News
Greening Houston: Water innovations flow at Cinco Ranch, Telfair
Water conservation might not be as glamorous a topic as solar energy or electric cars, but with only 1% of the world's water available for human consumption, water is definitely an important green issue.
In two Houston area master-planned communities, Cinco Ranch in Katy and Telfair in Sugar Land, Newland Communities has introduced projects that will save thousands of gallons of water each year, while at the same time helping to reduce problems such as runoff pollution and the subsidence, or sinking, that results from removing groundwater.
At Cinco Ranch, The Lake House amenity demonstrates a number of green ideas, with an emphasis on water. Designed to host events such as Summer Splash Day and back-to-school parties, this 6,000-square-foot community designed center meets LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria, and LEED certification is pending. Generous roof overhangs, building orientation, air quality and high-efficiency lighting help The Lake House conserve energy, and a 5,000-gallon cistern collects enough rainwater to maintain landscaping in the surrounding 70-acre recreation complex for a 4-5 week dry spell.
Planted with native vegetation, bioswales at The Lake House collect and filter rainwater before it runs off into the 37-acre lake nearby, and also help to reduce the "heat island" effect. A specially designed parking lot bioswale with a minimal grade change naturally filters out oil residue and other pollutants before the water reaches the lake. This lake is surrounded by wetland ledges to provide habitat for native species and educational opportunities for residents.
The Lake House's saline swimming pool eliminates harsh pool chemicals, and greenbelt trails up to 150 feet wide connect this complex to the rest of the 7,600-acre Cinco Ranch community, promoting biking and walking over automobile use.
The Lake House complex is part of a 2,400-acre expansion of Cinco Ranch that opened in 2008 and will ultimately contain 5,000 households. Other sustainable features implemented throughout this new phase include installing special pipes to all new homes so that wastewater can be recycled and used to irrigate common landscaped areas; using organic fertilizer to lessen chemical runoff into area streams; and requiring all community homebuilders be certified Energy Star builders.
At Telfair, Newland Communities partnered with the City of Sugar Land to create a new pump station that uses existing surface water supplies from Oyster Creek to fill the 70 acres of lakes that meander throughout the 2,018-acre community. In addition to providing Telfair with an inexpensive and sustainable source of water for a key amenity, the project helped Sugar Land in its process to convert to surface water. The solution eliminated the need to fill the lake with groundwater, the pumping of which is a major contributor in the greater Houston area. The wildflowers surrounding Telfair's lake system provide more than color - these natives require much less fertilizer, irrigation and mowing than other types of landscaping.
Both Cinco Ranch and Telfair use water management systems in common areas, constantly monitoring ground and weather conditions and releasing water only when needed. The newest sections of Cinco Ranch and Telfair specify low-maintenance Bermuda grass for common areas and lawns
About Newland Communities
Newland Communities is the largest private developer of planned
communities in the United States. With a legacy that began in 1968,
Newland specializes in comprehensive residential and urban
mixed-use master planning with expertise in leading large-scale
single- and multi-family new-home communities. Headquartered in San
Diego, Calif., Newland and its affiliated companies are currently
developing and managing nearly 40 projects in 14 states.
www.newlandcommunities.com
