Maisonette Units:

three Bed roomed Maisonette-KES 3,950,000

Maisonette Units:

three Bed roomed [2 bedrooms ensuite] -KES 3,950,000[phase 1 only]

The three Bedroomed unit has been developed in such a way that it can be converted as below in future as the initial family members unit adjustments in size:

-1 Bed roomed[Ground floor] plus 1 bed roomed rental unit upstairs

-I bed roomed [Ground floor] plus 2 No. bedsitters for rent upstairs

Greenville estate is situated in Nairobi and has been developed with the concept of ‘Green Architecture’ in mind.

Solar power

The houses have the electrical wiring designed such that it can accommodate both KPLC wiring and Solar Power wiring. This gives the owners a choice to choose between KPLC electricity usage or Totally free Solar electricity or both.
All rooms have been designed with adequate window openings so as to save on using electricity to light up the home in the course of the day.
All rooms also have been designed to allow for natural cross-ventialtion thereby avoiding use of mechanical ventilation[air conditioning].

24 Hr. Irrigated gardens.

The ‘grey’ water from the kitchen sinks and showers is drained separately to soak pits along the landscaped gardens. This recycles the water which is then utilised to irrigate the gardens and maintain a green fresh look all year round at no price.
Palm trees around the vehicle park location are also irrigated form this water.
Edible fruit-bearing trees and edible flowers have been utilized as component of the decorating landscaping on the lawns.
These can be utilised to enhance nutrition levels of the owners.

Communal Auto Park -Secure CHILDREN’S PLAY Region

Greenville estate has been created to accommodate a 10 No. Auto park in a communal automobile-park design. This ensures that cars do not drive via internally hence creating it safer for small children to play within the landscaped front and back yards.

Lower Maintenance expenses.

The Greenville estate has been created such that the materials utilised for construction need the lowest maintenance expenses.
Finishes such as hand-dressed external masonry walling which require zero maintenance expenses have been utilized.
Roof supplies such as natural clay roofing tiles which rain water runoff can be utilized for human consumption and also become more aesthetically appealing as time goes by have been utilised.

Use of Non-toxic materials

Careful selection of all supplies used in construction inside Greenville estate has been accomplished.
Materials that emit hazardous chemicals by way of solid, liquid or gaseous state have been excluded.

Asbestos

Asbestos is discovered on some roofing materials and vinyl floor tiles.
Finishes that contain asbestos which has been discovered to lead to specific cancers have been excluded in the Greenville Housing project.

Lead

Lead is hazardous to human wellness and is found in specific kinds of paints.

In developed countries such as U.S.A, they have passed Laws that call for property sellers and Landlords to disclose to tenants/purchasers on the presence of Lead-based painting.

In 1996, the US Federal Government passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992,also recognized as Title X. Source:USA Govt.

This law is summarized as below:
LANDLORDS: Landlords to disclose to tenants the side effects of Lead-based paint just before leases take effect.The Lease agreement should contain data concerning the hazardous effects of Lead-based paint.
SELLERS: Sellers to disclose to tenants the side effects of Lead-based paint before leases take effect.The Sale agreement must contain info regarding the hazardous effects of Lead-based paint. Buyers are allowed 10 days maximum to conduct tests for presence of Lead.
RENOVATORS: Renovators working on a home are instructed to give the occupants info on the hazardous effect of Lead-based paint. Lead-based paint typically contaminates humans when they ingest loose paint chippings and paint dust.

In the Greenville Estate houses, even although the Kenya Government has not set up measures to prevent Lead-based paint poisoning in homes, the firm of www.a4architect.com has gone a step further to inform Kenyans on the hazardous effects of Lead in Paint and specified safe paints to be utilized in the Project.

Private Member’s Bill

The firm of www.a4architect.com has initiated and sponsored a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament looking for to enact a Law in Kenya that protects Kenyans from exposure to hazardous Lead and other Heavy metals present in Construction supplies specifically paint.

Non-Toxic Paint kinds:

There are 3 categories of non-toxic paints/wall finishes:

1.Natural finishes These are finishes produced from natural materials such as Mazeras floor tiles.
Also, certain sorts of paint created from natural materials such as bees wax, lime, clay/earth pigments.
These are extremely safe for use since they do not release any hazardous chemicals.

2. Zero VOC [Volatile Organic Compound].

These are paints that have a VOC of less than 5 grammes per liter.

three. Low VOC [Volatile Organic Compound].

These are paints that use water instead of petroleum compounds as solvent. These kinds of paint contain none or very minute amounts of Lead and formaldehyde.
Paints with VOC lower than 25 grammes per liter fall within this category.

Wall finishes and paint employed in Greenville is carefully selected to make certain that it conforms to specified health and safety international standards.

Urea-Formaldehyde in Wood Products.

Scientific experiments show that Urea-formaldehyde can cause cancer .
Formaldehyde is present in the glue that holds MDF and HDF, a typical material utilised in the constructing industry. MDF is found on doors and furniture [desks, wardrobes, shelves].

Below is a picture of household furniture produced of MDF Boards

HDF is utilised to manufacture wood-plastic floor and wall laminate finishes.

Below is a picture of floor finish created of HDF Board

All doors and furniture employed in Greenville estate conform to the needed Health and Safety International standards.

Most European countries have kept strict standards on the MDF and HDF glues to E1 Level of emission. The Greenville Estate constructing materials have been carefully selected to comfort to this high regular.

The lowest level of Formaldehyde Emission by MDF/HDF boards is E0. This means zero emission.

This is followed by E1, E2 and E 3 respectively.

E3 MDF/HDF has the highest Formaldehyde Emission and is consequently not desirable.

The International Agency for Investigation on Cancer (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde from “possibly carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans” in 2004, based on the increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. Formaldehyde was also designated as a toxic air contaminant (TAC) in California in 1992 with no secure level of exposure. State law needs ARB to take action to minimize human exposure to all TACs.

President Obama

In U.S.A, President Obama recently signed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act into law[July 7th, 2010]. The law aims to reduce the emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood items, and for other purposes. Source:USA Govt.

Despite the fact that in Kenya we still do not have such Laws in place to protect home occupants from the hazardous effects of Carcinogenic Formaldehyde found in MDF boards[mainly used to make furniture] and HDF boards[mainly utilised to make floor board laminates], the firm of www.a4architect.com has taken the initiative to inform Kenyans of the hazards of Formaldehyde in Construction supplies and careful selection of supplies that do not contain Fomaldehyde has been accomplished in the Greenville Estate houses.

Private Members Bill

The firm of www.a4architect.com has initiated and sponsored a Private Members Bill in Parliament looking for to set up Laws that regulate importation and sale of MDF and HDF boards that have a high Emission of Carcinogenic Formaldehyde in Kenya. www.a4architect.com hopes that when passed, this Law will assist several Kenyans in avoiding contact with this hazardous chemical and ultimately lower their chances of developing Cancer.

The Greenville Estate design has factored all this study in keeping in line with the ‘Green Architecture’ idea.

Conclusion.

Greenville Estate is the very first in Kenya to offer truly ‘Green’ living to its occupants.
The firm of www.a4architect.com has completed research on construction supplies and global trends in Housing provision and has taken each and every care to make sure that occupants at Greenville are given the finest high quality Housing at the most competitive cost in Kenya.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau B.Arch U.o.N M.A.A.K[A]

Registered Architect

www.a4architect.com