NW Denver Becoming Hotspot for Green Home Building
Just as the housing market is beginning to thaw after a prolonged 3yr deep-freeze, NW Denver's Highland neighborhood is sprouting numerous home projects. The home with the greenest and most sustainable attributes is Urban Green Development's Green Cube at 3310 Shoshone Street. It represents a first of its kind for this neighborhood which is fast becoming an architectural Mecca.
The project is anticipated to be Denver's first single family LEED Platinum designated home, the highest level of a green sustainable building from the US Green Building Council. This designation does not come easily, as every feature and building component must be rated and scored for its energy efficiency and sustainability. Urban Green Development has been working with Colorado's USGBC LEED Platinum area coordinator for the last 18 months on design, concept and location. The groundbreaking took place in late January of this year.
The slow down in the housing market may have helped this unique project and led to a few positive trends in the building industry. The housing industry downturn has sparked new innovations in the sustainable and green building industry. The good news, said Kohler's Rob Zimmerman, is that product manufacturers have been able to focus on the creation of new technology during the current building downturn that will make green building more affordable.
That is exactly the goal of the Green Cube Project and Urban Green Development's owner Ray Munoz. Our commitment is to use our resources wisely and build sustainable green built homes at affordable prices explains Munoz. For too many years green building has been perceived as just for the high-end homebuyer. For the green industry to fully thrive and be accepted it has to be affordable for most homebuyers.
Showcased as a demonstration Green Built Show Home, The Green Cube will be open August 11th through Labor Day. The eco friendly architectural design is expected to use just 40% of the energy of a standard code built home. The home will bring together area contractors, suppliers all using sustainable and reusable products. More information at http://www.greencubedenver.com/
North High School, located in the same NW Denver neighborhood as the home, is a key element of the project. As the surrounding neighborhood transforms with new housing projects and redevelopments, Urban Green has created a partnership with the North High students by establishing a green building industry scholarship fund.
We want these kids to realize there are a lot of opportunities for them, as a company we want to introduce the students to the new green economy said Munoz.
Rachel Gallegos, the Project's Director, has been working with local suppliers. She offers that the home includes features such as concrete panels, active grid tied solar, low-e argon filled windows, an evaporative cooling system and high efficiency appliances.
During the Show Home a Go Green, Live Green Pavilion will host local green businesses and suppliers to familiarize consumers with solar energy, water conservation, green insulation and environmentally friendly building options. This interactive area is aimed at helping educate homeowners on the various steps in making their home energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
The National Association of Home Builders expects Green-built homes will see an increase in market share this year that directly reflects a desire for cost-effective green options among homebuyers. The key is value for every stakeholder in the process, from the manufacturer to the builder and the home buyer, said Keith Gallegos, of Urban Green, if we can bring tremendous value to building green homes in Denver, everyone wins: the environment, the industry and the homeowner.
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