Stanford
Portola Terrace
neighborhood view 3d rendering

Sustainability

Wildfire Resilience

Fire Hardening Structures and Homes

Portola Terrace will use building materials and construction methods designed to provide greater resistance to heat, flames, and embers than required by applicable building codes.

Fire resistant plants and a part of a driveway and window

Responsible Wildfire Resilient Design

  • Fire-resistant building materials and detailing
  • Defensible space around homes
  • Ongoing vegetation maintenance for the entire site
  • Protection of natural creek flow
  • Install sustainable, drought-tolerant landscaping
  • Extended water lines to serve new homes and increase available water supplies for fire suppression to the entire area.
  • Residences are designed as a cluster development to maximize use of defensible space as they are easier to defend from fire and help achieve goals for climate resiliency.

Reduce Sources of Ignition

  • Undergrounding high-voltage powerlines along Alpine Road. 
  • Executing the adopted Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) which provides long-term strategies for minimizing fire hazards and protecting ecological resources in the future including creation of defensible space.
  • A new, permanent vegetation maintenance road will improve access throughout the property for ongoing vegetation management.
Fire resistant fencing for the neighborhood

Sustainability

Sustainability and Environmental Innovation

The Portola Terrace residences will include the following leading-edge features to support a healthier future for our region:

Solar panels for green buildings

Green Building Features

  • Highly insulated and air-sealed buildings
  • All electric homes
  • Installation of solar panels
  • High performance windows
  • Exterior shading devices  

Water Conservation

  • Pre-plumb the wastewater system to accommodate a future greywater system for landscape irrigation
  • Native landscaping and low-flow drip irrigation
  • Water efficient plumbing fixtures
  • Onsite stormwater bioretention basins
Native low water landscape for water conservation
two people charging their electric car into a garage wall charger

Sustainable Transportation

  • Minimizing vehicle emissions by building in close proximity to campus
  • Creating carpool opportunities for residents
  • Electric vehicle charging in each single family home and on property for the below market rate rental units.

Leading-Edge Technology

  • ENERGY STAR appliances and heating systems
  • Electric pump water heaters
  • LED lighting and occupancy sensors
  • Induction stoves
  • Onsite battery backup system
a clean kitchen with efficient appliances