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1. The new Built Green exhibit (made possible in large part by a generous donation from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) was highly visible and highly visited in the Expo Hall, where information about the program flew off the shelf and the Built Green staff participated in on camera and print media interviews and responded to high interest among a wide range of conference attendees.
2. Built Green's market research guru, Bob Taber of Thomas Taber and Drazen, had a feature article describing the program's tremendous market awareness in the conference issue of Home Energy Design magazine, which was distributed to all attendees.
3. Program director Kim Calomino and Bob Taber were joint presenters with Oz Architecture in a conference session that drew a standing-room only attendance of over 300.  Bob and Kim were mobbed at the end of the session with requests for more information, and the BG booth experienced a flood of visitors immediately thereafter.
4. Kim also participated in a discussion session between the directors of other local green building programs and USGBC's pilot providers of their LEED for Homes program with the intent to explore the nature of potential relationships between local programs and USGBC's emerging national program.

This made the third national conference  - ULI and Solar2006 included - to be held in Denver this year where Built Green had a significant presence.  It's a good time to remember that while it may be Built Green COLORADO, we are considered on all fronts to be the national leaders.  Thanks to our members for helping make that the case.

On September 12, 2006, the HBA Board of Directors approved the 2007 Built Green Checklist as recommended by the EEAC for implementation on January 1, 2007.
The 2007 Built Green Checklist is effective on homes permitted on or after January 1, 2007.

2007 brings about a number of notable changes to the Built Green Checklist. The individual changes are proposed for a variety of reasons. Some are proposed primarily for purposes of technical clarity; some represent a combining of previously separate choices (toward integrated building science); others introduce new options to the Checklist; and some point adjustments have been made to maintain a balance of relative merit, cost and difficulty. Please note distinct from the numerous changes with the Checklist, the program has enforced a new procedure, homes must be registered at time of permit issue.

The increase in the energy efficiency requirement – to 15% above IECC 2006 - reflects the consistently high performance of most participating builders, growing attention to energy efficiency by consumers and regulatory bodies alike, and the increasing influence of other programs, such as ENERGY STAR®, in the Colorado market. Additionally, the recommendation includes a change from the current minimum point requirement of 70 points to 75 points overall.

Collectively the changes represent the program’s continued evolution in the direction of building science and the systems approach to building. This year’s changes also represent a fully developed base level from which the program can now develop and introduce new tiers or levels of increased rigor for those builders who seek greater distinction.

The 2007 Checklist and the Guide to the Checklist is on line at www.builtgreen.org on the home page in the Hot News section. Please check the list of Approved Raters, http://www.builtgreen.org/directory/raters.aspx, to get the most updated list for 2007.

That’s what it’s all about for Building Alternatives, Inc, and their new Built Green & Energy Star model/demonstration home in Woodland Park CO, “The Schofield”. With many materials and systems on display and in use, this home will be the setting for many future seminars on the subject of green building. “Being able to walk customers through our model where they can see the practical application of many of the Built Green features is invaluable.” “The often perceived notion that a “Built Green” home must somehow be “weird” or out of the “main stream” is quickly put to rest”, according to Ken Matthews – Owner & President.

This home scored an impressive 52 points on the new HERS Index scale and 236 points on the Built Green checklist. “The Schofield”, was a Built Green “Award of Excellence” winner in the 2006 Colorado Springs HBA Parade of Homes. BAI also won the Built Green Builder of the year for 2006.

If you are in the area stop in and see for yourself that “Green is Beautiful” and is truly “Built Better”. A task made easier since the home features several viewing windows in to the “guts” of the homes floor and ceiling areas that normally can’t be seen in a finished home. For more information call 1-800-589-6534 or visit www.BAIhomes.com

Some of the many products and features of the home are as follows:

Key Construction Features:
SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) Wall and Roof Construction – Super Insulated and Air Tight
ACH (Air Exchange per Hour) measured at .17 ACH, State code = .5, E-Star Minimum = .35
ICF Foundation (Insulated Concrete Forms)
Below Slab Insulation – Lower Level
Highly Efficient Low-E Windows

Heating System:
92% Efficient Boiler and Side Arm Water Heater
Radiant Floors throughout
Ice Melt Systems at entries
IAQ System (Indoor Air Quality)
HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) – Brings in fresh air
Central Vacuum System – Puts dust outside
Radon Mitigation System – Keeps radon out
High Percentage Hard Surface Flooring – Reduces indoor pollutants
Direct Vent Gas Fireplace – Keeps combustion gases out of living space

Lighting:
Lutron Home Works Computer Controlled Lighting System
High Use of Low Voltage and Compact Fluorescent fixtures

Landscape:
Low water use Drip Irrigation System
Hydra Mulch Spray Grass, fertilizer and flower mix to hold and secure the soil around the home

Interior and Exterior:
Sustainable floor coverings such as: Cork and Bamboo
Recycled Content Carpet
Trex Composite Decking
Low water use appliances through out

That’s why when you’re choosing an HVAC system, you need to be aware of the high efficiency choices available. Rheem offers the most advanced equipment in the industry, including the sealed combustion Modulating furnace. While the Rheem Modulating gas furnace is a highly sophisticated heating product, the concept behind it is quite simple. A conventional furnace is either “off” or “on” at 100% capacity depending upon the demand for heat. Thus, the temperature in your home goes up and down, varying as much as five degrees, while the furnace cycles. The Rheem Modulating furnace is unlike any other gas furnace in the industry today. The furnace “modulates” between 40% to 100% capacity, which provides a more constant supply of heat, and therefore results in comfort unmatched by any other gas furnace. It also provides the most efficient use of energy possible, delivering the precise amount of heat required to maintain a comfortable environment.

Even with the best equipment installed, it still needs to be installed correctly for the best efficiency. The Rheem Team will design the total HVAC system specifically to fit your new home. When the sizing is done correctly and the duct work is sealed properly, the air will flow evenly to all rooms in the home.

For more information on Rheem’s line of high efficiency products, go to our website, www.comfortairdistributing.com or contact Dave Schrock with Comfort Air, 2006 Built Green Sponsor of the Year, at 303-399-1752, dschrock@comfortairdistributing.com.

Bridger Construction Services – Ridgeway, Colorado
Remarc Homes – Denver, Colorado
Habitat Design and Construction – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Galbraith Builders – Durango, Colorado

Built Green currently has 166 builder members and 50 sponsor members.
Total # of Home Registrations for 2006 is 2875. If you have not registered all of your homes for 2006, HURRY! Please note, each builder must register at least one unit per year. If this requirement is NOT met, you will be out of compliance with the program and consequently will be dropped for the 2007 calendar year.

Built Green Colorado, is a voluntary industry-led program created through the joint efforts of the HBA of Metro Denver, The Governor’s office of Energy Management and Conservation, Xcel Energy, and E-Star Colorado. While Energy Star and Built Green have the same energy efficiency minimum requirement – 15% above IECC 2006 – Built Green is a “green building” program, not just an energy efficiency program. The Built Green Checklist provides builders a flexible approach to building homes that provide greater energy efficiency and comfort, have improved indoor air quality, save water, preserve natural resources, and have improved durability and reduced maintenance needs. Homes are verified for compliance on a random basis by third-party verifiers.

Energy Star is a voluntary government-backed program that focuses on improved energy efficiency. New homes earn the Energy Star designation by meeting energy efficiency guidelines outlined by the U.S. EPA. The guidelines are set to exceed the IECC 2006 by 15%. Energy Star’s primary focus is on energy efficiency. Homes must be verified for compliance by third-party verifiers.

Energy Star and Built Green are compatible programs; participation in one does not exclude participation in the other. A builder can fulfill the 2007 Built Green Checklist Energy Requirement by meeting the requirements of Energy Star, and then make selections from the Checklist to address the additional components relative to IAQ, water and resource conservation, durability and reduced maintenance. Both Built Green and Energy Star use the same third-party verifiers to conduct inspections, including an insulation inspection, and blower door and duct pressurization tests. Built Green home inspections also include documentation and/or visual inspection to verify compliance with the Built Green Checklist. Please see the “List of Approved Raters” at: http://builtgreen.org/directory/raters.aspx, to select a HERS rater to complete these inspections.

This month’s question was answered by Robby Schwarz of Energy Logic.

…but at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors®, it is easy. For over forty years, we have been practicing green techniques in our acquisition and manufacturing processes. In April 2006, we decided to leverage these practices and enter the green building marketplace by joining Built Green® Colorado.

Our membership in Built Green Colorado has been a gateway to many new ideas and prospects. In addition to providing us with invaluable networking opportunities, our involvement has also increased our confidence in the industry. In November, we were proud to be a first-time exhibitor at the Greenbuild Expo. This event proved to be very successful in the ongoing education of our staff and increasing our presence in the marketplace. During the Greenbuild Expo, we focused primarily on the innate green characteristics and durability of our Antique Reclaimed woods.

Carlisle is proud to be the most requested supplier of Antique Reclaimed woods in the United States. As we dismantle the mills and factories, which are beyond the point of salvage, we recover the most beautiful and most stable flooring materials and beams. Built Green Builders who choose to install Carlisle Antique Reclaimed wood flooring will be able to take as many as 6 points on the 2007 Built Green Checklist; Carlisle floors apply to item # 147. Whether it is our Antique Chestnut, deeply rooted in Early Americana, or Antique Barnwood, typically a mix of pine and hemlock, we recognize their natural beauty and the stewardship required to sustain their limited supply.

Milled Barnwood

Our custom crafted floors work well in any environment, including over radiant heat and concrete slab. If you are interested in more information, please check us out online at www.wideplankflooring.com or visit our downtown Denver showroom.

Domestic wood flooring from reused/recovered or re-milled sources.

Sales Tip: “Most reclaimed woods are purchased from the demolition sites of old barns, ships and warehouses. Very often the wood flooring comes from varieties of trees that are no longer present to harvest, or in grain patterns only found in rare old large trees. This adds to the aesthetic quality of this type of recycled flooring”

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Second photo from the left at the top of this e-News was provided courtesy of Jack Brauer; www.widerange.org

© 2005 Home Builders Association of Metro Denver