Aspen WoodsA perfect harmony of environmentally sustainable innovations and modern amenities

Introduction Come home to Aspen Woods, a new eco-friendly community

located in Montgomery County, Texas. Aspen Woods is a unique new district within Montgomery County with many different incentives to maintain a healthy, thriving natural environment without forgoing efficiency and comfort. In this sustainable living subdivision, the

developers have created an ideal location for all households and have established incentives to make sustainable living within Aspen Woods

even easier for the residents. Aspen Woods developers have effectively established sustainable living characteristics through their use of eco-friendly innovations within the household and community, sustainable transportation methods throughout the neighbourhood, and with their use of eco-friendly building materials in the construction of all homes

within Aspen Woods. Luxury and sustainable innovations are the foundation of this inviting region of Montgomery County. Come and explore this innovative new community deep in the heart of Texas,

where sustainable practices are easily integrated into the community for a rewarding atmosphere.

Aspen Woods Living An overview of the cohesion between comfort and sustainable practices within the community

Objectives of Aspen Woods• To create a community that maintains

environmentally friendly practices with the intent of reducing the production of waste and the amounts of water and energy used for the

common household• To incorporate these practices in such a way that

comfort and ease will not be diminished by these sustainable practices

• To utilize new technologies within each household and community spaces that efficiently and

effectively reduce the overall global footprint of the neighbourhood

Aspen Woods Homes • Each home is approximately 2,500 square feet and

consists of 3 bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms• The cost of each home is $500,000 with additional

neighbourhood fees and the monthly payments for parking• The subdivision of Aspen Woods will consist of 24 homes,

a community center for neighbourhood and board meetings, a parking garage near the entrance, and green

space throughout the area• There will be a small shopping center at the entrance to

the neighbourhood, where community farmer’s markets will take place, and where small shops will be located, including a whole foods store to allow people to buy

groceries without having to drive to a store

FIRST

FLOOR

STAIRS

MASTER BEDROOM

BATHROOM

BATHROOM

STAIRS

SECOND BEDROOM

THIRD BEDROOM

BATHROOM BATHROOM

SECOND

FLOOR

Aspen Woods Transportation• Past the community parking garage, no vehicles are permitted due to

the inefficiency of the amount of gasoline used • To replace cars as transportation within the community, a BIXI ™ bike

station is located at the entrance to the neighbourhood, with three other stations located within the community

• In order to encourage our residents to walk within the subdivision, eco-friendly path lights are placed along the paths, and will remain lit for

the duration of “dark hours” depending on the time of year• Each resident is allotted one parking space within the garage that is

subject to a monthly fee throughout the year• Residents that own hybrid vehicles or electric cars will be given spaces

on an upper level of the garage, where the parking fee does not apply and proper methods of charging the cars are available

• Extra parking spaces may be purchased at the beginning of each year with the limit being two total parking spaces per household and the

monthly fee will double

Aspen Woods Green Space• All flora planted on Aspen Woods property must be cleared by the

neighbourhood board, and typically must be a native species in order to maintain biodiversity

• Within the four sections of the community, neighbourhood plots will be established in order to encourage residents to grow some of their own

food • Composts must be present in the garden of each home to promote

healthy soil to maximize the growth of wildlife • Common areas will also be located in the park with playground

equipment and picnic benches • Greenway™ lights will line all the paths and major areas inside the park

during the night, and gain energy from solar power during the day• Pesticides are not allowed in any of the gardens inside Aspen Woods, and

all fertilizers must be cleared by the board to ensure that they do not contain harmful chemicals

• Hiking paths and trails go through the community nature preserve and encircle it to promote walking and biking

Sustainable Innovations An outline of the creative technology used to maintain a healthy environment

The BIXI™ System• BICYCLE + TAXI = BIXI

• This system is known to utilize cutting-edge technology to provide residents with an efficient, simple method for

transportation within the community • This method of transportation is known for having a reduced

impact on the environment and is convenient for all residents • Research has shown that bike riders take in 40% less

pollutants than people who drive • Additionally, it has been shown that 500-700 calories are

burned every hour of biking and regular exercise on a bike is known to lower cholesterol levels

• Within Aspen Woods, the BIXI™ system will not function with the traditional universal keys, but instead each resident will

receive a key upon request without payment

Energy Star Appliances• In order to lower energy usage within Aspen Woods, common

appliances will be provide to residents upon purchase of a home• Energy Star homes are at minimum, 15% more energy efficient than

homes modeled after 2004 International Residence Code• The energy-saving features of home appliances, and heating and

cooling systems create homes that are typically 20-30% more efficient than the average home

• Important aspects of Energy Star homes include: o Effective insulation

o High-performance windows o Tight construction and ducts

o Efficient heating and cooling equipment o Efficient products

o Third-party verification • Rebates are available to homes that make a concious effort to reduce

their energy usage beyond the average home within Aspen Woods

RAINXCHANGE™ Water Collection Systems

• Each Aspen Woods household will be equipped with a packaged rain collection system in order to reduce the amounts of water

that the community uses • Residents will be given a choice for the style of their pre-packaged water collection systems, which will allow for aesthetic

benefits to the collection as well as environmental • Rainwater harvesting is known as beneficial to wildlife because it

provides more nutrients and removes chemicals from the water • Usage of rainwater also is known to reduce fertilizer use, which

is another benefit to the environment • Because Aspen Woods utilizes a management-operated sprinkler

system to restrict the amount of water used in the neighbourhood’s green space, rainwater harvesting allows

residents to distribute rainwater at their discretion

Eco-Friendly Practices A summary of small changes in normal routines to cut down energy and water use, and waste production

Building Materials • Using recycled-content materials reduces waste going to landfills, reduces

manufacturing waste and pollution, and reduces energy consumption• Eco-friendly buildings eliminate many problems with the average modern construction

because “green” homes have good ventilation, breathable walls, and utilize natural, non-toxic products and materials

• Tradical® Hemcrete®, produced by Lime Technology, is a cutting-edge form of eco-friendly building that is “a negative carbon bio-composite product comprised of hemp

and a lime based binder” that exhibits efficient thermal properties for comfortable buildings

• This type of eco-friendly building material helps to achieve a lower carbon dioxide footprint and contributes to forming a sustainable low carbon built environment

• Green roofing is an option to Aspen Woods residents, in which vegetation is incorporated onto the roof, allowing for:

o Manageable storm-water runoffo Increased energy efficiencyo Improved air quality

• Residents who choose to install a vegetated roof will also receive a rebate on property taxes due to their efforts

• Other options for sustainable roofing are available to homeowners without going as far as a vegetated roof, such as the Enviroshake® reclaimed materials roof

Saving Energy• In addition to the utilization of Star Energy appliances, landscaping for each lot will include the positioning of trees on

the sides of each home in order to reduce air conditioning usage

• Households that make efforts to reduce the amount of energy that they are consuming will be recognized by the board, and

will receive rebates on property tax • Homes that also use other methods of saving energy, such as

growing some of their own food, or using electric vehicles will also receive rebates for their efforts

• All homes that are designated as Energy Star homes will receive government rebates

• Households that convert to alternative forms of energy, frequently solar power, will also receive rebates for their efforts

Solar Energy Panels• All community buildings, including the parking garage

and shops outside the community’s entrance will be powered by solar energy

• Households that choose to convert their energy source to solar energy will receive rebates and can conduct

their conversion with the aid of the Aspen Woods board• Energy Star residential wind turbines will also be used

within the community, and are applicable to rebates • Residential fuel cells produced by Energy Star are also

accepted as a method to reduce energy consumption if they have a rate of efficiency that is at least 30%

• Solar energy panels may also be used as water heaters

Reasons to Move to Aspen Woods

• Increased awareness about society’s environmental impacts and innovative options to reduce households’ carbon

footprints• Improved lifestyle with more time spent outdoors (walking, biking, gardening) and a significant decrease in pollutants and

chemicals• Imaginative techniques to reducing

pollution, waste production, and energy and water consumption

Alternative Forms of Energy

Sustainable Innovations

Eco-Friendly Appliances

Aspen Woods, Montgomery

County, Texas: Where

sustainable development

meets comfort

Bibliography• Bloomberg.com. BIXI Bicycle System. N.d. Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg, n.d.

Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://images.businessweek.com/ ss/ 09/ 07/ 0729_IDEA_awards_transportation/ 3.htm>.

• “Cedar Shake.” Enviroshake. N.p., 2005. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.enviroshake.com/ products-environmental.php>.

• Energy Star. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.energystar.gov/ index.cfm?c=home.index>.

• “Greenway.” Sol. Sol Incorporated, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. <http://www.solarlightingusa.com/ greenway.html>.

• Public Bike System. N.p., 2009-2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.bixisystem.com/ home>.

• RainXChange Rainwater Harvest Systems. Aquascape Incorporated, 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.rainxchange.com/>.

• Sustainable Build. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/ EcoFriendlyConstructionMethodsMaterials.html>.

• “Tradical Hemcrete.” Lime Technology. Lime Technology Ltd, 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.limetechnology.co.uk/>.

• “Vegetated Roofing Solutions.” Tremco. Tremco Incorporated, 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.tremcoroofing.com/ vegetatedroofing.asp>.

Created by Stefanie Ott, 2012