Pulte aims to help environment

Pulte Homes is joining with The Howard Hughes Corp. to co-sponsor the Tour de Summerlin Bike Festival and Earthfaire. The celebration is set to take place next Saturday at Summerlin Centre Community Park in Summerlin.

Aimed at riders of all levels and ages, the noncompetitive Tour de Summerlin offers 12-, 37- and 62-mile courses. Starting times and entry fees vary with each event, and range from $15 to $45. Registration information is available at Summerlin's three community centers: The Gardens, The Trails and The Willows.

Participants will receive a T-shirt, goody bag and entry for a prize drawing. In addition, food and beverages will be provided at rest stops and there will be an after-ride meal at the Earthfaire.

Celebrating Earth Day, the fair will feature informational booths from more than 30 environmental organizations, gardening demonstrations, art workshops, entertainment and animal adoptions. It is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, located at 1800 Town Center Drive between Charleston Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

There is no cost to attend the fair. Refreshments will be sold.

The builder also demonstrates its commitment to environmental issues through its daily operations. All of its homes exceed Energy Star requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Through its Environments for Living technology, the builder offers a three-year heating and cooling energy-use guarantee. The builder also recently partnered with the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Youth Advisory Council to develop its first water-smart home.

Water-saving features are offered at Escala, one of four neighborhoods being built in Summerlin. Located in The Paseos village, Escala offers homes ranging from 1,900 to 2,410 square feet, and priced from the low $600,000s.

Additional neighborhoods are Paradiso in The Vistas village, a gated development with homes ranging from 3,000 to 3,448 square feet and priced from the mid-$700,000s; Miramonte in The Vistas, which offers single-story homes ranging from 2,584 to 2,720 square feet and priced from the mid-$600,000s; and Palomar in The Paseos, which has started presales at Miramonte's office and features homes measuring from 2,210 to 2,505 square feet that are priced from the high $600,000s.

To visit Escala, take Interstate 215 to Charleston Boulevard, head west past The Vistas village to the stop sign and turn right. Turn left into The Paseos village, proceed to the roundabout and turn right. Turn right onto Altura Verde and right on Prada Verde Drive.

To visit Paradiso, take Interstate 215 to Far Hills Avenue and head west. Proceed to Carriage Hill Drive, turn left, go to Vista Run Drive and turn right.

To visit Miramonte, take Interstate 215 to Charleston Boulevard, head west to Vista Center Drive and turn right. Proceed to Park Vista Drive and turn right, then left onto Springbourne. Head to Viscanio and turn left.

The builder operates in 44 markets nationwide and offers 19 new-home subdivisions in the Las Vegas Valley. Its Del Webb brand is a leading builder of age-qualified communities.

It also operates a mortgage division.

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