PRIDE AND JOY: Mitch and Terri Yoakum plan to use their "green" house in High Desert as office, showroom and home. The 3,750-square-foot house will be featured in the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico's Parade of Homes next month.
Sunday, September 20, 1998
Kind to the Eyes, Environment Builders prove a point with their $550,000 green home
By Glen Rosales For the Journal
Pat Vasquez-Cunningham
UNDER ONE ROOF: Mitch and Terri Yoakum put all their earth-friendly ideas under one roof in this High Desert home.
It wasn't enough for Altair Homes to simply build fine custom houses. Owners Mitch and Terri Yoakum wanted to do it in an environmentally sound manner, as well.
That's why they helped draft the Green Builder Program for the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico, which has become a model for similar organizations nationwide.
Source: Gary M. Vinneau, Norwest Mortgage, West Side office
FEATURES: Flagstone steps and floors
Exposed internal adobe walls
Triple-paned
windows
Jetted tub in master bath
Hand-carved doors throughout house
Exposed vigas, with split cedar latillas in living area
Wet bar
Three-car garage
HEATING/
COOLING: Radiant floor heating with 11 zones/central evaporative air
INSULATION
VALUES: R-38 in roof, R-30 in walls
Putting their ideas to the ultimate test, the Yoakums are putting their earth-friendly concepts into their newest model in the Northeast Heights, which will serve as their office, showroom and home. It also will be a featured home in the upcoming Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico's Parade of Homes, Oct. 10-11, 15-18 and 22-25.
Being a Green Builder begins at the basic level, Mitch said, with saving and recycling lumber scraps and cardboard. The wood is carted off to make particle board, the cardboard goes to recyclers.
A project of this size, he said, can generate up to 100 cubic yards of recyclable material.
"A lot of builders would be considered Green Builders if they would just recycle their waste from a site," he added.
But there is much more to it. The couple hired a drainage engineer to study the shape of the acre parcel and determine the best way to guide water runoff into holding ponds that allow the water to slowly seep back into the aquifer without eroding the landscape, Mitch said.
"The ultimate goal is to put more water back into the ground than is taken out," he said.
All the fixtures are low-flow, and the landscaping is xeriscaped to further reduce water use. The street in front of the house, according to High Desert regulations, is designed to spread the water runoff.
When possible, local materials were used to save on transportation and energy costs.
"We tried to use environmentally friendly products that don't take energy to produce," Terri said.
Even the exquisitely carved pine spindle bedposts and the latillas above the built-in bed frame are recycled: They used to be part of Altair's booth display from trade shows.
All this leads to a stunning home that gives something back.
The walls and ceiling are stuffed with extra-blown insulation for additional energy efficiency. There's a built-in recycling bin in the kitchen for storing aluminum and plastic. And, of course, living and working in the same place eliminates commuting energy.
Because the house will serve as both home and model, the Yoakums included little touches to make the it special, starting right at the front door, which leads into the middle of three floors.
The massive wood doors are etched with falling leaves and vines, a design that continues onto the side glass panels and the flagstone entry step.
In the living room, the Sandia range is framed by four 13-foot-high windows, which are large enough to overlook the back courtyard with its recirculating-waterfall, small fish pond and circular fire mound.
The built-in, salt-water aquarium between the dining room and kitchen has a dedicated water line. The whole system can be serviced from behind through a small room equipped with a sink.
The adobe fireplace has an ornately curved chimney that Mitch sculpted. The master bedroom and one of two downstairs bedrooms have additional gas-burning fireplaces.
The master suite takes up the entire top floor of the 3,750-square-foot home, with lit flagstone steps leading up a wide, curved staircase. Oversized windows give views to the west and north, and a small covered balcony offers a perfect place to watch the sunset.
The bath has a jetted tub and a large walk-in closet that uses otherwise wasted space behind the landing. Glass blocks curve toward the doorless, dual-headed shower. Hand-carved cabinet doors with a true raised-block finish are accented by purple inlaid tile around the sink.
On the middle floor, a game room with corner wet bar, refrigerator and sink is just off the sunken living room. The kitchen and dining room flow together from the other end of the living room. Throughout the living area, large pine vigas provide support and beauty.
"One thing we wanted to show with this house is even though it's a green house, it's just like any other custom house with all the beauty and amenities," Terri said.
