Picacho Mountain exhibits a wide variety of products
BY BETHANY CONWAY
The Las Cruces Bulletin
While visiting Picacho Mountain for the Las Cruces Homebuilders Association Fall Parade of Homes, paradegoers were given a special treat this weekend with numerous green building exhibits.
Showcasing the latest in green-building technology, the exhibits brought together by the Picacho Mountain team included everything from sustainable carpet and tile to solar panels and the latest Low-E windows.
Exhibits were displayed in four Fall Parade of Homes entries in the subdivision as part of Picacho Mountain´s commitment to be the leading developer in the region to support green building and sustainable development.
The development is involved in many green-building practices of its own, including using the services of Grind LLC, a business exhibiting at 7053 Calle Estancias, to turn any reusable products leftover from homebuilding into materials that can be used for landscaping, base course and erosion control.
Jim Graham, who has an exhibit set up at 7038 Calle del Norte, has been building sustainable homes for more than 30 years and was there to talk about the benefits of solar energy.
“”It´s a capital asset that you are investing in,”” he said. “”As energy costs go up, the return just gets bigger and bigger.””
Tom Hill of L & P Building Supply, also exhibiting at 7038 Calle del Norte, had several products on display, including radiant barrier sheathing for roofs and solarpowered attic fans.
“”All of these manufacturers are coming out with things that keep your house cooler,”” he said.
Using radiant barrier sheeting, Hill said homeowners can reduce the heat radiating through the roof to the house and reduce heat loss during the winter. For those who have an attic in New Mexico, new solar-powered attic fans can reduce heat build-up and air-conditioning costs and fight mold and fungal decay.
Also displaying their services was Las Cruces Awnings, a company that can provide solutions for those looking for shade from the Southwest sun. According to Jeffrey Maul, their awnings serve a number of purposes.
“”It creates and enhances outdoor living spaces and blocks the wind and the sun while keeping the views,”” he said. “”It´s a Las Cruces-born product.””
Jimmy Zabriskie, director of Picacho Mountain´s landscaping operations and a representative of the Robledo Vista Nursery, brought some native plants to 7200 Madera Vieja for all to see.
“”The good thing about them is you don´t need to fertilize or use pesticides,”” he said. “”They are what I call resource efficient.””
The inventory of plants at the Robledo Vista Nursery includes Chihuahuan Desert natives, Southwest natives, plants for hummingbirds and butterflies and other resource-efficient plants from kindred climates.
While these are only some of the exhibitors, the list of those participating includes 28 “”green”” businesses, which will be displaying their products again during the Fall Parade of Homes on Oct. 17, 18 and19. For more information, contact Picacho Mountain at 523-2500.
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Bob Pofahl holds up a tubular skylight on display at 7038 Calle Estancias as part of Picacho Mountainʼs green-building exhibits, which will be on display throughout the Las Cruces Home Builders Association Fall Parade of Homes. Filling rooms with pure, natural light, tubular skylights block UV transmissions and reject overpowering summer sunlight.
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Jimmy Zabriskie, director of landscaping operations for Picacho Mountain, had many native plants on display at 7200 Madera Vieja.
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Tom Hill of L & P Building Supply shows the different materials that can be used to reflect heat from the surface of a roof.
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Jim Graham of Sun and Earth Inc. stands next to the solar panel he has on display at 7038 Calle Estancias.
PHOTOS BY BETHANY CONWAY
