Nation’s Largest Net-Zero Energy, Residential Community– Launches in Colorado

[Fledermaus]

ARVADA, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Geos Neighborhood, the country’s largest net-zero energy, master-planned community, announced plans for 250 residences located between Denver and Boulder, Colo. Set to begin infrastructure construction this fall, 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,” said project developer Norbert Klebl. “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,” said Klebl.

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, thanks to everything from a groundbreaking checkerboard placement pattern of the homes that maximizes solar efficiency to advanced storm water recycling and cutting-edge heat recovery ventilators.

Sustainability is in the Details

This pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use neighborhood is a complex combination of home construction, eco-engineering and community design elements that work together to maximize energy efficiency and conservation in a comfortable living environment. Special features of the Geos Neighborhood 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 currently 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: Photovoltaic solar panels will be on every building, accounting for 65 percent of total electrical offset.

Checkerboard design: A groundbreaking checkerboard design model places every other home 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 detention basin that also serves as a neighborhood park, and storm water is recycled back into the community landscape.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080715005687&newsLang=en

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. Discover geos

http://www.discovergeos.com/