Oceanspray Town Homes arose out of a vision of providing healthy, sustainable, and climate resilient rental units to the general public. The development models the use of low carbon and carbon storing materials, passive solar design, and high performance construction to yield comfortable, low-impact housing at a competitive market rate. Comprised of four 1275 s.f. side-by-side rental lofts, each unit includes 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an attic loft. 

While each unit has a covered front entry porch and private south facing garden, the street-facing unit with an entry porch and a bay window gives the development the feeling of a large home, in scale with the neighborhood. Balconies and roof overhangs along the south side provide summer shade to doors and windows, while low-angle winter sun warms the interior.

Straw bales are stacked between traditional wood framing for well-insulated walls finished with clay plaster on the interior. All interior finishes are low or zero-VOC. The foundation is designed to use as little concrete as necessary, and the concrete used has 50% less Portland cement than a typical mix. Salvaged wood, bamboo flooring, recycled glass countertops round out the sustainable material choices.

Roof rainwater is collected in a tank and used for flushing toilets and drip irrigation. Site rainwater is routed to a planted swale in the front yard. Greywater (waste water from fixtures other than toilets and kitchen sinks) will irrigate fruit trees and habitat-friendly native plant landscaping.

Designed and built to meet LEED for Homes certification standards, the project's 7.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system and all-electric appliances and equipment (heat-pumps for space and water heating) will result in a near net-zero energy building, making it a model of climate smart development.