THE JOURNAL OF EARTH-KIND LIVING VOLUME ONE ISSUE 2

Discovery. Celeation. Legacy.Alegría is the Spanish word describing joy and happiness - universal emotions which can inspire and

propel us to overcome the obstacles of our hurried and competitive modern world. Making time to attain apeaceful place when the mind reaches harmony and becomes still, unhurried in discovery and reflective ofthe natural riches that surround us – this is Alegría. Embracing timelessness allows us to breathe deeply andcelebrate life fully.

Within these pages, Alegría showcases energy efficient technologies employed by forward thinkingdevelopers of “green” communities and resorts. Our mission is to stimulate a heightened sense of responsibilityto protect the surrounding beauty we enjoy.

Alegría is about the art of celebrating life in its natural balance. We applaud those who possess compassion,integrity and awareness - compassion for all living things, integrity towards others and a strong awareness ofthe boundless privileges we enjoy as free spirits.

Creating a meaningful publication requires a team of passionate associates with compatible goals andboundless energy all working together to make a difference. All of us at Alegría invite you to join us as weembark on a remarkable journey of discovery, celebration and legacy, not as consumers, but as caretakers.

- Erik Cutter, Managing Director

“Time is our greatest gift– how we use it determineswho we are and how we’ll be remembered.”

{ www.alegríamag.com / earthkindliving}

now offering homes from $220,000 usdFor a private tour, call Rory King at (624) 151-5840

or centuries, the tropical oasis of Todos Santos has been nurturing

those who seek a more tranquil existence - one closely connected to the

rhythms of nature. Real de Santa Ana is a place where you will become

reacquainted with your senses. Here, we embrace the healthy lifestyle

that has existed here since the first pioneers arrived.

ecome part of the Todos Santos community, savor the flavors of

real Mexican traditions and immerse yourself in a warm Baja oasis,

a place where you can slow down long enough to

experience what truly matters in life…

New Model Homes are Now Ready to Tour at Real de Santa Ana,Todos Santos’ Newest Residential Resort Community

Todos Santos La Laguna Oasis

Since Al Gore achieved internationalnotoriety and shared the treasured PulitzerPrize for his work illuminating the effects ofglobal climate change as a result of increasingcarbon emissions, there has been so muchhype surrounding green initiatives andsustainability that people have becomeoverwhelmed with information – so much sothat many feel paralyzed by the number ofoptions that exist to decrease energyconsumption. We often overlook the biggerpicture because it is truly overwhelming,offering very little “good news” for the future.This is not to suggest that the value of savingeach watt or gallon of water is unimportant.Assuming the responsibility to make smalldents in bigger items, instead of focusing our

energies on making insignificant big changesto smaller items, is the real secret to reducingour overall global energy footprint.

Thinking on a larger scale is what DanShore does best. Founder of Shore Associates,Inc. in San Jose, California, Shore coordinatesthe development and project management ofsome of the “smartest” buildings on earth. Hisclients include Yahoo!, Adobe and several otherhigh tech firms around the country, alldemanding the highest standards oftechnological excellence and doing so with asocial conscience. Their campuses must not onlyreflect the environmental values of thecompany, management and staff, they mustalso be “smart” and fiscally responsible. As thedeveloper for La Concha Pearl, Shore is utilizing

his knowledge of technology and commitmentto green building to create one of the most hightech and environmentally friendly beachfrontdevelopments in Baja Sur, Mexico. Shore is aself-styled, forward-thinking “efficiency” expertwho fancies “thinking out of the box” andpushing the technology envelope.

“Consumers are being pushed to makeradical changes in the small stuff, likecarrying their own reusable grocery bags ornot using plastic bottles! While I do advocateeveryone doing what they can to save energyand reduce waste, completely eliminatingthese items would make little or no impactwhen it comes to the big picture. Pricelessexample - waterless urinals. Replacing allyour urinals to save a quarter gallon a flush

versus the 500 million gallonsa day used for the summertimeirrigation of California’s golfcourses seems a little silly! Didyou know that the city ofSeattle just banned beachbonfires in the name of globalwarming?” notes Shore.

Shore continues, “Many developersoften overlook the energy savings you cancreate by shifting your thinking. Forexample, if you change one large systemin building methods i.e., say your airconditioning system, you can save 100times the energy you would by justchanging out all those silly “curly bulbs”.Besides, curly/fluorescent lamps are badfor your eyes, take more energy andcreate more pollution to make, and arehazardous to dispose of. To make ameaningful impact on energy use,developers must invest their time andmoney in technologies that provide themost energy savings for greatest economicvalue.”

La Concha PearlBecomes Reality

What was once just an idea toutilize environmentally friendlyconstruction techniques to engineer LaConcha Pearl, a 7-story beachfront toweroffering 33 luxurious residences on oneof the most pristine beaches in La Paz isnow a reality. The build team first set anobjective to qualify for a US-based LEEDcertification. Then they registered theproject with the US Green BuildingCouncil, targeting the “Gold” standard.This is the first project to be registered inBCS and won’t be certified until 3 to 4months after completion. To becomecertified, the USGBC will test each pointand most likely disallow a few, whichwould certify the building with the“Silver” standard at a minimum. All thisseems very cool (pardon the pun). Topull this off, the developers knew theywould have to radically change the waythey approached the project, especiallysince it is located in Mexico whereresources such as electricity and waterare in low supply and very expensive -plus labor is entrenched in thetraditional “brick and mortar” mode.The build team recognized early on thatthey would have to team up with a localbuilder that was dedicated to utilizingnew technologies and processes andwho most importantly, possessed thecapability to implement the efficienciesShore’s team sought in a very high-quality fashion. New Tek, a local La Pazengineering, construction and projectmanagement firm, had all the qualitiesShore was looking for and won thecontract to build La Concha Pearl.

Safety and PracticalityAre a Priority

As a developer, Shore believes safety andpracticality should come first in defining thegreen scheme. For example, the earthen blocks(formerly used in Loreto Bay), do not provideseismic strength and promote infestation(termites, rodents, etc.) into this “natural”product. For this reason, Shore refused to usethis method at La Concha Pearl LuxuryCondominiums. Shore also avoided conventionalbuilding methods like post and beamconstruction and is pushing for increasedacceptance and promotion of the concrete /foam form systems outlined in the InternationalBuilding Code (IBC) versus the Mexican post andbeam with block infill standards that have noacoustic or thermal qualities.

Smarter BuildingMaterials

Shore’s team opted for a smarteralternative building material offering benefitssuch as seismic strength exceeding Zone 4earthquake design, the ability to withstand aCategory 5 hurricane, and climate comfort - allpart of the cast-in-place Quad Lock ICF “insulatedconcrete foam” system. This energy-efficientconcrete / foam combination, pioneered andpromoted by New Tek in Mexico, providessuperior insulation, isolation, and interioracoustics. The Quadlock system, along with ashading model with deep balcony overhangs,also provides an estimated 50% reduction incooling load. ICF’s allow great flexibility, quickinstallation with reduced material handling, andfar less wasted fuel required to deliver heavyconcrete block over long distances todevelopment sites. Shore hopes to change themodel and is leading by example.

Energy EfficiencyThroughout is the Key

“Energy efficiency is often overlooked bydevelopers who don’t ever pay utility bills,and it is especially important in La Paz wheresummertime temperatures regularly exceed100 degrees F for weeks on end,” says Shore.

At La Concha Pearl, Shore’s team designeda system that uses efficient chillers withevaporative cooling and after-hours productionof “ice” in the thermal storage system and self-contained cistern, instead of employingtraditional air-cooled chillers or roof topcondensers. Their method is purported to be30% more efficient and shifts 30% of thecooling load to the nights, further reducingutility bills by staying off the peak billingperiod. To avoid wasting energy, smarter andpractical “brains” were incorporated into simplecomputerized energy management systemsallowing the shutdown of systems when not inuse. It is a known fact there is nothing greenerthan turning systems off, especially when thereis no impact to the building occupants.

To add greater efficiency to thebuilding’s creature comfort systems, Shorecommissioned the design for an airconditioning system that will further reduceenergy costs by employing a mere 70-tonsystem rather than the normal 150-ton airconditioning system for similar sized buildingsfound throughout Baja. Experiences gleanedin the Silicon Valley led Shore to a windowmanufacturer that offers windows that arenot only extremely attractive, but are dual-paned and low-E coated, and filled with Argongas for additional energy savings. Thesewindows provide less heat conduction withoutlosing interior light. The two-tiered swimmingpool and spas are heated exclusively by solarwater panels, and all perimeter lighting ispowered by a photo voltaic system.

Greater Returnon Investment

According to Rory King, Sales Directorfor La Concha Pearl, “The return oninvestment of this intelligent design hasbecome a major selling point for our condounits. Intelligent design decisions avoid highoperating costs and the senseless waste ofenergy. Plus the superior building materialsadd exceptional strength, acoustic insulationand cooling power to minimize energy use.Our clients purchase for a variety of reasons- great weather, a healthy lifestyle and thelaid-back environment that allows them to

relax, but underlying all these reasons is thedesire to make a sound investment decision.I think that as green building becomes moremainstream, the resale value of green,environmentally intelligent projects will nethigher profits when the time comes to resellthe home or condo. Our clients share thisattitude and are proud to be a part of thisnew residence community.”

Leading withIntelligent Engineering

New Tek is the exclusive Quad Lockdistributor for Baja and provides technicalsupport for all of Mexico. Les Zwaryck,managing partner in New Tek and the projectmanager of LCP claims, “Our goal in bringinggreen methods to Baja Sur is to lower thestrain of growth and development on thecommunity and to respect and maintainthe value of the viewsand the naturalenvironment thatfirst drew us to Baja.We strive to developsmart engineeringsolutions that willlead the world - not follow. Obtainable,sustainable, and profitable will benefiteveryone in the long run. If you think about it,we really don’t have any other choice!”

Greater Benefits toBaja as a Whole

“Feeling green is not enough, we haveto build smart. Implementing this new way ofthinking will have a significant impact onenergy consumption in Baja as a whole. I feelthe extra efforts we have made sends adramatic statement to other developers inBaja – we must change the way we do thingsby educating ourselves on what is possibleusing today’s more energy–efficienttechnologies. If our building can earn a LEEDcertification, we then demonstrate that it ispossible to build in an energy efficientmanner that protects the very resources thatattract our buyers, and remain profitable aswell,” says Shore.

DISCOVERY A CELEBR AT ION A LEGACY 54 DISCOVERY A CELEBR AT ION A LEGACY

Building Green = SMART ~ by Enrique Vargas

“Consumers are being pushed to make radical changes inthe small stuff, like carrying their own reusable grocerybags or not using plastic bottles! While I do advocate

everyone doing what they can to save energy and reducewaste, completely eliminating these items would make

little or no impact when it comes to the big picture.–Dan Shore

FOR DEVELOPER DAN SHORE, building “green” is not about employing drastic measures like stoppinggrowthor buildingwith fewer amenities. Building green is about building smarter—Tomakea realdifference in energy consumption requires thinking smarter and thinking bigger…

We strive to develop smart engineeringsolutions that will lead the world - not follow.Obtainable, sustainable, and profitable willbenefit everyone in the long run. If you thinkabout it, we really don’t have any other choice!”

–Les Zwaryck

www.LaConchaPearl.com

www.VivaLaPaz.com

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6 DISCOVERY A CELEBR AT ION A LEGACY

When it comes to REDUCING GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS, it is a fact that 40 nuclearplants could replace 400 fossil fuel power plants and SAVE MORE OIL THAN 1,000TIMES THE NUMBER of passenger cars we currently drive. Plus, per kilowatt-hour, anuclear power plant emits JUST 6% AS MUCH CARBON as a natural gas fired plant.

Rethinking Green:::::::::::::::

• Living in cities is more energy-efficient than livingin suburbs, exurbs or rural communities.

• Each of the 40 million lawnmowers used in the USspews 11 cars’ worth of pollutants in an hour.

• Organically raised beef steers emit more pollutingmethane gas than conventionally raised beef. Andit takes 25 organic cows to make as much milk as23 industrial ones. Then you add in the emissionsof shipping organic foods thousands of miles indiesel burning trucks, and you realize organics arenot the answer. One fix is to cut out meataltogether as researchers have shown that avegetarian diet produces 1.5 tons less greenhousegases than the diet of meat-eaters.

• Keeping your old Toyota Tercel is far smarter thanbuying a new hybrid Prius . The carbon debt on theold fuel-efficient car is paid off while it will take100,000 miles on the Prius to gain carbon equality.

•Warming a house in New England produces 93%more carbon dioxide emissions than cooling ahome in Arizona.

• Approximately 3 – 5% of all US energy is used topropel our cars. Eliminating SUV’s thus wouldhave insignificant impact on global carbonemissions. In fact, it cost more carbon to build aPrius than a Hummer, due in large part to theenvironmental cost of the 30 pounds of nickel inthe hybrid’s battery.

• Old trees take in less carbon than young ones,thus “farming our forests” by cutting down oldtrees and planting new ones will actually reducethe amount of carbon dioxide that gets releasedinto our atmosphere.

SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:

For more vexing facts about going green, seethe June 2008 Issue of WIRED Magazine or go tohttp://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-06/ff_heresies_intro.