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Architecture and DesignTopics on the Practice of Architecture and other related fields
Would someone be kind enough to explain how the LEED point system works, and is it really important for the homeowner versus the Architect/Design/Builder?
I'm working in Colorado and these systems generally qualify for rebates or tax incentives. Most states allow the residential home builder to recieve some sort of cash incentive for implimenting green technologies.
I just found this site, and well... found this topic. Great resource links. I am also in Colorado, actually working out of Boulder where alot of this stuff is required on new residential construction over 4500 sqft. to qualify with the HERS energy rating program. (what a pain in the rear) our last home 6500 sqft. has a whopping 75 solar panels, the Geothermal pump, and a butt load of insulation just to get the HERS rating down to 10 to get the building permits. If you are in the Excel energy area you can receive up to 55% rebate for solar systems up to a 10kw system, after that they pay you monthly for the system.
welcome to the forum Noahma. I'm glad to hear from someone who is dealing with Boulder's regs. It would be great to know a bit more about the various components that were used. How are your panels being used? PV, water heating, heat? Did the limited number of CE approved PV panels cause undue hardships? Which type of geoexchange did you use? Was it a standard stick built home? Although I don't do many McMansions I'm designing a club house for a community that I'm doing and we hope that LEEDS community certification will be in place before we start construction and that sole feature will be the tuffest to make "green". We will be using a ground water geoexchange for heat, SIPs 8 inch wall, and 12 inch roof panels etc.
How about some photos?
welcome to the forum Noahma. I'm glad to hear from someone who is dealing with Boulder's regs. It would be great to know a bit more about the various components that were used. How are your panels being used? PV, water heating, heat? Did the limited number of CE approved PV panels cause undue hardships? Which type of geoexchange did you use? Was it a standard stick built home? Although I don't do many McMansions I'm designing a club house for a community that I'm doing and we hope that LEEDS community certification will be in place before we start construction and that sole feature will be the tuffest to make "green". We will be using a ground water geoexchange for heat, SIPs 8 inch wall, and 12 inch roof panels etc.
How about some photos?
Fortunately the project was not on my desk lol. The PV system was all electrical, the house will produce 14kw of power which is way more than needed, but the Boulder requirements with the HERS system are soo great that the more we added, the better the number. I don't have much info on the Geo-thermal pump we called out, the whole system was designed by others, we just added their notes to make sure the permit process went smooth. It was a standard stick frame home, there is 1 1/2" rigid insulation on the exterior, batt on the inside cavity's along with spray insul. just about everywhere else. (trying to remember from memory) The home just got its permits and should be under construction very soon. We have been using alot of the "green block" insulated blocks here in boulder as well. they are not that hard to design with and the construction goes together well. The PV system was a pain, the neighbors did not want to see that many panels on the lot or the house, so we ended up going with a mostly flat roof on the rear half of the house, and sloped roofs elsewhere, the style is Italianate so it fit very well with the style. We have a sketchup model for the massing and for the neighbors to look at, I will have to grab it when I get to work on Monday and post it.
ahhhh, the famous NIMBY's strike again, I love how people stand in line to impliment such ordinances then fight tooth and nail to keep them "invisilbe", 'proper angles and orientation be damned as long as I can see it'... oh well. Good show on creating a surplus! We're considering an ornimental wall where panels are integrated into the structure to get away from some of the nay sayers..... Can't wait to see your model
08-04-2008, 02:22 PM
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