Green Building design and construction in Baja California.

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NewTek Constructions – committed to make a difference
Since Al Gore achieved international notoriety and shared the treasured Pulitzer Prize for his work illuminating the effects of global climate change as a result of increasing carbon emissions, there has been so much hype surrounding green initiatives and sustainability that people have become overwhelmed with information – so much so that many feel paralyzed by the number of options that exist to decrease energy consumption. We often overlook the bigger picture because it is truly overwhelming, offering very little “good news” for the future. This is not to suggest that the value of saving each watt or gallon of water is unimportant. Assuming the responsibility to make small dents in bigger items, instead of focusing our energies on making insignificant big changes to smaller items, is the real secret to reducing our overall global energy footprint.

Shore’s team opted for a smarter alternative building material offering benefits such as seismic strength exceeding Zone 4 earthquake design, the ability to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and climate comfort – all part of the cast-in-place Quad Lock ICF “insulated concrete foam” system. This energy-efficient concrete / foam combination, pioneered and promoted by NewTek in Mexico, provides superior insulation, isolation, and interior acoustics. The Quadlock system, along with a shading model with deep balcony overhangs, also provides an estimated 50% reduction in
cooling load. ICF’s allow great flexibility, quick installation with reduced material handling, and far less wasted fuel required to deliver heavy concrete block over long distances to
development sites. Shore hopes to change the model and is leading by example.

At La Concha Pearl, Shore’s team designed a system that uses efficient chillers with evaporated cooling and after-hours production of “ice” in the thermal storage system and self-contained
cistern, instead of employing traditional air-cooled chillers or roof top condensers. Their method is purported to be 30% more efficient and shifts 30% of the cooling load to the night time, further reducing utility bills by staying off the peak billing period. To avoid wasting energy, smarter and practical “brains” were incorporated into simple computerized energy management systems
allowing the shutdown of systems when not in use. It is a known fact there is nothing greener than turning systems off, especially when there is no impact to the building occupants. To add greater efficiency to the building’s creature comfort systems, Shore commissioned the design for an air conditioning system that will further reduce energy costs by employing a mere 70-ton
system rather than the normal 150-ton air conditioning system for similar sized buildings found throughout Baja. Experiences gleaned in the Silicon Valley led Shore to a window manufacturer that offers windows that are not only extremely attractive, but are dual-paned and low-E coated, and filled with Argon gas for additional energy savings. These windows provide less heat conduction without losing interior light. The two-tiered swimming pool and spas are heated exclusively by solar water panels, and all perimeter lighting is powered by a photo voltaic system.

Leading with Intelligent Engineering
New Tek is the exclusive Quad Lock distributor for Baja and provides technical support for all of Mexico. Les Zwaryck, managing partner in NewTek and the project manager of LCP claims, “Our goal in bringing green methods to Baja Sur is to lower the strain of growth and development on the community and to respect and maintain the value of the views and the natural environment that first drew us to Baja. We strive to develop smart engineering solutions that will lead the world – not follow. Obtainable,
sustainable, and profitable will benefit everyone in the long run. If you think about it, we really don’t have any other choice!”. Feeling green is not enough, we have to build smart. Implementing this new way of thinking will have a significant impact on energy consumption in Baja as a whole. I feel the extra efforts we have made sends a dramatic statement to other developers in Baja – we must change the way we do things by educating ourselves on what is possible using today’s more energy–efficient technologies. If our building can earn a LEED certification, we then demonstrate that it is possible to build in an energy efficient manner that protects the very resources that attract our buyers, and remain profitable as well.

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Brought to you in cooperation with KiZa Associates.

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