Pardee to build LivingSmart homes

Pardee Homes will introduce a "new concept" in homeownership at next month's grand opening of the Vista Verde community, according to Klif Andrews, vice president of community development.

"Vista Verde will showcase earth-friendly and energy-saving living at its best," Andrews said. "LivingSmart is a whole new concept in homeownership designed for families concerned about their environment, as well as their budgets."

Located in the Centennial Hills area in northwest Las Vegas, the community will debut on Saturday, May 10. It will comprise as many as 900 homes at buildout.

Home buyers will be able to choose from LivingSmart features that include:

Solar electricity

Allows homeowners to generate power through solar panels on trellises.

Flourescent lighting

Provides the same amount of light with less than 25 percent of the wattage, reducing utility bills by as much as 50 percent.

Tankless water heater

Heats only the amount of water needed, where it is needed, providing an unlimited supply of hot water without any waste.

Low VOC paint

A nontoxic, high-performing paint that releases a very low level of volatile organic compounds and no ozone-depleting chemicals.

Central vacuum

Draws floor dirt and dust directly through internal wall pipes into a remote canister in the garage.

These features will be in addition to the builder's Energy Star/ComfortWise package, which is now standard in every Pardee home. Such homes are at least 30 percent more energy efficient than federal standards require.

"Designed and built for energy efficiency, these homes save energy while reducing air pollution and lowering utility bills at no extra cost to our buyers," Andrews said. "Vista Verde will also showcase buyer options such as flooring from sustainable and recycled materials from bamboo to plastic pop bottles."

The LivingSmart program falls under the categories of EarthSmart, EnergySmart and HealthSmart, according to Kathy Hilty, marketing director for the builder.

"We believe that the ... program is unprecedented in the noncustom-home building arena," Hilty said. "While Pardee set the national standard last year by committing to build only Energy Star homes, this year we are offering an entire new range of opportunities for home buyers to customize their contributions to the environment."

Vista Verde will also showcase desert landscaping, as the model homes will feature xeriscape designs and the model complex will include a desert demonstration garden.

"We ... have to learn to live responsibly with restrictions in our water supply. There are water-saving systems and drought-tolerant plants that are attractive alternatives to sprinklers and lawns," Andrews said.

The first neighborhoods to open in Vista Verde will be Aliso and Ventana.

Aliso will offer four floor plans, the largest featuring as many as five bedrooms and three baths in 2,566 square feet. Four designs will also be offered in Ventana, the largest measuring 4,032 square feet with as many as six bedrooms.

The builder is developing 13 neighborhoods valleywide. Eldorado Highlands, Fiesta and Seasons are located in North Las Vegas; Shadow Mountain Ranch and Nevada Trails are in the southwestern valley; Rancho Las Palmas is in the southeast; and Renaissance, which is near closeout, is located within the Seven Hills community in Henderson.

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