Upon entering the foyer of Casa Verde we were greeted by the house’s patio and spa, which lead into the building’s beautiful courtyard via a sliding set of doors. Despite the brisk weather and the foyer’s open air construction, the interior was pleasantly toasty thanks to the building’s solar-thermal heating system and radiant floors.The exterior walkways all feature permeable paving, a boon considering San Francisco’s temperamental rainy season and the Mission’s ancient state as a marshland. The courtyard is a peaceful place, silent save for the trickle of its fountain and the soft thrum of a wind turbine - a rarity in inner city spaces. It’s one of the few turbines that been cleared for construction in San Francisco as part of provisional study to test the efficiency of wind-power in the bay area. The turbine generates from 1.6 to 1.9 KW of electricity which is boosted by 5KW from a set of solar panels to provide for all of the 3,700 sq foot home’s energy needs. Should windspeeds increase above 60mph the turbine will lock up to prevent a breakdown, and our guide, Chris, allayed our avian fears, stating that not a single bird injury has happened since construction was finished last Fall.
By: Mike Chino.
No comments:
Post a Comment