Don and Beatriz Rudisill reach for the highest level of LEED certification

By Bethany Conway, The Las Cruces Bulletin

Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series following the construction of Las Cruces’ first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certified home. Though owners Don and Beatriz Rudisill will not know whether they achieve this certification until their home is complete, sharing their story will help others on their journey to becoming green.

For Don Rudisill, the story behind his home at 4367 Isleta Court is in many ways similar to that of “the first penguin.” (more…)

Sun & Earth lays the building blocks of energy efficiency

By Jonathan Butz, The Las Cruces Bulletin

Everyone seems to be endorsing “green” lately because of rising temperatures, higher energy costs and the endless mantra that seems to ring in every corner of our lives – green, green, green. (more…)

Sandra Barty created her very own quiet, cozy space in the Southwest

By Bethany Conway, The Las Cruces Bulletin

It is not hard to see why those coming from the big city find Talavera so tranquil. For Sandra Barty of New York, choosing to locate her winter residence in Las Cruces was one of the easiest decisions she ever made. (more…)

Environmentally Friendly Earth Plaster

Sun-News, August 2004

The walls are the largest surface area in a room, yet they are often overlooked in favor of furnishings, accessories, and floor treatments. Walls define the spaces in which we live and work. They play an important role in indoor air quality and are a surface that we naturally look towards as we move through a space. In my experience, once the “right” interior colors are decided upon, there is a sense of self-discovery and emotional well-being for the people living or working in that space. (more…)

Sun & Earth showed one of their homes in Parade of Homes. To view the flyer, click here.

The Extraordinary House That Jim Built

by Jess C. Williams II of the Sun-News, February 1, 1987

It took one man’s special needs, one woman’s special imagination, one family’s determination to pitch in and one craftsman’s ability to translate the plan to reality.

This is the house that Jim built. He built it mostly for Murray. (more…)

Adobe Homes

Jeanette Harris is a freelance writer, realtor, and lover of interesting houses. Her article appeared in Southwest Homes, Sun-News on June 30, 2002.

Today adobe is labor and detail intensive. Some adobe bricks are still made with straw and also have a small bit of asphalt to stabilize them. Recipes can vary, and there are many types of adobe. (more…)