Green Building : Jetson Green

Modern Green 555YVR in Walnut Creek

In the California city of Walnut Creek, this stunning green project is nearing completion with occupancy planned for October 2009.  555YVR gets its name from its location -- 555 Ygnacio Valley Road, which is conveniently located within walking distance of BART and a number of downtown restaurants and nightclubs.  Thompson | Dorfman Partners developed 55YVR with the architectural help of Kwan Henmi and KTGY Group, and the project was built to LEED standards.  Some of the green aspects include the following:

100k House Gets All Sorts of Props

A long time ago, we mentioned the 100k House project developed by Post Green in Philadelphia.  The project involves two attached homes designed by Interface Studio Architects, and one was a case study of sorts to try to build it for only $100,000.  What I liked about the project was its attempt to marry three essential elements: style, sustainability, and affordability.  All too often, these three are hard to put together in the same package.  But the media wave followed, and Post Green seems to have delivered what it set out to do.

Green Prefab Townhomes Hit Oakland

Prefab multifamily is the new black these days, which is why we’ve been watching startup ZETA Communities with interest.  ZETA, which stands for Zero Energy Technology and Architecture, finished these live/work, net zero energy townhomes in Oakland and has a number of other projects in the works.  The townhomes achieved LEED Platinum certification, a 240 green point rating, and an EPA Indoor airPLUS, the EPA’s highest indoor air rating.  Each home is 1,540 square feet with two bedrooms and a single-car garage.  And they’re packed with some of the following green elements and strategies:

Stunning Passive Solar Remington Court

One of Hybrid Architecture + Assembly's most recent projects, Remington Court, is quite stunning.  Opting to do everything from start to finish, the company designed, developed, and built the four-unit project -- a successful endeavor considering three of the four units sold prior to completion!  The interiors are modern and minimalist, relying on products such as HenryBuilt cabinets, Corian counters, Starck-designed Duravit toilets, and some of the following green features and elements:

Platinum Vertical Modern Urban Lofts

Just last month, these seven, attached, single-family homes received LEED Platinum certification -- the first homes in Arkansas to achieve the USGBC's highest designation!  Vertical Modern Urban Lofts is located in downtown Little Rock, and the second phase of the project is under construction right now.  The homes range in price from $299k - $399k, and they're destined to save owners some cash going forward.  They exceed Energy Star standards by 41% and feature a number of green elements:

Celadon Eco Townhomes Now Complete!

Wow, these turned out nice!  We mentioned Celadon a long time ago, and now the twenty-four unit development is complete.  The Charlotte Business Journal gave Celadon their Green Multifamily Project of the Year Award, and despite this crazy real estate market, buyers (who committed to a unit at the top of the market) are getting appraisals at the contract price.  I guess you could say green and modern design holds market value ... we certainly think it does.  The interiors are minimalist and just right. 

Eco Modern Atlanta Green Townhomes

About a month ago, we featured Concourse E's green home in Atlanta on 81 Weatherby, but Concourse E also developed the neighboring parcel with two townhomes.  Like 81, 85 and 89 Weatherby are both posh, modern, and green -- just the way we like them.  85 is going for $524,500, while 89 is going for $529,500, which is roughly $170 per square foot.  For that, you get three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a large list of green features:

Tahoma Eco-Luxury Utah Townhouses

Some of you may be in Park City for the Sundance Film Festival this week, and while you're in town, you might want to go check out some green projects.  Probably the greenest building in Utah is located near Kimball Junction -- Swaner EcoCenter -- it's a must tour facility and nature preserve.  Another project worth checking out, and maybe worth buying, is a three townhouse community called Tahoma.  With Tahoma, a local developer took a dive into green development waters and ended up achieving the first Built Green Utah certified residential development in Park City.  Tahoma was developed by Baker Street Properties, and based upon my communications with the developer, they're ready to build even greener for future projects. 

Rock Row Small Lot Eco Town Homes

Last month, Heyday Partnership began construction on a slick small lot development called Rock Row.  Located in the Eagle Rock area, which is north of downtown LA, Rock Row will feature town home-esque (no party wall) properties at affordable-ish ($475k-$550k) prices.  Believe it or not -- those of you outside of New York and California, Rock Row is considered one of the first, reasonably-priced, green housing projects in Los Angeles.  The development team includes an architect, developer, and builder working in collaboration, so Heyday is able to pass on affordability to future home buyers.

Nzinga Modern Modular Town Homes

Check out these modern green town homes being developed by Yolande Nicholson called Nzinga Town Homes.  Designed by Garrison Architects (the same firm that brought you the Tread Lightly House), each Nzinga Town Home residence consists of 2900 total square feet with 2000 sf of living space and 900 sf for a separate apartment space.  The homes are open, airy, and abundant with natural light, but if you're looking for a little privacy, the vertical trellis work seems just right for a green wall and some natural shading.