 |
 |
 |
Members Corner | Site Map | Search | Home
Two OpportunitiesLearn how to save big bucks by initiating the Full Monty. And take your shot at winning Colorado energy awards."When a fellow says it ain't the money but the principle of the thing, it's
the money." "Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences." Got of your calendar out? This writer proposes two items for your agenda this summer. First. set aside June 25. Attend the HBA's one-time seminar that can save you money while earning you some serious points in the Colorado Built Green Program. One New Mexico builder broke trail with this concept two years ago. and a Colorado builder recently followed suit late last year. Second, consider applying for the (EPA) Energy Star New Millennium Builder Awards. Last year seven builders in three different regions of the state won awards. Applications will be due in September. For details of this event, sponsored this year by Xcel Energy, visit E-Star's Web site (www.e-star.com). Waste grinder seminarHere's some case-study background for the June 25 seminar, titled "Construction Waste Management: From Optimizing Design to Minimizing the Dumpster." Artistic Homes is Albuquerque's largest builder. Last year, while building 815 homes, they reduced their landfill fees by $295.000. Their secret'? They invested in a mechanized grinder called the Packer 750, manufactured by Packer Industries (Atlanta). And they completely revised their building system, including framing (see Energy Waves column in June 2001). In that process, with consulting assistance from Building Science Corporation (Westford. Mass.) during 2000-01 through the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Building America program. they stepped forward to become the first large "systems builder" in the Rockies. That earned them a Green Builder award early this year from the National Association of Hone Builders. The Packer 750 cost $85.000. plus a used one-ton pick-up truck to haul it around. The trash crew consists of an equipment operator and two laborers. They toss all drywall. cardboard and wood waste into a hopper that feeds the grinder. Once the hopper's safety doors are closed, the operator flicks a switch on his remote controller and presto -- the material is ground up into compost material that a landscape company hauls away for free. Metal and plastics are recycled. Artistic has their plumbers and carpet installers recycle their own waste products separately. The only material land-filled today is minor site trash collected in garbage bags and dumped in centrally located dumpsters. From 2001 to 2002. Artistic's dumpster loads declined by a factor of 10 -- from 1,100 to 107. And the per-dumpster fee dropped from $265 to $212, thanks to a new central location system. "This is one of the better steps we've ever made in green-building practices," said Max Wade. I member of Artistic's family-owned management team. "So many of those things cost money. This saves dollars and helps the environment at the same time - the best of both worlds." "We looked at alternative waste management systems for five years before we found a machine that could handle our volume and was safe to operate." added Wade. He was pleased enough with the Packer 750 that Artistic Homes decided to act as regional sales rep. To date, three of the machines are now operating in New Mexico and one in Colorado, "with a whole lot of wannabes out there," said Wade. Aspen Homes of Colorado Inc.. building in Loveland and Severance, bought the first machine to operate in Colorado. Last year, according to Aspen Homes President Jim Sabin, the company spent S96,000 to landfill construction waste from just one subdivision. This grated on Sabin's sense of environmental responsibility and kept drilling their bottom line. "We're wasting money and resources." Sabin made major changes. First, he mandated smarter use of wood: in that process, he ended up having to let go several framers who weren't buying into the changes. Second, his people now recycle all cardboard. Third, he bought a truck-and-grinder rig and started chipping all their remaining wood waste. That grind is used for on-site landscaping, is tossed on the ground around front yards to reduce the mud factor or is given away free to homebuyers or nurseries as mulch. The reduction in landfill tipping fees should save roughly S40,000, giving the investment a two- or three-year payback. But the environmental and goodwill payoff is immediate. Besides covering the grinder, other topics during the waste management course outline include:
The lead instructor for the course is Peter Yost, formerly with the NAHB Research Center and Environmental Building News, now with Building Science Corporation. Max Wade plus a representative from Aspen Homes will participate. The classroom portion will be held at the HBA of Metropolitan Denver offices (1400 S. Emerson) in the morning, followed by a field trip to the Stapleton project to see the grinder in action and examine opportunities for the Full (framing) Monty. Options will be discussed for custom builders worried that they couldn't possibly afford to purchase their own grinder. Energy awardsLast November, seven home builders from throughout Colorado were recognized for building the most energy-efficient homes in the state -- homes that use less energy, arc quite comfortable, save their owners money and reduce the impact of housing development on the environment. The awards were supplied through the EPA's Energy Star Homes program. E-Star Colorado supports and manages these New Millennium Builder Awards on behalf of Energy Star. Now in their third year, the EPA New Millennium Builder Awards encourage builders statewide to make a commitment to energy-efficient building. To qualify for the awards, a builder's homes must meet the Energy Star minimum threshold of 86 on the 0-to-100 uniform home energy rating scale. Last year's Denver-metro winners included Engle Homes (production). Kurowski Development Co. (custom), Habitat for Humanity (affordable) and Wonderland Hill Development Company (co-housing). Front Range winners included Centex Homes (production; Fort Collins) and Tierra Concrete Homes (custom: Pueblo). The winner for Greater Colorado was Balanced Construction (custom; Montrose). A new category is being added this year: upgrading an existing home to meet the Energy Star 86 threshold. Applications for the next round are due in September (details at www.e-star.com). A panel of judges with expertise in energy efficiency. building design and construction will evaluate this year's applicants based on a range of criteria. High on the list will be cost-effectiveness, innovative use of building processes and technologies, health considerations (e.g., combustion safety and mechanical ventilation) and use of Energy Star products. As for Norman Cousins ...If you aren't yet building product lines that might qualify your company for this year's New Millennium awards, start planning to upgrade your energy package for next year. The reasons aren't "feel-good" or "do-the-right-thing" motivated: they arc strictly business-related. Residential energy efficiency, after two decades of teeing a minor issue in the hone-buying market, is poised to play a consistently larger role. Colorado's natural vas prices increased roughly 40 percent this past March. Xcel Energy suggested that these prices should be viewed as a long-term price increase, not a short-term problem. Reason: the regional pas glut in the Rockies is evaporating thanks to a number of new pipelines carrying natural gas to West Coast and Midwest markets. This writer projects that nationwide natural gas prices will likely climb even higher over the next two to three years. The twin drivers are increased demand by more and more gas-fired power plants coming on line, plus accelerating depletion of "maturing" major gas basins in Alberta and the Gulf of Mexico. The primary short-term bail-out options are economic recession, exporting businesses that use a lot of natural gas (fertilizer, chemicals. etc.) - who wants this recipe? - or a very warm winter next year. Expect homeowners to start squirming about their energy bills next winter. Anticipate this as an opportunity. Steve Andrews consults with builders for E-Star Colorado and writes on energy issues (sbandrews@att.net). E-Star (www.e-star.com), is a nonprofit home energy rating system that works with both new and existing homes statewide. |
|
2008 Built Green Colorado
Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, 9033 E. Easter Place, Suite 200,
Centennial, CO 80112 Last Updated: 10/05/2007 |