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Development & Building
Site Restoration
Palm Springs Costa Rica is striving to be truly environmentally friendly. For many years, the 420 hectare site has been used for cattle farming; this has significantly degraded the site’s vegetation and has left it in the somewhat barren state seen in the photos . In effort to restore the site’s vegetation, the developer is planning to turn back the clock of time by reintroducing a significant number of native plant species. The developer’s long term goal is that the site eventually return to a more native and lush setting where the project’s housing and natural features complement each other. The restoration of natural vegetation will have many positive impacts including: providing shading and natural cooling, maintenance and enhancement of the site’s natural systems, and restoration of wildlife habitats.
Low Impact Strategies
The developer is currently reviewing the viability of low impact development techniques such as impervious pavement surfaces, solar and geothermal heating/cooling systems, composting toilets, rain water collection systems, and prohibiting the use of chemicals that cause environmental damage. The final combination of these methodologies is still being refined.
Building Materials
Three environmentally friendly home designs are currently being created by the project’s architect. Criteria for the designs include aesthetic appeal and environmental impact. Materials selections to be used in the homes are locally available and include bamboo, teak, and foam insulated steel and concrete frames. The use of local construction materials will help make this a truly sustainable project as this will minimize embodied energy of the materials. This will also help to ensure that construction waste products can be easily broken down and recycled. Buyers will have the option of purchasing a completed home or purchasing a lot without a home and using a design of their own or one of Palm Springs three designs to construct a home on their lot.
Locally Made
All possible efforts will be made to employ local labor in the site work and construction of homes.