Join the Fall '09 PDC students on the bus for a private tour!!!

PDC Home Site Tour - Saturday, November 7th

Looking for inspiration? Ideas? Resources? For a small fee of $50 to help cover expenses, join the Fall 2009 Permaculture Design Course students on the bus for a private tour of four different home sites on alternative building materials and methods.

There are only two spots open!!!

If you would like to join us on the bus please reply to this discussion and I will send you the details.

The first two people to reply to this discussion with a definite YES gets the spots.

The $50 can be paid in cash or by check before boarding the bus.
If paying by check, please make the check out to Phoenix Permaculture Guild.

The home sites are:

Dalrymple Residence
Mick Dalrymple is co-owner of a.k.a. Green in Scottsdale and is a LEED Accredited Professional and the first LEED AP HOMES and NAHB Green Verifier in Arizona. He purchased his 1975 Phoenix masonry home in late 2003 and has been retrofitting it incrementally ever since for energy efficiency, renewable energy, indoor air quality, water efficiency and finish aesthetics, with many products straight from a.k.a Green. With net zero energy usage as the goal, his family has reached a 70% reduction so far.
http://akagreen.com/news.php?id=77

Hoffmann Residence
Beth Hoffmann’s straw bale house located in Tempe, was built in 1999 by 30 volunteers in barn raising fashion in one day! With 2-foot thick walls so energy efficient the most expensive summer power bills seldom top $52. Beth Hoffmann, a resident of Tempe, Arizona, facilitated the establishment of the first straw-bale construction codes in Tempe. Beth notes, “between the walls, the rebar and the (main) roof beam, I had about $1,400 into it. Of course, I had other expenses. But I kept them low.” See this amazing, low cost, alternative home!
http://www.strawmakescents.com/

DiFrancesco-Priebe Residence
Located within a historic district, this four-year old infill residence incorporates numerous green building/sustainable strategies while keeping with the neighborhood. The east-west axis with large south-facing windows coupled with stained concrete floors and countertops for thermal mass provide much of the winter heating requirement. Gray water lines to the landscape and many other water-saving strategies are incorporated. Exterior walls are constructed of OmniBlock with an additional inch of insulation applied to the exterior of the wall and interior insulation is made from recycled denim blue jeans! Lots of natural daylight provided by windows and solar tube, high-efficiency air cooling, tankless water heater and a PV solar power system make this a super-livable home.

Cosanti
Cosanti is the gallery, studio and residence of Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri. Located in Paradise Valley, Arizona and open to the public, Cosanti is marked by terraced landscaping and experimental earth-formed concrete structures. The many structures at Cosanti include the original “Earth House” (which is partially underground), student dormitories, outdoor studios, performance space, a swimming pool, a gift shop, and Soleri’s residence. All these are set amidst courtyards, terraces, and garden paths, and the entire site has carefully been desert-landscaped.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosanti
http://www.cosanti.com/