Palo Alto Alto Net Zero House
This iconic historical home near downtown Palo Alto was built in 1936 by Pedro de Lemos, a celebrated artist/architect and the arts curator at Stanford University. This amazing home has been preserved and enhanced using sustainable design. The project creatively attacks climate change by focusing on Net Zero Energy and Water Conservancy by using sustainable methods and materials, and has been designed to inspire and teach others about green architecture.
Sustainable Practices and Ideas to be Implemented with this Design
- Rainwater runoff from roof /hardscape shall be collected with subterranean drains at house footprint. This water will be treated and reused for irrigation.
- All existing onsite pavers, concrete, etc. shall be recycled.
- All onsite existing shrubs, trees and vines shall be relocated or protected in place as possible - to include the preservation of palms, yucca, and wisteria
- All plants that cannot be saved shall be shredded and turned into compost which will be used on site as amendment.
- Onsite soil shall be amended with recycled materials - no top soil shall be brought in.
- Onsite existing decking shall be re-used to create boardwalk at rear of secondary residence.
- Water table shall be regenerated and storm water runoff will be eliminated through the use of permeable decomposed granite and lawns where possible.
- Rainwater that drains through lawn will be collected, filtered, treated and reused as irrigation water.
- Recycled or found glass, tile and brick will be used to create all artistic paving surfaces.
- Heavenly Greens - Artificial Turf shall be used as a driveway. It is made of recycled materials, eliminates irrigation, mowing, and maximizes permeability - thus reducing storm water runoff and regenerating ground water.
- All site furnishings (decorative planters, furniture, sculptures) shall be "found" objects or constructed with recycled materials.
- Low water usage plants shall be used utilized through the site and grouped according to water needs.
- All irrigation on this site shall be drip irrigation so as to conserve and minimize waste.
- A central control system will be utilized so as to control the irrigation timer by way of a paging system from a local weather station. This system will adjust watering times according to local weather and thus minimize irrigation waste and runoff.
- A wetland garden shall be constructed at the rear of the garden to filter run-off into a storage tank where the water will be then reused as grey water in our subterranean drip irrigation system throughout the garden on low water using plants and ornamental alike.
 Constructed Wetland Specifications:
The constructed wetland is constructed of 45 mill. EPDM pond liner to prevent loss of water into surrounding soil. The constructed wetland cleans the grey water to secondary effluent standards. The constructed wetland has a 3-way diverter valve and backwater valve on inlet pipe, overflows to infiltration basins, vents through gravel surface, has locking access covers, and tank adapter connections to piping.
"The water flows through the pea gravel where the flocculation, sedimentation and filtration act as the primary mechanisms for BOD(Biochemical oxygen demand) and TSS(Total suspended solids) reduction. In addition, bacterial mats on plant roots help to further reduced BOD and nitrogen levels. The soil island increases nitrogen removal from grey water by providing increased habitat for bacterial mats and provides aesthetic benefits." Constructed wetland design is based on EPA manual for constructed wetlands treatment of municipal waste waters.
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