Four homes will be featured, beautiful and distinctive in design, constructed with varying degrees of environmentally sustainable materials that make them more energy efficient and provide healthier living.

The tour is open to the public without charge. Each home will be an “open house” for the three hour period, so people can move from one home to another at their own choosing. Philip Snyder, a Realtor with Russ Lyon and board member of the Coconino County Sustainable Development Initiative, is coordinating this event.

Sustainability in architecture means designing structures that keep people in touch with nature and community, minimize and conserve the use of non-renewable energy resources and materials, and create a healthy and non-toxic environment for their inhabitants. These kinds of principles guided the construction of two brand new homes on 96 and 100 Carol Canyon Drive in West Sedona built by Alain Soutenet of Sedona Green Solutions. Each home has passive solar design, very high insulation, very low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) in interior construction for a healthy atmosphere, water conservation and rainwater harvesting, and both are Energy Star certified.

On Saturday, May 24, between 10am and 1pm, Russ Lyon Realty of Sedona will be sponsoring the third annual spring Sedona Green Home Tour.

The third home is located off Upper Red Rock Loop on 45 Cimarron Ridge and is owned by Harvey Stanley. Harvey is a board member of Sustainable Arizona. The home has a large active solar hot water heating system for both the home interior and for domestic hot water. The home has extra insulation for energy efficiency, as well as a greywater recycling system.

The fourth home is located on 240 Crystal Sky Drive, high above the Village of Oak Creek.
This large home is constructed with termite and mold resistant polysteel insulating concrete forms with R-50 Icynene non-toxic insulation. Care has been taken to ensure the highest indoor air quality with non-toxic paints and finishes, solid wood and stone floors. High efficiency appliances, on demand hot water heaters, and in-floor radiant heating reduce energy use.