Blending with it’s spectacular surroundings, this practical NGBS-Certified custom home provides, shelter, comfort, and economy in the Utah desert.”
- Jennifer Goodman

Located in the popular Shinava Trail area of Kayenta, Terra Numa features 360 degrees of flawless natural beauty and plenty of room to breathe. With an imaginative layout and thoughtful attention to detail, Terra Numa offers a warm and livable atmosphere both indoors and out. Economical and eco-friendly, Terra Numa is the third home in southern Utah to receive Green Build Certification from the National Association of Home Builders. Smart Green features include, polished concrete floors, multi-zoned climate control with energy recovery ventilation, LED illumination, and a hybrid foam/cellulose insulation system.

“Many visitors ask about the specific colors and materials used in the home” says Matt Marten the designer of the home – “So we are taking a survey, at the home, to see what people liked the most and to find out what they would like to know more about”.

Over the next 10 days, Gulch Design Group and Kayenta will be posting information about the design and interior design of the home on the Kayenta Utah Blog.  Check back to get more information and insight about Terra Numa and other design features in Kayenta homes.

According to Matt, inquiries about the paint colors are at the top of the list. Below is a list of the colors used in the home:

The paint colors are supplied by Kwal-Howells Paint. The home was painted in an Architectural Flat Latex.

• Poco CL 2743M: The Main wall interior color including the ceilings
• Catastrophe CL 1586a: Accent walls in the Guest Bedroom, also painted in the Great Room Niches
• Stone Crop CL 2884: Master Bedroom Walls and Dining Room Feature Wall
• Time Warp CL 2735: Accent painted on the Fireplace Wall in the Great Room

With the arrival of the “green movement,” there were many questions arising. What is green building really?

If I install triple pane windows, is my house now considered green? How do I verify that my new home is energy efficient and meets high green standards? What are those standards? How do I know if a builder really knows how to build me a green home? Is there a National Standard for green?” Will I be able to sell my property as a green certified home and have the value appraised accurately? How do I find a green home for sale in this area?

SUHBA recognized the need to lead in the advancement of green building policies, practices, and projects for the Southern Utah region.

The Southwest Green Build Council (SWGBC) was created to serve professionals interested in including green building characteristics in their business profiles through administrative support, marketing, national branding, educational seminars, and collaboration.

The Council was also created to serve the public in assisting in answering the many questions circulating, offering a central location to obtain information, and to promote a heightened sense of responsibility in sustainable practices.

Throughout the past 15 months, a committee consisting of builders, HVAC installers, appraisers, realtors, bankers, electricians, plumbers, insulation installers and suppliers, window and door installers, painters, solar installers, architects, and other consultants have worked tirelessly to leverage the knowledge, expertise, and passion of all to establish the guidelines, goals, mission statement, website, and benefits for the new Council.

The mission of the Southwest Green Build Council is to encourage the voluntary development and construction of Green Certified Projects through education, communication, and advocacy of responsible green building practices.

As a former high school physics teacher, Gary Wood knew he wanted green elements in the Kayenta home he built with his wife, Linda, in 2008.

“I understand energy and how it works,” he says. “I like the idea of being on the cutting edge of science.”

Gary says he truly believes there is a limited amount of energy on the planet and that it’s important to use it wisely. For him it comes back to a quote by Thomas Edison: “There’s a way to do it better — find it.”

Matt Marten with Kayenta’s Gulch Design Group designed the 3,600-square-foot home, which was built by Jake Joines of J-2 Construction. It features some of the energy saving measures that are standard for homes in this Ivins development known for blending in with the desert surroundings.

The features include radiant barrier foil-backed roof sheeting, 16-inch insulated walls and deep window wells. Additionally, the home has a geothermal system by Planet Geothermal that utilizes eight 200-foot wells connected to a heat pump for both heating and cooling the house. The heat pump uses water from the wells — at a constant 60 degrees — to produce a highly efficient heat-exchange medium.

A solar panel array on the roof, installed by K-V Electric, provides up to one-third of the home’s electrical needs. The Woods have a net metering agreement with Rocky Mountain Power that allows them to sell back unused power to the company. The solar system has saved more than 8,000 pounds of carbon from being released back into the atmosphere since it went online a year ago.

Many smaller green elements can be found throughout the home, from the lighting inside to the landscaping of native desert plants outside. The appliances are Energy Star-rated and even the home theater system is greener than normal. Gary managed to find the most energy-efficient receiver on the market to use as the brains of the seven-seat home theater with a large projection screen. The Rotel SRX-1560 receiver is a seven-channel receiver that uses less power than a two-channel receiver.

Yet there’s much more to the Wood home than its energy-saving features. The home theater sits near the center of the house, just to the right of the main entrance, which leads into the great room. As is standard with most Kayenta homes, the great room features stunning views of the red cliffs that tower over the development.

“We love this house,” Gary says. “If you look out this window it’s like a lodge in a national park.”

Adding to the “lodge” feel are exposed timbers above the great room and rustic hickory floors. Even the air vents are made of wood.

Just off the great room to the west is the couple’s wine room, with a comfortable sitting area and their wine collection. Like many other rooms in the house it also features depictions of old British sports cars. It’s where Linda’s British heritage — she was born and raised in England — and Gary’s love of cars come together. He also restores cars — many of them British vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s.

Two of Gary’s car projects — a 1957 white MGA convertible and a 1958 custard yellow Triumph TR3 convertible — sit in the garage. The garage houses both old and new; it’s where technology for the solar array and the geothermal systems is located as well as the classic sports cars.

Back inside the house, just east of the great room is the octagonal-shaped kitchen with a large island at the center.

“I just like the layout,” Linda says. “I like the tile work. The counter is fantastic. I love the way it’s designed.”

Also on the east side of the home are the casita-like guest quarters. Although not physically separate from the house like a true casita, the home theater separates the guest bedrooms from the main part of the home. In addition to the main guest bedroom there is the Indian Room with two twin beds and native décor for the couple’s two grandsons.

The master bedroom offers gorgeous views of the red cliffs high above. The master bath features a walk-in shower and a large bathtub surrounded by replicas of statues from Hearst Castle. A door from the master bath leads to a back patio of deep maroon stamped concrete with a kiva-style fireplace to match the larger one in the great room. sgm

Jake Joines and the Rio Virgin Dome project started over two years ago when the current homeowners purchased an existing concrete dome in St. George, Utah. This dome was built in 1980 as a prototype for environmentally friendly desert residences. The new homeowner’s dream was to modernize the dome and make it the central feature to a highly energy efficient and technologically advanced home. With the modernization of the original structure, a three story addition was added onto the back of the dome. An elevator, enclosed within a glass shaft would service the master bedroom at the upper floor, the living area and kitchen on the main floor, and the recreation room at the walk out basement. Many energy efficient and green building features were included.

Congratulations to Jake Joines, J2 Construction, for receiving the 2009 Remodel Home of the Year Award. Jake is a General Building Contractor with a Construction Management degree from BYU and a master’s degree in Construction Management from ASU.

www.thespectrum.com

OPERATING COSTS

The technologies and practices required to build a green home to certain criteria may result in lower costs to operate the home. Energy-efficient appliances, lighting systems, and HVAC equipment result in lower energy consumption compared to other models. Using less water through water-conserving faucets, showers, toilets, and irrigation systems may also result in less water consumption. Properly sized HVAC systems mean that less energy is needed to condition spaces. Employing technologies such as photovoltaic panels for solar electricity and water heating, and geothermal heat exchangers could reduce dependence on public utilities, too.

MAINTENANCE

Effective stormwater management and landscaping could mean less time maintaining outside spaces. Also, green building practices lead to the use of some longer-performing materials and careful construction assemblies. Drained foundations, water spouts on gutters, and flashing around windows and doors might reduce the opportunity for system failure within the home due to moisture intrusion.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Indoor air quality is one of the guiding principles of the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard and the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. Homes that allow for proper air exchange through ventilation, and low-emitting products like low- or no-VOC paints reduce off-gassing. Further, green building practices look at reducing the opportunity for moisture intrusion. The efficient HVAC systems, windows, and floor plans also mean that heating and cooling is better distributed throughout the home.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Increased energy and water efficiency in construction could lead to decreased energy and water consumption in a home throughout its lifespan. Further, some renewable, recycled, and other efficient building products used in green home construction may reduce the impact on natural resources. Also, green homes often include resource and waste reduction and recycling amenities.

For more information contact the Kayenta Homes & Properties office at 435-628-7234 or kayentahomes.com & kayentautah.com/news/

The main advantages of mini splits are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Many models can have as many as four indoor air handling units (for four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. The number depends on how much heating or cooling is required for the building or each zone (which in turn is affected by how well the building is insulated). Since each of the zones will have its own thermostat, you only need to condition that place when someone is there. This will save energy and money.

Since mini splits have little or no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

The primary disadvantage of mini splits is their cost. Such systems cost about $1,500–$2,000 per ton (12,000 Btu per hour) of cooling capacity. This is about 30% more than central systems, not including ductwork.

The installer must also correctly size each indoor unit and judge the best location for its installation. Oversized or incorrectly located air-handlers often result in short-cycling, which wastes energy and does not provide proper temperature or humidity control. Too large a system is also more expensive to buy and operate.

Qualified installers and service people for mini splits may not be easy to find.

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home’s overall impact on the environment into account. However, many of the processes and technologies that go into a green home happen behind the scenes and behind the walls.

What can a homebuyer look for?

Look for a builder that uses the NAHB 2008 National Green Building Standard.

Other key components of a green home include:

Energy-Efficient Features

Many of the energy-efficient qualities of a green home are easy to spot. Appliances, windows, and water heating systems will likely have ENERGY STAR® ratings. The home should also include efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems, further decrease the overall energy consumption within the home.

Water-Efficient Features

Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, and ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines all conserve water. Programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, and hot water recirculation systems also save water.

Resource-Efficient Features

These decisions—from home size, to orientation on the lot, to floor plan layout—are made in the design of your home and development of the lot. The house orientation and design should take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting needs, and should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The home should contain renewable materials, including rapidly-renewable wood species such as bamboo, and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles, and concrete formulations.

Indoor Air Quality Features

The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) must be appropriately sized for an efficient and properly ventilated home. Fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air. Low-VOC paints and finishes and wall papers should be used as well.

Outside the Home

In a green home, care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. Landscaping should contain plants that are appropriate for the climate, and grouped according to water needs. Driveways and other impervious surfaces should be reduced as much as possible, and may be composed of gravel, permeable block pavers, grids, or other permeable systems.

Among my favorite homes was a two-bedroom abode called Terra Spiritus (yes, each entry is named) located in Kayenta. Builder Jake Joines and Gulch Design Group created a modestly sized (3,200-square-foot) single level abode surrounded by unspoiled Utah desert. Simple yet striking, the very livable home has many appealing features. Among its most impressive are:

• A thoughtful, easy-living floor plan (no turrets, hidden rooms or stairways-to-nowhere to be found).
• Comforting, clean-lined design with windows properly positioned to frame the desert views.
• Scored concrete floors finished to resemble large polished tiles.
• Warm, inviting earth tones cover the walls and yes, even the ceilings.
• A well-planned, open kitchen with a generously sized pantry, multiple work-zones and nice finishes (Oiled Bronze appliances make a showing here and look great).