Pardee & KSDG: Teaming up for Sustainability Part 3

Here’s the third and final part of Scott Pardee’s discussion of how KSDG and Pardee Construction are reaching economically feasible and sustainably conscious solutions to housing! Read about the other six factors in Parts I and II.

7. Roof Gardens - These innovative gardens are becoming very popular among sustainability-minded households. We have blogged about rooftop gardens on the KSDG blog in the past, and have raved about their environmental benefits. Not only can these gardens be done inexpensively, but they are also drought tolerant and weather resistant when sedum is used as the main garden component. Additionally the plant requires very few resources, so it is an economically viable rooftop garden option.

8. Pervious Paving - Pervious concrete and drivable surfaces offer sustainable options for transportation and parking. Pervious concrete prevents water pollution by allowing water to seep directly through the surface and into the earth below. Drivable surfaces, such as grass parking spaces, also create sustainable spaces with function use for our modern technologies.

9. Breathable Walls  - Using natural materials to create breathable walls allows for effective heating and cooling systems in sustainably conscious housing. Breathable systems also decrease mold accumulation, allowing for healthier living situations.

Pardee & KSDG: Teaming up for Sustainability Part 1

Pardee Construction and KSDG are teaming up to work together and achieve 3 goals in sustainability:

1. Highest possible energy efficiency for housing
2. Demonstrate to the local community that sustainable choices can be made based solely on economics
3. Net Zero — for emissions and energy

How? Scott Pardee of Pardee Construction recently presented to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s city planning department just that. In his presentation, Scott highlights some of the choices Pardee Construction and KSDG have been making in order to achieve these goals. Here are the the first 3 of 9 factors Scott highlighted in his presentation:

1. Radiant Barrier - These barriers, made of highly reflective material and installed in attics, re-emit radiant heat rather than absorbing it. As a result, cooling costs are lowered in the summer. An efficient radiant barrier is marked by low emissivity and high reflectivity.

2. Rammed Earth - A building model borrowed from ancient times, rammed earth is a wall construction method that uses the Earth’s raw materials. This method is attractive for sustainability reasons because of the locality of the materials. Since the necessary building elements are often proximal, it takes less energy and resources to get them to the necessary building location. The density, thickness, and thermal conductivity of rammed earth walls also has sustainable benefits and make them a suitable material for passive solar heating.

3. Inter Company Development - This includes community activities like on-site organic gardening and encouraging people to bike or walk to work. A lifestyle of sustainability is a necessary couple to sustainable design!

Great Engineering in Service of Great Design

From our friend, green architect Benjamin Parco:

See his last two posts here: Design and Consumer Products | Distilling Customer Desire.

“Good design balances art and science. Good products balance art and science also. However, much of the technology we interact with is designed using science (engineering) and then wrapped in industrial design. What so often happens is that technology companies run by engineers attempt to design products and then get the industrial designers to design a box for that technology to sit in. This approach has lead to the infamous, “I can’t program the clock on my VCR” syndrome. And while many very successful companies have been built on this model, smarter companies like Apple are now operating on a model which is leading to better products, happier customers and an unstoppable consumer cult following.

And while under all of it Apple is still a technology company, they behave more like a design company. This is something of a simplification but at Apple designers who deeply understand their customer’s wants, needs and desires run the company. They set the direction of a product under development and then collaborate with their engineers to develop technology that will satisfy the needs of the design. This is important… the needs of the design, not the needs of someone’s blind desire to cram their favorite new pet technology into the product. The designers shepherd their designs through all stages of the design and engineering process to be sure the design doesn’t slip off he tracks somewhere along the way, something that can happen all too easily.”

More from Ben tomorrow…

2415 S. St. Louis Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

2415 S. St. Louis Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma

this beautiful three-story home, in the terwilliger heights neighborhood of midtown tulsa, oklahoma boasts a formal living room and formal dining room with restored 1923 details, updated modern kitchen and 4 ½ modern baths, 4 spacious bedrooms, hardwood floors on the 2nd and 3rd floors, terrazzo flooring in the media room with a built-in surround sound audio/ visual system, pool, pool house, fish pond, wine cellar and 2 car garage. the renovation on this property within walking distance of utica square shopping will be complete in April 2009.

1704 S. Madison Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma

this amazing maple ridge home is almost complete. we have finished the all the plumbing , wiring, and tile in the house and we are now painting. the new custom, solid wood cabinets and countertops will be installed in the next two weeks. the projected time of completion is end of november.

804, 820, 822 East Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

804, 820, 822 East Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma

the first new modern housing construction downtown.  the bend is conveniently located minutes from the new BOK coliseum and only 3 blocks from the site of the new baseball stadium. this three block redevelopment project that will include eco-conscious modern housing mixed with eclectic local retail in the shadow of downtown tulsa. homes on three to four levels with exciting city views, plenty of privacy, and enclosed parking. The interior living square footage range is 2500-3500, and they are priced from mid $500K- mid $600K large bedrooms spacious modern bathrooms high ceilings, recessed halogen lighting throughout, spacious laundry rooms, real stone tile in baths, prewired with smart wire for premium sound system and computer networks, large living, dining rooms, and kitchen, custom-made modern, solid wood cabinetry with hydraulic closing, high-end stainless steel appliances, polished concrete, hardwood, and real stone floors, security system, garage, high-end modern plumbing and lighting fixtures, spacious roof deck with skyline views, wired for sound and plumbed for optional hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and optional solar power.

 

1408 S. Cheyenne, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

1408 S. Cheyenne, Tulsa, Oklahoma

a modern 20-unit condo development in  downtown  tulsa, ok with views of the downtown skyline is minutes from cherry street shopping and restaurant district and scenic riverside drive. the 1500 s.f. units will be available for $265K – $295K. many modern amenities include: roof deck with optional hot tub, smart wiring for household computer and entertainment networking, custom made solid wood cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, stone tile in bathrooms, private courtyard, living room, dining room, kitchen, office, media room, master suite with a large bathroom, guest suite, and garage. coming spring 2009!

the temple project at 1306 cheyenne in tulsa

 

1306 S. Cheyenne, Tulsa, Oklahoma

this Tulsa icon is the first synagogue in the state of oklahoma, which has been vacant for over a decade will be restored on the interior and exterior to its original character and detail. New gardens will be constructed around the outside.  It will become listed on the National Historic Registry and put back to community use Fall of 2009.

1735 S. Yorktown, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

1735 South Yorktown Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma

this 1910s bungalow remodel between the utica square shopping district and gillette park historic district of midtown tulsa, ok is for sale for $250K. the house was completely gutted and remodeled with new, plumbing, electrical, heat and cooling systems. the modern kitchen includes custom walnut cabinets, black granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, living, dining, kitchen, basement, a large front porch and a large rear deck. the hall bath was restored and the master bedroom was completely updated adding a large master bath with a two person shower, two modern vanities an extra closet and private toilet.

1704 Madison st., Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

1704 Madison Street

KSDG is bringing back to life this 1910 Edwardian home with vigor.  It is located on prestigious Madison Street, a boulevard in the Maple Ridge district of Midtown Tulsa, OK.  The spacious first floor includes a large covered front porch; a large living room with fireplace and grand staircase; a spacious dining room; a light filled office; a large master bedroom with French doors to the exterior deck, a very large spa bathroom with a two person walk in shower, soaking tub with chandelier, double vanities, open dressing areas, a private toilet, and double French doors to an exterior deck and garden. A very large modern kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances and custom made, modern, solid wood cabinets with hydrolic closing and solid stone slab counter tops completes the first floor.  The second floor boasts a large family room with fireplace and built in surround sound, two large bedrooms with ample closet space and a large modern bathroom with walk-in shower and double vanities. Our Madison remodel also has a large full basement and detached 2 car garage with workshop. This handsome home is marketed for sale at $489K.