Builder John Wesley Miller of Tucson; photo: Benjie Sanders, The Associated Press
At first, Miller thought the bare lot would make a good spot for a house for he and his wife, but when that plan didn’t hatch, 413 South 3rd Avenue found an even higher purpose. Miller conferred with his dear friends Ron Jones and Sara Gutterman, founders of Green Builder Media, about making this the place of the next “VISION House®,” a home built as a demonstration of true energy efficiency, sustainability and green building in all aspects. Green Builder Media’s VISION House® series has led to the building of exemplary green homes across the nation, including a walk-through exhibit featured at Epcot® in the Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Miller, Jones and Gutterman agreed to the project, and VISION House® Tucson was off and running.
Builder John Wesley Miller of Tucson; photo: Benjie Sanders, The Associated Press
A rendering of VISION House Tucson, courtesy of John Wesley Miller Companies
On Monday, March 25th, the team participating in the building of VISION House® Tucson, along with local and state officials and friends from the neighborhood, gathered at 413 South 3rd to break ground—or “raise the house,” as Green Builder’s Ron Jones proclaimed—on the exciting and significant project. We were among those in attendance because Crossville is providing all interior tile for the home.
Crossville’s rigorous and substantive recycling programs and environmentally-sound manufacturing processes make us an ideal partner for the endeavor. We join a roster of wonderful sponsor who share our commitment to being green in measurable, substantive ways in all aspects of our businesses.
VISION House® Tucson will be the first home built in Pima County using Net-Zero Energy Building Standard code. The city and country standard aims to provide home builders with a guide that provides all the information necessary to build net-zero homes. Homeowners at Armory Park del Sol spend on average $300 a year—total!—to cool and heat their homes, and they also use less than half the water of a standard Tucson home.
(left to right) Sara Gutterman, CEO, Green Builder Media; Ron Jones, President, Green Builder Media; Michael Katz, President, Armory Park del Sol HOA; John Wesley Miller, Builder; Mayor Jonathan Rothschild of Tucson; Congressman Ron Barber
We invite you to join us for this journey! We will be posting progress reports, photos and updates all along the way as VISION House® Tucson is being built. The home should be complete in the summer. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest to stay apprised on the “house raising” that is truly raising the bar for residences not only in Tucson but nationwide.
