Solar Row: North Boulder's Net Zero Energy Development

Wonderland Hill Development Company recently began construction on this 13-home community, Solar Row, for the Holiday Neighborhood in North Boulder, Colorado.  Architect George Watt brought together three main elements to make this development extremely attractive:  contemporary architecture, net zero energy, + traditional neighborhood design.  What's more, homes will have up-scale finishes and a decent price tag.  We're talking about 2-3 bedroom homes from 1,258 - 1,700 square feet, starting at $379,000 (9 homes)--demand is likely to push these prices up.  The other four homes will remain permanently affordable through the city's affordable housing program. 

Green Features:
These loft-style, urban homes will have the following: grid-tied 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system installed by Namaste Solar Electric; two solar thermal collectors for hydronic baseboard heat + domestic hot water; tightly built, 2x6 framing; spray foam + wet-blown cellulose insulated envelope; heat recovery ventilators/whole-house fans for ventilation; tankless water heaters; bamboo flooring, Trex decking, + recycled pop-bottle carpeting; low-E windows; Energy Star appliances; dual-flush toilets; programmable thermostats; low-VOC interior paints; and close proximity to mass transportation.  While these green homes will be about $15-20 per square foot more than traditional code-built homes, that cost would be even greater without the Xcel Energy rebates (+ Colorado Amendment 37) that helps the development company get back almost two thirds of the solar system's cost.  Sans rebates, photovoltaics would not be economically feasible. 

These three level homes will have attached garages, and porches, decks, and/or patios.  The development will be located on 17th Street between Yarmouth Street + Yellowpine Street.  Homes are slated for completion in Spring 2007.  See also Denver Post + Boulder County Business Report [PDF].

Comments

[brian]

Wow. This is *really* weird. I was just logging on here to send you this link...

http://www.solarrow.com/

[Planet Relations]

The project reminds me of BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development). See http://www.peabody.org.uk/pages/GetPage.aspx?id=179

There was an interesting presentation at GreenBuild 06 about it. I'm planning a post related to some of their study findings when I get a chance.

[Robin]

Hi there-
I just found your blog and subscribe to your feed in my Google Reader. I'm very interested in environmentally sensitive construction and am looking for some that I can incorporate and afford. I'm also in the planning industry here in Atlanta, GA. We're very behind when it comes to green-home innovation.

Anyway, my comment about this project is my complaint about many projects that I review here in Atlanta. I fight developers day in and day out on large projects that are in close proximity to public transit and yet they insist on constructing at least two parking spaces for every residential unit!! Even for one-bedroom condos, they are building at least two parking spots. They tell me they don't want to build them, but the market demands it. I can't argue with that, but it still gets my blood going.

Thanks for your contribution. I look forward to learning alot from you and your community.

[Preston]

Robin,

Thanks for dropping by. Make sure to keep in touch. I've had this conversation before with a few different people and it keeps coming up. You have a point on the parking issue. But I think we have to consider what we are trying to do with the parking (curb car driving or develop less?). Imagine this: if everyone can use green, plug-in hybrids that actually use limited gasoline, wouldn't it be nice to have a parking spot (go further to assume the electricity is powered by a majority of renewable energies)? It's tough to imagine, but with building developments, the lifetime of a project is pretty long, so we have to anticipate the future.

I have two thoughts on developments taking out parking. First, what are the city minimum parking requirements? Do those need to change for this project? Are they necessary? Should the zoning authority/state legislature find a way to make this more flexible? Second, how intricate and dense is the public transportation system? If people get rid of their cars and rely on the system, will it be sufficient for their transportation needs? If not, will there be a lot more taxi driving, etc., which could lead to more emissions than if that person just had their own car?

It's a complex issue and I think we need to start considering what to do with parking, especially near transportation lines.