The Ranch House at Del Sur is San Diego’s greenest building. In 2007, it was awarded Platinum certification for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), the standard-setting program of the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification, LEED’s highest, makes the Ranch House the only one of its kind in San Diego and one of only a few in the country.

As the centerpiece of the Del Sur master-planned community, the 3,000-square-foot Ranch House features numerous energy-conserving design and construction practices that also are built into many of the homes of Del Sur.

Energy use at the Ranch House is reduced by 57 percent by using a roof-integrated 5.7 kW DC photovoltaic energy system with high-efficiency cells, airtight ductwork, low-emission windows, EnergyStar appliances and maximization of natural lighting.

Water waste at the Ranch House is significantly curtailed via dual-flush toilets, tankless water heaters, low-flow faucets and shower heads, a weather-based irrigation controller, 54 percent drought-resistant landscaping and reclaimed water irrigation. Combined annual landscaping and plumbing estimated water savings are 70 percent, or more than 1 million gallons per year.

The Ranch House incorporates materials made from rapidly renewable resources such as cork in the flooring, sunflower husks in countertops and wheat waste in cabinets and ceilings. It also uses such reclaimed materials as floorboards salvaged from a 100-year-old old barn, timbers from an old pier used in ceiling trusses and exterior shade structures, and stone salvaged from the construction site incorporated into the fireplace and other stone detailing.

Other sustainable materials include low-volatile organic compound paint, adhesives and sealants, and formaldehyde-free insulation made from recycled jeans cotton. Indoor air sensors monitor carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity and volatile organics in real-time over the Internet so trends may be noted.

The Ranch House also is notable for reducing its construction waste by nearly 90 percent by reusing and recycling building construction materials. The building is composed of 25 percent reused material, 10 percent recycled material and 5 percent rapidly renewable materials.

From inception, the Ranch House was planned as an environmental education resource for visitors. Signs along the walls of the building tell stories of the origins of the materials used, and hands-on displays of materials are available with take-away explanatory literature provided. A real-time energy monitor allows viewers to note exactly how much energy has been provided by the photovoltaic system on the roof that day. Outside, a demonstration sage garden showcases this low-water plant, and the site overlooks a wetlands preserve restored by Black Mountain Ranch, developer of Del Sur and the Ranch House.

In 2008, the Ranch House was named LEED Building of the Year by the San Diego chapter of USGBC. The project also earned a 2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental and Economic Leadership Award and a 2006 EARTH Award from San Diego EarthWorks. The San Diego Chapter of the Urban Land Institute honored Fred Maas, president of Black Mountain Ranch and developer of Del Sur, as 2008 Smart Growth Champion of the Year and named Del Sur’s Ranch House as its 2006 Smart Growth Project.