The Cohousing Company is pleased to announce that our recent project in American Canyon, California, has received the designation of being ‘Green Point Rated’ for its environmentally conscious design. The certification was provided Build It Green, a membership supported non-profit that promotes healthy, energy and resource efficient homes in California.

Construction was completed on Valley View in 2019, and the community includes 70-units that house low-income residents, all over the age of 55. From the beginning, the design was intended to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Important elements include:

· A passive heating and cooling system that includes units with double-pane windows on each side to slow heat from entering the houses

· Thick gypsum board and concrete slabs for thermal mass, taking advantage of diurnal temperature variations

· Cool roofs to reflect and emit heat

· Large porch designs that include ample shading

· Creative use of outdoor space that takes advantage of the moderate American Canyon climate

· A solar-covered parking area that helps offset the energy consumption of the community

· Native and drought-tolerant plants throughout the site, ensuring that watering requirements are as low as possible.

Valley View is also set up for a graywater irrigation system that will take wastewater from washing machines and repurpose it for irrigation use. This feature hasn’t been utilized yet but will in the future. They will also be receiving recycled water from the city in the future for irrigation use. Permeable surfaces are also located on the site, helping to replenish groundwater and aid in erosion and pollution control by allowing runoff to enter the underlying soil.

The rating system is administered by independent professionals who are trained and certified by Build It Green, and we’re proud to have met their high standards for sustainability! Cost control is always an important factor in our projects, and this award demonstrates that cohousing can be done in an environmentally conscious way and still be cost effective.