My quest for sustainable construction has begun!

Being in real estate for 14 years, and having served on the Prescott City Council, I have had many, many clients, citizens and friends ask about "sustainable" or "green" or "environmentally-friendly" or "healthy house" or "low impact" (some of the names used) construction.  There are many types of materials available but the key is to combine them to fit your needs and the property as well.  

My fiance (Greg) and I are purchasing 4 acres of land in Paulden, AZ, which is just a hair north of the Chino Valley town limits adjoining a neighborhood called Rimrock.  Our views are phenomenal, nearly 360 degrees, elevation is about 4600, situated on 4 acres of fairly flat land that is currently grazed on by cattle.  We are a stone's throw from the Verde Headwaters and the confluence of the Verde and Granite Creek.  

We would love to be totally off-grid, meaning not tied to a power company, but we have not been able to find any mortgages that will allow this.  I have been told that the reasoning behind it is, the lenders like a product they can easily sell and they feel that if a homeowner were to default on an off-grid property, that property would be difficult to resell.  I think they are totally wrong and actually stupid!  If lenders would get on board with truly GREEN mortgages, they could charge a slightly higher interest rate, ask for a little more down and even require the property meet LEED standards (I'll go in to LEED and other green certifications on another day).  

So today I am starting with this posting and photos of our lot.