The Valley continues to experience significant population growth and with that comes more urban sprawl and housing developments. Construction is booming, but at what cost to local municipalities and businesses. Previously, developers could find creative solutions to meet water needs for new communities in outlying areas, but water shortages and sourcing challenges threaten to constrain new growth.
In a recent news conference, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs spoke about limiting new housing in all outlying communities due to a dwindling water supply. At Vali Homes, we believe infill housing could be a solution to the Greater Phoenix area’s water woes. By focusing on infill, we utilize the resources already established.
Some of the benefits of infill housing include having an already established infrastructure. This includes enough ground water without having to find new sources, as is often the case for new construction. Other benefits of infill housing are the existence of nearby businesses and access to transportation.
Infill, however, should also be done responsibly and sustainably. With our combined expertise in architecture, science and nature, we take into consideration everything from our construction practices to the sustainability of our homes.
Vali’s construction methods consider the Phoenix environment and mimic nature, utilizing an approach called biomimicry to create the perfect building that is adapted for the Sonoran Desert. We have designed our buildings to last well over 100 years, using elements from the supremely well-adapted Saguaro cactus to create perfect air quality with a built-in carbon dioxide meter and air filtration system as well as passive house techniques. This allows the structure to be comfort-oriented with no temperature fluctuations. Homeowners can save roughly $800 a month as a result of lower utility and maintenance costs.
We use lower-carbon-impact methods of construction that are more efficient and durable. We also address toxicity levels in our construction practices by using natural materials such as sheep’s wool instead of oil-based synthetics. This creates a healthier environment for the construction worker, the community and the homeowner.
 Austin Trautman is founder of Vali Homes. |
