Page 33 - Green Builder Sept-Oct 2016

not just about five to 10 years from “You have a confluence of factors, communities to meet zero-energy-
now,” Topiwala says. “We know ready home standards in the United

consumers have an expectation, States.
One way of achieving that
where the environment in whichand we target to meet and exceed
those expectations.” goal is by making systems easier
for builders to install, such as
we live is changing and forcing peopleBosch is involved in a number

of high-performance developments geothermal technology. To address
that need, Taurus Investment
to change behaviors and look foraround the country, including

Sage at Maple Lawn by Bozzuto Holdings created a thermo-energy
supply system.
different solutions.”and Whisper Valley by Taurus

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

efficiently,” 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 offer 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,

certification; the community is one of the first 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 affordable, high-
performance homes.

CREDIT: TAURUS INVESTMENT HOLDINGS

www.greenbuildermedia.com September/October 2016 GREEN BUILDER 31