Oro Valley’s newest major upscale development,
Ponticello, is focused on green development and living. Set apart on its
own private gated mesa of 250 acres in La Reserve, accessed by bridge, it is the
eastern hillside directly above Honeywell on North Oracle Road.
“Ponticello, by the nature of its landscape, creates
an island unto itself. We appreciate our connection to this land and want
to preserve all that is special about it,” says Jack Schoof, President of
Electronic Communities, Inc. the developers of Ponticello. “To that end,
we have strict building requirements for both design and impact. An
upscale buyer of today appreciates the care and thought that goes into decisions
we make for the good of the community and the earth. Ponticello is
developed to be a simile of an old European Town. We will have large
estate homes in Ponticello, but they will be more efficient, lower impact per
square foot, save money and be incredible works of art placed in a fabulous one
of a kind setting.”
Green, for
Ponticello development, means using on-site materials and plants. “We have
our own rock crusher and excavation equipment. Instead of hauling
materials up and down the hill wasting fuel, we crush the rocks uncovered from
roadways into road bed and fill materials. The decorative rocks are saved
for landscaping, walls, and monuments. We also try to save as many plants
as possible, from the tiny hedgehog cactus, on up,” says Schoof.
Green, for
Ponticello’s estates, include high efficiency walls, roofs, and windows mandated
by design guidelines. Masonry or insulated concrete forms (ICFs) with high
density foam or structural panel roofs contribute to high insulation values and
low waste. Efficient windows and doors keep allergens at bay. Active
fresh air circulation systems exhaust stale air and bring in fresh filtered air
constantly though a heat exchanger with minimal power used. Porches,
porticos, deep set windows, rock work, plaster, pavers, concrete - all use
natural materials and reuse techniques of old to accomplish energy efficiency
today. According to Schoof, “By taking advantage of the high sun in the
summer and the low sun in the winter, you can reduce heating and cooling bills
in an efficient home.”
Green, for
Ponticello living, means walking, hiking or biking to its planned private
community center named Centrale’. Centrale’ will capture rain water and
grey water for its extensive gardens and water features. “It is poor planning to
waste water in the desert, especially at the scale of a community center.
We encourage our owners to conserve water in their homes by example,” says
Schoof. Centrale’ will have a private restaurant, workout facilities,
indoor golf, exercise pool, spa, tennis, bocce, saunas, meeting rooms, offices,
museum and guest casitas. According to Schoof, “Centrale’ also allows the
estates to lower their impact by placing commonly used resources in a central
area. Each estate could eliminate a workout room, a pool, hot tub or
sauna. Since guests can stay in casitas, a bedroom and bath could be
traded for expansion or addition of other rooms such as a theater or
office. Most importantly Centrale’ brings the community
together.”
A minimum
of two kilowatts of solar Photo Voltaic (PV) panels per home provide power to
the grid when the home does not need it, turning the meter backward making money
for the home. PV’s are mandated by Ponticello. Schoof says, “With
over 100 homes and the community center with solar power, Ponticello could
generate well over a megawatt of electric power per day not derived from fossil
fuels, saving over 1000 pounds of CO2 per day. Our commitment to the land
covers not only its development, building requirements, and community lifestyle,
but also extends to our atmosphere and the sun above. Someday, maybe all
developments can be done in this way.”
