LEED to green!

Let me just say that I am amazed! Design collides with Green Building in an effort to spread eco-friendly developments.

Modus Development, based in Phoenix, defines itself in three ways on their Web site--

"an arrangement of or mode of expressing, the idea of variation or departure from some general rule or form, and lifestyle: a manner of living that reflects a person's values and attitudes."

Besides having an innovative and unique name, Modus developers pick and choose sites to build upon, which otherwise are not utilized to the fullest, to create an environment that suits the residents lifestyle inside their homes and where they work. Creatively developing beautiful homes with sophisticated and edgy designs alongside modular appearances, Modus' developments are also green!

Phoenix communities developed by Modus include The Galleries at Turney, Array, Vivendi, and Project MZ. The Galleries at Turney are located at 24th Street and Camelback, and comprise eight units that are un-attached to each other. Array is located in Scottsdale, two blocks east of the Indian Bend Wash, and comprises nine, three-story units. Vivendi, Modus' newest development, is also located in Scottsdale, but on Hayden Road. And Project MZ will comprise six units.

All four developments showoff great and modern design. But most importantly, these communities are eco-built. According to the Modus Web site:

"All Modus developments are developed to meet Green Building standards, which have many high-performance features that provide improved health, safety, comfort and lower operating costs. Green buildings are more environmentally friendly, including being more durable and less polluting, as well as making substantially better use of resources including energy, water, materials and land. Long term, Green Building projects have higher resale values and lower maintenance and operating costs."

Also, Modus communities meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Green Building requirements. According to the Modus Web site:

"The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a performance-oriented, consensus-developed rating system. Credits are earned for satisfying specific Green Building criteria by reviewing five major environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality."

Take the Array community for example. One of the development's energy efficient features is eco-friendly building materials, such as "corrugated metal siding and fibrous concrete panels that act as a rain screen while creating a thermal barrier that eliminates heat transmission to the building while effectively shading the building from the heat of the desert sun," according to the Modus Web site.

So again, I'm amazed. Green Building is really LEED-ing the way! And Modus Development is ahead of the game! Check out Desert Living and Green Homebuilder's articles on Modus.

See you next week!