sustainable living
Frances Kao, PH2 Square, and Nancy M. Picard, Ph.D. figure out how to harness the power of rain, wind, sunlight, and the earth to create sustainable and resilient homes in bustling urban environments. Their commitment to improving the world, one house at a time, is evident in every square inch she and Frances have pored over at 5691 N. Ridge. In addition to extra-large balconies to allow fresh air and deck gardens, a few notable features are below.
PAVERS
Walk across a large front plaze and resident garden areas lined with Korean pines and large planters of Japanese Maples as you step on permeable pavers. Permeable pavers are the developer’s conscious choice to find ways to permit rainwater to pass through the paver surface to the soil below.
WATERING SYSTEM
A cloud-based watering system determines the moisture content of the soil and incorporates that information into the frequency of watering, relying on rain and natural elements before supplementing irrigation.
SOLAR
Across the possible sunny spots on the roof, the mounted field of solar panels operate on a cloud-based system to generate at least 4.8 kW/hour dedicated to power the energy needs of the building’s common spaces, reducing the cost of the building’s overall heating and cooling needs.
PARKING
Hovering above the 9 parking spaces assigned 1 per unit, find 10 secure wall-mounted bike racks and 2 designated parking spaces for those with disabilities.