For more than 40 years, the character of Portola Valley has been defined by a single organizing idea, which is that development should be subordinated to the natural landscape. This fundamental principle was foremost in the minds of the town’s founders, and it is woven throughout the general plan, town ordinances and design guidelines.
The result today is that wherever you are in Portola Valley, you’re never out of touch with nature, whether it’s the view of Windy Hill, the vista along Alpine Road, or the heritage oaks that grace the town everywhere you turn. All of this stems from this original organizing idea, that Portola Valley would never become simply a collection of estate homes, but a community defined by its natural setting.
The time has come to add a second organizing idea to mark the next chapter of the town’s history. What is this new organizing idea? It’s that in the face of the global climate crisis and the future depletion of oil and gas, advanced resource efficiency and the sustainable use of materials should guide building practices in Portola Valley from this point forward.
The town has committed to meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets set out in AB-32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006. This law calls for a statewide 25 percent reduction in green house gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. These are breathtaking goals, but they reflect the scientific community’s assessment of what is required to avert the collapse of natural systems.
In order to do our part in meeting these goals, the Town Council has begun to consider a new sustainability element for the general plan. Half the greenhouse gas emissions in town come from our housing stock, and the proposed sustainability element focuses heavily on community outreach to support voluntary “green-ups” of existing homes. Ideas include discounted energy audits and group buys of energy efficient windows, appliances and insulation. In coming months we will also consider minimal standards for new home construction that incorporate state-of-the-art resource efficiency practices.
If we put in place this new organizing idea around resource efficiency, what will it look like in practice?
It means that the first question asked by a property owner contemplating a remodel might be: “What sort of home will comfortably meet the needs of my family while maximizing energy and water efficiency and minimizing the use of materials, especially non-renewable resources?”
Other questions might include:
• How can we design our home to completely eliminate the need for heating and air conditioning systems?
• How can we capture winter rainwater for summer irrigation?
• What landscaping plan will cool my home in the summer and warm it the winter?
• What orientation of my home to the sun will optimize energy efficiency throughout the year?
•How much of the material that we take out of the old house can be reused in the remodel?
As the Town Council considers this new organizing principle around resource efficiency, we will advance four propositions:
First, green home practices are highly cost-effective for homeowners. Initial capital expenses (often lessened by tax incentives) are offset by reduced operating costs, especially for residents who intend to stay in their homes for many years.
Second, green design produces esthetically beautiful results (as Exhibit A, see the new Town Center project, which has been built to the highest standards of green design for the post-petroleum age).
Third, new standards for environmental design will be packaged in a rich menu of options that will give property owners abundant choices for customizing their homes to achieve high resource efficiency.
And finally, we believe that in coming years green design will increase property values through evolving norms of what defines a desirable home.
We look forward to community dialogue on a new resource efficiency principle for Portola Valley.
Steve Toben is a member of the Portola Valley Town Council.
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