Page 5 - Fast Forward to a Sustainable Future

not just about fi ve to 10 years from “ You have a confl uence of factors, communities to meet zero-energy-
now,” Topiwala says. “We know ready home standards in the United
consumers have an expectation, where the environment in which States.
and we target to meet and exceed One way of achieving that
those expectations.” we live is changing and forcing goal is by making systems easier
Bosch is involved in a number for builders to install, such as
of high-performance developments people to change behaviors and geothermal technology. To address
around the country, including that need, Taurus Investment
Sage at Maple Lawn by Bozzuto look for different solutions.” Holdings created a thermo-energy
and Whisper Valley by Taurus supply system.
Investment Holdings. “If you can design using the right thinking up “Instead of asking our builder to put in those systems individually,
front, the overall commercial design and impact of the neighborhood we created a district system. We took geothermal technology and
can be well-managed to help promote healthy lifestyles with limited combined homes together to create a geothermal energy field,
impact on the carbon footprint,” Topiwala says. which allows us to meet the energy needs of each house much more
effi ciently,” says Douglas Gilliland, president of Taurus Investment
MODERATELY PRICED EFFICIENT LIVING Holdings. “It’s much less complicated for a builder to hook into and
Whisper Valley is a 2,063-acre, mixed-use community being saves a lot of money.”
developed in Austin, Texas. It will include more than 7,500 single- Each home will include a Bosch geothermal heat pump, as well as
and multi-family homes and more than 2 million square feet of retail a hot water system and kitchen appliances. The homes also either
and commercial space. have solar panels already installed, or are solar PV-ready. But Taurus
The community’s goal is to off er residents an environmentally Investment Holdings didn’t stop at innovative energy-efficient
sensitive and thoughtful technology lifestyle. Every building in systems.
the community will be capable of achieving Zero Energy Ready “We’re looking at land planning from a more holistic standpoint,
certifi cation; the community is one of the fi rst master-planned such as the geothermal systems, heat pumps and solar capabilities,”

Mixed use. Willow Valley will include
2 million square feet of retail and
commercial space, in addition to
aff ordable, high-performance homes.

CREDIT: TAURUS INVESTMENT HOLDINGS

FAST FORWARD TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 5