See some examples of Vida's green practices in action:

Ecological Project Design

  • The Overlook Drive residence utilized excellent southwestern site orientation and passive solar design to maximize solar heating and lighting.
  • The Cove Road renovation minimized demolition to the existing structure and utilized existing masonry walls.
  • The Seadrift Road renovation took advantage of excellent southern exposure by adding both a roof-top pv solar electric and solar hot water boost system.
  • The Dogpatch Project included a very small addition to improve kitchen and living space functionality.

Mindful Materials Handling

  • Recycling
    • Vida recycles cardboard, metal, paper and wood for every project we build.
    • Saw dust is composted on-site where feasible.
  • Reusing
    • Carpeting removed from the Cove Road renovation was reused in tents at Burning Man.
    • Exterior decking from the Seadrift Road renovation was removed and reused at Overlook Drive.
    • Foundation forms from Cove Road were re-used at Dogpatch Project for framing and concrete forms.
    • All usable interior items such as cabinetry, electrical and plumbing fixtures, towel bars and hardware are donated to Building REsources for reuse.
    • All usable exterior items such as doors, windows and hardware are donated to Building REsources for reuse.
  • Salvaging
    • Existing patio slab from the Cove Road renovation was broken up and reused for pathway at another Residence.
    • Sand excavated from the Seadrift Road renovation was used as fill for other project.
    • Front door, windows and exterior trim at the El Camino Real project were custom made with salvaged old-growth redwood.

Sustainable Materials Integration

  • Foundation concrete for our projects always contains some percentage of fly ash.
  • Almost all framing material Vida uses is FSC-certified or reclaimed lumber.
  • Master bath cabinetry and window trim for the Cove Road project made from salvaged Eucalyptus with water-based low-VOC finish.
  • Bamboo flooring was used at the Cove Road and the Seadrift Road renovations.

Carbon Footprint Reduction

  • The Seadrift Road renovation added a 4.5 KW roof-top photovoltaic solar electric and solar hot water boost system for pool heating and domestic hot water supply.
  • A super-insulated roof structure (R-30 plus R-11 radiant foil barrier) was built above the living room and garage area in the Cove Road renovation.
  • The Cove Road project installed a radiant heat system with gyp-crete slab for high-efficiency heating and adjustable solar shades to reduce direct solar gain.
  • New high-efficiency ENERGY STAR appliances were installed at the El Camino Real renovation.
  • The Dogpatch Project utilized daylighting design, an insulated panel skylight and fluorescent lighting to reduce energy use.

Healthy Interiors

  • Vida uses healthy insulation — UltraTouch cotton batting or bio-based spray foam — in every project.
  • The Dogpatch Project used zero-VOC AFM interior paint and primer.
  • Bedrooms in the Cove Road renovation were carpeted with Interface Flooring carpet squares.
  • Vida uses only non-toxic adhesives, sealants, & mastics.
  • Vida sources low-VOC water-based wood finishes (e.g. Bioshield) as well as zero- or low-VOC finishes & paints for our client's homes.

Resource Conservation

  • The Cove Road renovation left existing exterior siding and trim as intact as possible.
  • Locally milled lumber was used for siding at Overlook Drive and for siding and fencing at the Seadrift Road project thereby reducing transportation costs.
  • Dual flush toilets were installed at: Overlook Drive and Seadrift Road.
  • Roof runoff at the Dogpatch Project drains to the front garden.
  • Panoramic Highway residence collected spring runoff for irrigation needs and landscaped with low-water plants.