Sustainability Archives - Denver Urban Review

Sustainability

Patti Mason named Executive Director of Colorado USGBC

Justin June 3, 2015 at 1:24 am 0

The Colorado U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the selection of Patti Mason as Executive Director. Mason has worked for the USGBC since May of 2008, and most recently served as Associate Director. Sharon Alton held the position of Executive Director and stepped down to accept a position with the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Colorado USGBC Executive Director Patti Mason

"Patti is well versed in green building and the policy landscape the industry works with in the Rocky Mountain Region, which makes her an ideal candidate to lead USGBC Colorado into the next era. I look forward to Patti's dedication and consistency that will inspire, educate and connect us all to achieve great things for the built environment," stated USGBC Colorado Board Chair Don Saal. "Patti's vision will continue to build on the significant ground work Sharon developed for the chapter."

Mason began working for the USGBC after completing a Master's degree in Natural Resources from the University of Denver and before that she earned a BA in journalism from Colorado State University. While working for the USGBC Mason has worked to pass legislation that encourages school buildings to become more energy efficient. She also helped organize the Rocky Mountain Green and the Green Schools Summit.

“It is an exhilarating moment for the built environment in the Rocky Mountain Region. More than ever, people are discovering the gem of a region we live in, and are coming here in droves, strengthening our real estate and construction market in a way that we have not seen since before the Great Recession," said Mason. "USGBC Colorado has a responsibility and a role to bring key audiences together to make sure development happens in a sustainable way. I look forward to working with the private sector and policy makers to bring all of the players to a stage where we can have a constructive narrative on a green path forward.”

For 2014 Colorado placed second in the U.S Green Building Council’s (USGBC) annual list of the top 10 states in the country for LEED. The most commonly used and recognized building rating system is LEED. The rankings are based on a per-capita bases where states rank higher for the strides made in sustainable building design. Buildings that obtain the LEED certification use fewer resources and have a reduced level of carbon emissions and ultimately create a healthier environment.

Green

Sustainability, Transportation

Bike to Work Wednesdays begins

Justin May 13, 2015 at 12:32 am 0

The launch of Bike to Work Wednesdays was announced by BikeDenver and Downtown Denver Partnership. This initiative is designed to encourage folks to cycle to work every Wednesday for the next seven weeks. "Denver has rapidly become one of the nation's leading cities for bicycle commuting and we believe there is even greater opportunity to get more people to use the bicycle as a reliable form of transportation," said Molly North, executive director of BikeDenver.

B-Cycle station next to REI near 15th Street and Platte. Image courtesy Urban Safari Photography

This is the 2nd year of Bike to Work Wednesdays and program sponsor AAA Colorado will offer roadside assistance to folks who have registered for the program. "AAA has been promoting sharing the road and bike safety for many years," said Tony DeNovellis, CEO and President of AAA Colorado. "With our new bicycle roadside assistance we can give our members the security and peace of mind they've come to expect from AAA Colorado no matter what 'vehicle' they're using." Participants will be encouraged to log into BiketoWorkWednesdays.org to register their trips using Denver Regional Council of Government's new My Way to Go trip-tracking tool. The Denver Regional Council of Governments is also a partner in this program, so this is not exclusively a Denver program and cyclists from around the region are encouraged to participate. Any bike commuter who registers their trips will be eligible for free rewards from Noodles & Company including one free bowl for riding three Wednesdays and two free bowls for riding six Wednesdays. Additionally, all participants will be eligible for weekly prize drawings. To support the program, Denver B-cycle will offer a $2 off discount for 24-hour access pass on each of the seven Bike to Work Wednesdays so anyone can participate even if they do not own a bicycle. Go to Denver B-Cycle's Facebook Page to get the promo code Wednesday morning. This initiative ends on June 24th, which is Bike to Work Day.

cycling

Sustainability

Colorado places second in the nation in LEED rankings

Justin March 3, 2015 at 12:07 am 0

Colorado has placed second in the U.S Green Building Council's (USGBC) annual list of the top 10 states in the country for LEED. The most commonly used and recognized building rating system is LEED. The rankings are based on a per-capita bases where states rank higher for the strides made in sustainable building design. Buildings that obtain the LEED certification use fewer resources and have a reduced level of carbon emissions and ultimately create a healthier environment. “Every story about a green building is a story about people,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “USGBC’s annual recognition of the Top 10 States for LEED goes beyond gross square feet or number of projects and factors in LEED’s potential in a given state to be part of the daily life of the state’s residents. This per-capita approach tells a great story about how LEED has become an important benchmark in the transformation of the nation’s built environment." The per-capita list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2014. Colorado certified 102 projects representing 15,816,498 square feet of real estate, or 3.15 square feet per resident, in 2014. “It is no surprise that the Centennial State continues to be a trailblazer for LEED certifications, and we are so proud to have made significant strides in the 2014 rankings earning the No. 2 position on the list,” said Sharon Alton, executive director of the USGBC Colorado Chapter. “From cutting edge projects like Union Station that are reimagining Denver’s downtown to the Colorado Convention Center which showcases sustainability for visitors to our state, Coloradoans have always prioritized the health of our built environment." Projects that certified in Colorado in 2014 include:

The Colorado Convention Center in Denver, recertified LEED Gold
Kaiser Permanente Lone Tree Medical Offices in Lone Tree, LEED Silver
University of Colorado’s Kittredge Central Hall in Boulder, LEED Gold
1900 Sixteenth Street in Denver, LEED Platinum
Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Morgridge Family Exploration Center in Denver, LEED Platinum
1670 Broadway in Denver, LEED Gold

Illinois placed number one in the rankings and Maryland rounded out the top three.

Larimer Square with Colorado flags. Denver Urban Review

Colorado LEED

Sustainability

Energy efficient awards bestowed to Colorado-based home builder

Justin February 17, 2015 at 1:31 am 0

New Town Builders, a Colorado-based homebuilder won two awards for its Net Zero Energy home design at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders' Show (IBS). This year's winners were announced in Las Vegas at the annual IBS event. New Town's ArtiZEN Plan – designed to be as energy efficient as possible – was named Best in Green among Single-Family Production Homes by NAHB. This is the first year NAHB has given Best in Green Awards. "This year's group of winners truly represents the best of environmentally friendly building and remodeling," said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a homebuilder and developer from Wilmington, Delaware. "Not only are these homes beautifully designed, but they also take green building to the next level by using the most resource-efficient and innovative sustainable building practices available."

Artizen Home with solar panels. image Courtesy Center Reach Communications

New Town Builders' ArtiZen home with solar panels. Photo Courtesy Center Reach Communications

The National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC), a council of NAHB, also recognized New Town's ArtiZEN Plan with a Gold Nationals Award for Best Green/Sustainable Home Design. "We want to be a company that makes a difference," New Town CEO Gene Myers said. "The ultra-high-efficiency home world is relatively small, and it is a privilege to be recognized by our industry as delivering the very best in environmental science and design. More importantly, we hope that our example can lead more builders to deliver high-efficiency design at an affordable cost."

Green Residential