Kurowski continues legendary leadership, promote Built Green Communities
LITTLETON, CO - Twenty-five years ago John Kurowski, Kurowski Development
Co., ushered 40,000 visitors through the state's first solar demonstration home.
That was the beginning of a tradition.
Over the years Kurowski has hosted about a half million people in his elegant
custom homes in a host of Parade of Homes and other home tour events, bestowing
upon them the virtues of energy and resource efficient living. Kurowski also is
heralded with converting scores of home builders and product suppliers and trade
partners to improved energy and resource efficient home building practices.
In 1999 Built Green Colorado created a one-time distinction and awarded it to
Kurowski, naming him the "Jolly Green Giant of Built Green."
"John Kurowski has changed the home building industry," says Roger
Reinhardt, executive vice president, Home Builders Association of Metro Denver,
which operates the Built Green Colorado program. "His leadership,
dedication and persuasive, persistent message has moved home building in a new
direction, not just here in Colorado, but across the earth," says
Reinhardt. Kurowski was one of the founders of Built Green Colorado, which has
been mirrored across the U.S., but also in far-off places such as Yamagata,
Japan.
Kurowski was first inspired to build energy and resource efficient homes when
in the late 1970s he experienced rationed gasoline and water taps. "We are
running out of resources," says Kurowski. "We in the home building
industry should feel a deep commitment to do our part to build more efficient
homes and communities, but also, to educate the public about the benefits of
living in them."
For the past year Kurowski has worked tirelessly with a committee of home
builders, city planners, land developers, landscape architects and others in the
evolution of a companion program to Built Green homes, Built Green Communities.
"This is what Built Green Colorado really is all about," says
Kurowski. "We started by building Built Green homes, but, it is in Built Green Communities that we will truly make a difference in the future resources
of the earth."
Land developers and city planners across the state of Colorado currently are
evaluating the merits of a draft Built Green Communities Checklist, a flexible
land planning document unlike any tool ever developed in the U.S.
While the committee refines its work, Kurowski continues to go toe-to-toe
with the public and the home building community.
Kurowski enrolled five of his homes in the 200-home May Mile High Tour of
Homes, each of them E-Star certified Built Green homes featuring energy
efficient Whirlpool appliances, Trex easy care decking, James Hardie fiber
cement siding and other energy and resource efficient upgrades.
Speaking before home building groups across the state and across America he
says he recognizes a shift in the direction of the industry. "People are
talking about what they can do to make a difference," says Kurowski.
"Home builders recognize that people want their homes and their communities
to be built with conservation in mind and they are responding."
To learn more about Kurowski Development Co. call 303-972-8680 or visit www.kurowski.com.
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