Del Sur Plants Trees at Elementary School for Earth Day Celebration

April 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Del Sur, San Diego’s leading master-planned community celebrating sustainability and green building practices, planted trees at Del Sur Elementary School in honor of Earth Day 2010.  

The celebration started at 12:30 p.m. with administrators, students, families and Del Sur representatives gathering in front of the school’s 13 new Bottle trees donated by developer Black Mountain Ranch LLC and guest builders Shea Homes, Standard Pacific Homes and William Lyon Homes. To help complete the installation of the trees, Del Sur Elementary students added mulch as part of their Earth Day curriculum. The mulch was recycled from construction lumber on-site at Del Sur.  

“Del Sur was founded on many of the principles we celebrate each Earth Day,” said Bill Ostrem, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of the 1,800-acre community. “It is gratifying to see how passionately the next generation not only continues but also expands upon those ideals.”
Del Sur Elementary School is one of the most technologically progressive and “green” facilities in the acclaimed Poway Unified School District. Like the award-winning Del Sur community, the Del Sur Elementary School’s construction emphasizes high-tech, Earth-friendly building and design practices in tandem with quality craftsmanship and historical San Diego architectural styles.
Del Sur Elementary is registered with the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a nationwide green rating program especially designed for K-12 schools. The goal of CHPS is to facilitate the construction of schools that not only are energy- and resource-efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lighted and containing the amenities for a quality education.
All school functions at Del Sur Elementary are housed under one roof, and it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of the building’s energy requirements will come from solar-powered roof panels. Renewable energy sources are a key component of the Del Sur community.

Currently conducting a resurgence of recycling of on-site construction waste, Del Sur expects to process onsite approximately 9,000 cubic yards of excess lumber, 4,000 cubic yards of concrete, and 1,500 cubic yards of drywall within the next few months. The recycled materials will be reused throughout the Del Sur community.  

The Del Sur recycling program is only one component of the environmentally sustainable design, construction and living practices that are a core component of the Del Sur vision and ethic. In addition, at least 20 percent of homes must include photovoltaic (solar) energy systems, and nearly every home at Del Sur will have a tankless water heater and weather-based satellite irrigation system. Communitywide, at least 50 percent of the landscaping is native or drought-tolerant, and reclaimed water is used for irrigation. More information about the various green building practices at Del Sur is available online at http://www.delsurliving.com.

Del Sur has a strong environmental ethic, which is evident throughout its residential neighborhoods, within its construction practices and in its recreational amenities, including eight proposed private parks and 18 miles of hiking trails spread out over 1,800 acres of dedicated open space.  All of the parks are designed to be energy efficient, with solar-heated pools, and attractive landscaping featuring drought-resistant plantings that use only reclaimed water.  Cost savings from these conservation efforts are passed along to residents. The pedestrian-friendly community of Del Sur eventually will have 2,500 homes.  

Recognized by local civic, planning and environmental groups for its environmentally conscious design and “smart growth” principles, Del Sur is now open for model home tours. For more information on new home neighborhoods, visit http://www.DelSurLiving.com.

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