The Ranch House is the welcome and information center for the green 1,800-acre Del Sur residential community in San Diego, Calif., developed by Black Mountain Ranch. It is the second-highest rated building of its kind in the United States and one of fewer than 30 such buildings in the world.

Were thrilled that the Ranch House earned the Green Building Councils highest rating, said Fred Maas, President and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, and developer of Del Sur. The Ranch House exemplifies Del Surs comprehensive approach to green residential design and construction. We looked at every aspect of the development -- from land use, to building design and construction, to road layout and paving materials -- with an eye toward maximizing sustainability and environmental sensitivity.

The Ranch House earned the highest possible rating from the USGBC -- Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED certification is the worlds most widely recognized standard for sustainable, high-performance, low-energy-use buildings.

With a point score of 59 out of a total 69 points possible, the 3,000-square-foot Ranch House is the first private-enterprise, new construction building to achieve Platinum rating in California, and one of only 30 such buildings in the world.

One of the best ways of showing the benefits of green building is by making one available to the community at large, said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. As a community and resource center, the Ranch House at Del Sur will be a living and breathing example of the rewards green buildings offer.

A number of design and construction features set the Ranch House at Del Sur apart from other green buildings. By using solar photovoltaic power, airtight ductwork, tankless water heaters, low-emission windows and Energy Star appliances, the Ranch House reduces energy use by 57 percent.

The Ranch House also reduces water use by more than one million gallons per year using dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, drought-resistant landscaping and a weather-based irrigation controller. In the building phase, the Ranch House reduced construction waste by more than 89 percent by reusing and recycling building construction materials.

The building is composed of 25 percent reused material, 10 percent recycled material and 5 percent rapidly renewable materials such as cork, sunflower husks and wheat waste.

As a visitor information and resource center, the Ranch House will raise awareness among consumers and new homebuilders of the advantages of green design and construction. Many Ranch House features are available as either standard features or options for the 2,500 market-rate homes and 469 low- and moderate-income homes under construction at Del Sur.

We hope builders nationwide will look to Del Sur as a model for green residential development, continued Maas. We firmly believe that smart, sustainable design and construction represent the future of housing development in America.

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