Healthy Living

Healthy Living:   Everyone is jumping on the “green train” and flippantly using the word “green” on almost every product or ad we see.  Green building to some means the house has an energy star appliance in it.  Many claim to be green whether they understand it or not.  The green focus for most is on the energy efficiency of the homes, which is very important however there is so much more that can be done these days.

Another equally important topic that has not yet received as much spot light to the general public, is “healthy living environments or healthy homes.”   Unfortunately most homes that have been built in the past and that are still being built today are not built with the highest goal to be the use of non-toxic materials in the house. 

Many are now becoming more aware about non-toxic paints and stains.  The adhesives and sealants, fiber board, stains, paints etc all give off a chemical concoction that releases Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) into the air we breathe. VOC's are actually a class of carbon based chemicals that have the capacity to rapidly evaporate. Once airborne, many VOC's have the ability to combine with each other, or with other molecules in the air to create new chemical compounds.  Our homes are built much tighter for the energy efficiency and we lock ourselves into a toxic poisonous home to live in.  Many people are struggling with immune deficiency diseases, chronic fatigue and increasingly high rates of cancer.   It is no wonder as these toxins are all known to be carcinogens.

Once again our covenants do not allow for the use of pesticides, herbicides or poisons for rodents on the property.  We encourage every home owner and builder to take care to avoid the use of toxic materials in their homes.  The good news is, that now there are an abundance of high quality non toxic, eco friendly, organic and safe products available that usually don’t cost any more than the toxic materials.  It just requires a little mindfulness and planning.  (see the update on the first home being built at The Cliffs at Padre Springs.

It is our goal to demonstrate a community that emphasizes a healthy environment. Homes will be built to New Mexico’s highest green standards, with specific emphasis given to creating a non-toxic living experience. Organic gardens will be constructed to healthfully sustain members of the community. The development will be completed with mindfulness and clarity as to not disrupt the natural order of the sacred environment we share. We believe by building our community with the goal of creating the healthiest environment for each member, we will therefore construct a community that is also the healthiest for the local environment, and therefore a contribution to the planet.

The Cliffs at Padre Spring’s community is founded firmly upon giving: giving to the Earth, to our families, to our children, to humanity, and to ourselves. We will strive for a community that is sustainable, non-toxic, and sympathetic to the natural order of our environment. By creating a community that embodies energy efficiency and conscious building design we will allow individuals to live fuller happier lives. Our community will be unrestrained by the energy burdens plaguing a majority of our population, and instead will be an example for the possibility of modern living.