Environment is of prime concern to the overall design of the Nature Pointe Community. You will want to maintain the beauty of this special place in the Land of Enchantment as much as we do. Covenants have been created to enhance the natural balance at Nature Pointe. Starting with water conservation, the Covenants have specific requirements and recommendations to further the goal of conservation of such a precious resource. From water-saving fixtures and appliances to xeriscapes, outdoor water conservation ideas will be provided. Swales and rainwater recapture are encouraged.Nature Pointe has taken initiative to create building envelopes restricting the developable portion of the lot to the most sensible areas for your dream home. Further enhancements control two-story homes in areas sensitive to blocking viewscapes of other homeownes. We have completed preliminary soil investigations to determine the best location for the wastewater treatment area for many lots. This level of planning creates the best treatment option on the best soil groups lessening potential effects on ground water.
Environment and Energy. The Clubhouse Solar Heating system is expected to supply the lion’s share of the heating requirements for the building and also for the indoor pool. The heart of the Solar system will be two or three 12,000-gallon thermal storage tanks acting as the thermal energy bank to facilitate the efficient radiant floor heating system used throughout the clubhouse. The mechanical room was redesigned to facilitate this important part of the solar heating system. Efficient, radiant floor heating complements the lower temp requirements of the solar heating system, while creating a more comfortable environment. Such massive storage creates a thermal flywheel if there is cloudy weather in the forecast.
Supplemental Wood heating of the clubhouse may include a powerful 425,000 BTU Garn Smokeless Wood Heating boiler. Heat calculations to determined need for Garn by mechanical engineer. Please see www.GARN.com for more information about this highly efficient wood heating system. It is so efficient you can actually run your hand through the chimney pipe with no visible smoke out of the tailpipe. Garn has quite a history having been in production for over 25 yeas. The boiler is a perfect complement to the 12,000 gallon thermal storage tank as the Garn can be run at full output with maximum efficiency storing the BTU heat in the thermal storage tank for later use, leveling out variations in solar output during cloudy days. Extra insulation levels of the building as well as Low-E glass results in a minimum amount of fossil fuels being consumed. The electric pumps running the solar system will be powered by a small photovoltaic array as well. Wood shall be reclaimed from road clearing and various lot thinning. We expect to secure waste wood for recycling from other sources preventing it from ending up in the landfill.
The Great Room and Anasazi Hall will be supplemental heated with an Inglenook Airtight Fireplace made by Country Flame. See www.CountryFlame.com for more information about this high-output 151,000 BTU warm and aesthetic heater. The Inglenook is EPA approved for no-burn nights due to its low pollution levels and high efficiency. So you get the best of both worlds, a beautiful cozy fire with excellent heat output and no net gain hydrocarbons emitted to the atmosphere as with fossil fuels.
Rainwater Recapture is expected to be accomplished with two ovesized underground cisterns totaling approximately 100,000 gallons of capacity. Water from the clubhouse roof, patio, tennis court, parking lot, maintenance building, bocce ball courts and basketball court create a huge collection capacity. When it rains the cisterns will have the capacity to store water for use months later if needed. Water will be used to supply pond with make-up water as well as watering the greenbelt and landscape areas throughout the 4-acre park.
The Clubhouse incorporates efficient compact fluorescent lighting and other energy saving fixtures. Simple, inviting stained concrete flooring is both simple to maintain and limiting inside air contaminants.
Our planning of the amenities gave extensive consideration to Green Building ideas without sacrificing the benefits of such a unique facility. All green ideas also had to create a lower annual maintenance budget to keep Homeownes Association dues to a minimum, even though such refinements required a higher upfront cost to the developer. Long-term analysis was given to each amenity and Green idea that could be included. The Nature Pointe Clubhouse and Community were designed to create the highest standard of lifestyle amenities, in harmony with nature, while benefiting the Environment at the same time.