Pulte Homes goes green with a silver lining

Pulte Homes is taking green building to a new level by constructing the first two homes in Southern Nevada with the goal of achieving the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building certification.

Pulte is certifying these homes under the LEED for Homes Program in cooperation with the U.S. Green Building Council, Sonoran LEED for Homes, Energy Sense/Masco Contractor Services, Nevada Power and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The homes are being built with the goal of achieving Silver Level under the LEED for Homes Program.

The homes are located in Pulte Homes' Del Webb community The Club at Madeira Canyon. This guard-gated neighborhood, located just south of Anthem in Henderson and within the 487-acre Madeira Canyon master-planned community, is adjacent to Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area and offers spectacular views. According to the USGBC, the LEED for Homes program is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance "green" homes, which use less energy, water and natural resources; create less waste; and are healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. The benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and healthier air quality through less exposure to mold, mildew, allergens and other toxins.

The LEED for Homes Program confers its stamp of approval on four levels -- Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum -- according to the total number of credits compiled.

Walter Cuculic, director of strategic marketing for Pulte/Del Webb Nevada, said Pulte is excited to be the first builder in Southern Nevada to build homes under the LEED for Homes Program.

"Pulte and Del Webb have an established record as leaders in building energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive homes, and LEED is the most recognized national certification for green building," Cuculic said. "Following the example of companies such as MGM/Mirage CityCenter (the largest planned LEED-certified building complex ever), Pulte recognized the consumer demand for high performance/ green homes and approached the USGBC and Sonoran LEED for Homes as partners to help us build these two pilot homes. The experience has been very gratifying -- we anticipate a high level of demand among home buyers for these environmentally friendly executive-level homes -- and if consumer demand is there, it is our intention to offer LEED-certified homes at other Del Webb and Pulte communities in the future."

Cuculic said the cost difference of building a LEED-certified home is minimal compared to building homes using existing energy efficiency standards in Las Vegas. The difference between LEED homes and a standard Pulte home is that the builder is taking it one step further, he said, by looking at water and material conservation; indoor air quality, site location and consumer education.

"Utility bills in LEED-certified homes are about 50 percent less on average than conventional homes," he said. "While each home will cost approximately 1 to 2 percent more to build, subsidies and tax incentives we receive from Nevada Power and the federal government mean only a fraction of the additional costs are passed on to the customer."

At the same time, Cuculic said, the indoor air quality in a LEED-certified home is substantially improved through the implementation of enhanced air filtration and cleaning systems as well as reduced indoor toxins. Additionally, enhanced water conservation is realized through the use of dual-flush toilets, higher-efficiency appliances, water-conserving shower heads and faucets, recirculating hot water pumps and smart outdoor irrigation systems with sensors that can measure ground moisture and precipitation.

Electricity use is reduced through such features as high-performance insulation and windows, Energy Star appliances, compact fluorescent lights and 15-SEER-rated air-conditioning systems. As with all Pulte/Del Webb Homes, the LEED Homes are constructed with Environments for Living building technology.

"The U.S. Green Building Council, Nevada Chapter is thrilled that Pulte/Del Webb has chosen LEED as a green building rating system for these homes," said Steve Rypka, co-founder and board member of the Nevada chapter of USGBC. "Pulte/Del Webb is displaying tremendous leadership in Southern Nevada by being on the forefront of residential green building with LEED. When added to the already excellent product they produce, this will result in homes of exceptional high performance, quality and durability, as well as healthy places for people to live in."

Another benefit to homeowners, along with allowing them to reduce their impact on the environment, is proximity to the private clubhouse/community center. The clubhouse has a swimming pool, cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, conference room with flat-screen monitors and other amenities.

One of the two LEED Homes is near completion and open for touring, and both will be available for sale starting this weekend. To arrange a tour, visitors can stop by The Club at Madeira Canyon sales information center.

Take the southern portion of Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, to Eastern Avenue and go south, past St. Rose Parkway, to Anthem Parkway, then turn left. Continue on Anthem about six miles, then make a left onto Bicentennial Parkway, a left onto Anthem Highlands Drive, and a left onto Democracy Drive, then follow the signs to the model park.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Wednesday when they open at noon.

For more information on LEED-certified homes and The Club at Madeira Canyon, call 403-1681 or visit delwebb.com.