plumbing fixturesused.

• Greywater systems: Dual plumbing installed foreventual use of greywater system.

References

1. http://www.civano.com/

2. SolarBuilt. “Standard Features” Fact Sheet.(undated). http://www.solarbuilthomes.com

Notes: The identification of individuals, companies and products in these materials does not constitute endorsement bythe CIWMB and is provided for informational purposes only. The CIWMB is distributing this information in an effort toincrease public awareness and knowledge about this important topic.