July 18, 2008 Colorado will be home to the largest net-zero energy, master-planned community in the US after plans were announced for 250 residences to be built. Construction of the Geos Neighborhood will begin this fall and, once complete, will generate enough renewable energy to offset 100% of the annual energy needs of the entire community.
With homes priced from around $200K, the vision of geos neighborhood is to offer sustainable living at accessible price points. Project developer Norbert Klebl said the company is “tapping a market of people who want beautiful, affordable homes that support their commitment to a truly sustainable lifestyle.” The community’s on-site solar and geothermal systems are designed to supply all of the energy needs and work in conjunction with energy consumption patterns that are markedly lower than those found in the nation’s average homes.
This mixed-use neighborhood will be pedestrian-oriented using a combination of high thermal-mass construction, eco-engineering and community design elements that work together to maximize energy efficiency and conservation in a comfortable living environment. A checkerboard placement pattern of the homes aims to maximize solar efficiency, advanced storm water recycling and cutting-edge heat recovery ventilators.
Sustainable home features include airtight construction for low natural air changes, heat recovery ventilators that deliver clean and filtered fresh air and conserve internally generated heat, plus photovoltaic solar panels tied to the grid which power the climate conditioning system and all household electrical equipment.
Water conservation is also a top priority with a storm water detention basin in each community that will also serve as a neighborhood park, and storm water is recycled back into the community landscape.
Geos Neighborhood homes will range from 860 square feet to 3,683 square feet in a variety of housing types, including single-family homes, live/work town houses, paired homes, row homes, multi-level condos and co-housing.
Colorado is no stranger to sustainable housing estates. A cohousing community in Boulder, Colorado installed solar systems late in 2007 to power half the electricity needs of local homes and shops.
Further abroad, developers in Abu Dhabi are working on creating the first zero emissions city in the United Arab Emirates.