Civano Solar Village

Tuscon, Arizona - 1989

Civano envisions a sustainable community on publically owned land that demonstrates resource conserving strategies.  Sim Van der Ryn led the workshop charette that produced the visionary plan for 5,000 people on 280 acres of State Land within Tuscon city limits.  Civano demonstrates that conservation can be both economically viable and socially relevant.

Civano combines solar technology, resource recycling and creative urban planning to reduce energy, resource and transportation consumption.  Through cost effective and energy-efficient infrastructure, Civano targets an energy savings of 75%, a reduction in water consumption of 65%, and a reduction in landfill-destined solid waste of 75%.