According to the 1987 United Nations report, “Our Common Future” defined sustainable development ó as ìdevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.î
Leading Architect -Sim Van der Ryn offers a definition for ecological design as “any form of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impact by integrating itself with living processes.”
Along with all the luxuries and amenities Panäche is being built keeping sustainability at the core of all development activities. One of the champions in the promotion of green design has been the United States Green Building Council, USGBC, with it's well-known LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, program. Buildings which have earned the LEED designation are known to have met and exceeded the standards and requirements for green design. Panäche is being designed and build to achieve LEED’s Platinum ratings.
All the villas and suites comes with the ventilated rain screen as an integral part of the envelope, achieving a minimum R-value of 35 with the use of soy-based closed-cell foam insulation.
Energy-Star rated windows with high-efficiency glazing provide a relatively high level of transparency without compromising the overall performance of the envelope. The compact form of the buildings allows for a high level of natural ventilation and reduces the need for artificial light. The houses are designed to operate off the grid throughout most of the year. Power is generated by photovoltaic laminates adhered directly to the roofing membrane, and by an additional, freestanding PV array; excess energy is provisioned to be fed back into the power grid.
A deep-well geothermal system provides heating and cooling and supplements the output of the solar water heater. A re-circulating hot water system and low-flow fixtures reduce water consumption to a minimum. Rain water is harvested or diverted into rain gardens, where it can slowly percolate into the ground; Sewage is treated and recycled and treated water is used for keeping the features green. Exterior hard surfaces such as driveway, the entry path, and terrace utilize permeable pavers.
