Zero-energy community unveiled

By John Rebchook, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 02:33 p.m., July 15, 2008
Updated 02:33 p.m., July 15, 2008

A developer officially unveiled the 250-unit Geos Neighborhood in Arvada, which is being touted as the nation’s largest net-zero-energy, master-planned community.

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall on the community off of Indiana Street, south of West 72nd Avenue.

Geos Neighborhood will generate enough renewable energy to offset 100 percent of the annual energy needs of the entire community.

“Geos significantly raises the bar for sustainable residential development,” project developer Norbert Klebl said in a statement. “We’re tapping a market of people who want beautiful, affordable homes that support their commitment to a truly sustainable lifestyle. People want more than a solar panel here or an energy-efficient appliance there — they want their homes to play a key role in minimizing their carbon footprints — and Geos Neighborhood does just that,” Klebl said.

The development’s on-site solar and geothermal systems are designed to supply 100 percent of the community’s energy needs and work in conjunction with energy consumption patterns that are markedly lower than those found in the nation’s average homes. Features will range from what it describes as a “groundbreaking” checkerboard placement pattern of the homes that maximizes solar efficiency to advanced storm water recycling and cutting-edge heat recovery ventilators.

Homes are priced from the $200,000s.

“It’s great that there are multimillion-dollar homes out there with every eco bell and whistle imaginable,” Klebl said. “Our goal with the Geos Neighborhood is to deliver these same opportunities to more than just the select few by designing a lifestyle community that is financially accessible to many more people.”

Features include:

Airtight construction: Homes’ airtight construction will achieve a low 0.1 natural air changes per hour. By contrast, the majority of U.S. homes being built average between 0.5 and 0.7.

Heat recovery ventilators: Special ventilators will transfer 75 percent or more of the heat from air exiting the home to the fresh, filtered air entering the home.

Photovoltaic solar panels: will be on every building, accounting for 65 percent of total electrical offset.

Checkerboard design: Every other home is placed on the front of the lot, while its neighbor sits to the back, maximizing each home’s solar collection.

Water conservation: Serving an important dual purpose, each community green is a storm water retention basin that also serves as a neighborhood park, and storm water is recycled into the community landscape.

Geos Neighborhood homes will range from 860 square feet to 3,683 square feet in a variety of housing types, including single-family homes, live/work townhomes, paired homes, row homes, multilevel condos and co-housing.

Each home’s standard and upgrade features will include energy-conserving light fixtures and water conserving plumbing fixtures. Interior finishes will be low-toxic and contain low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and materials will be from sustainable resources.

Pre-sales have begun. For more information: www.discovergeos.com, or call 303-432-8007.

• July 15, 2008

  4:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RainbowWarrior writes:

  Yes!!!

  Great work Geos. So where are all the regular trolls on the this site that say solar and geothermal and renewables in genral don't work or won't be available for 10 more years?

  Now we're talking 21st Century Community Development and Home Construction... may the old ways rest in peace.

• July 15, 2008

  8:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jlgraybill writes:

  $370K for 1500 sq feet homes? In theory it's a great idea and a start, but personally my family needs more house for my money. There are probably those out there that will pay that, but I'm just not one of them. Sorry to say, but our culture won't really change towards greener living for most people until it actually affects the pocket book (e.g. the Automobile and gas prices now).

• July 15, 2008

  11:56 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  KevinD writes:

  Can you walk to the supermarket?

• July 16, 2008

  6:44 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  delnorteknight writes:

  Zero net energy? by whose calculations? If the PV arrays supply 65% of the electrical needs, where does the remaining 35% come from? Sounds like a bit of greenwashing is going on. Caveat emptor.

• July 16, 2008

  9:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RainbowWarrior writes:

  Who's being defensive? Not me, I see this as offensive to the old farts that want to maintain the status quo and hold this country back from it's greater potential to be all it can be! Projects like this move us forward in an appropriate direction and offer reasons not to drill every freaking last place on the planet. Actions speak louder than words.

  Gene I hope you do check it out, and take the beast with you if he's been house broken.

• July 16, 2008

  12:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jsdoyle writes:

  A thought or two from a mortgage lender. This seems like a project to really look into. I am familiar with a couple more that are similar. When you calculate the house payment of what is affordable to your family - think about $200 a month or more in XCEL bills that will not be there. This allows you to buy more house for the same buget dollars.

• July 17, 2008

  7:16 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Juspassinby writes:

  Wonderful plan. Bad timing.
  With so many people losing homes there is a glut on the housing market here. I was ready to be PO'd when I read the headline. Just another richy-rich perk I was thinking, but this guy wants to make these homes available to folks who can benefit the most.
  Now if we could just get smart enough to make these the norm in the housing industry.