Solar / Green / Sustainable Building Design in Colorado (Colorado City: houses, high school)

[frcal]

Does anyone have an opinion on solar energy - wind mills..etc?
Any idea of resource material or product information would be appreciative
How about radient floor heating?
Have you used or heard of usuage?
any pros/cons?
Trying to be proactive of potential costs in various weather conditions.
Thanks....

[Phazed-Coug]

with over 300+ days of sunshine, SW colorado would be prime for solar energy
both active and passive.

Wind in some areas I'm sure could generate a decent amount for an average home. Because if your using passive solar to heat the water, and house.
active solar would power utilities and wind would supplement..

It would be the smart way to build.

[frcal]

Good info, thanks.
Any suggestions of resources for this type of energy?
Is there a market for this type available ..contractors? Build yoursellf? etc...

[nickjs]

Are there companies in Colorado that design environmentally friendly houses and buildings, for people living off-grid, or wanting low energy bills and heating bills? Using renewable energy and sustainabe design principles?

I'm from the UK and this area is becoming important over there. Is there demand for this sort of thing in Colorado? And what companies are out there and in which cities?

Thanks for your help

Nick

[canyontiger2]

Originally Posted by nickjs

Are there companies in Colorado that design environmentally friendly houses and buildings, for people living off-grid, or wanting low energy bills and heating bills? Using renewable energy and sustainabe design principles?

I'm from the UK and this area is becoming important over there. Is there demand for this sort of thing in Colorado? And what companies are out there and in which cities?

Thanks for your help

Nick

Sure their are. Plenty. Different from the UK because our environment is different. Colorado has lots of sunshine, low on rain and usually low humidity. In areas wind & solar are being used to generate electricity commercially. Many homes use solar panels & wind personally. Sell extra back to the power companies. I know of a rancher who is on a private creek that uses a water wheel. Granted that is unusual. There are adobe, earth-packed, straw etc homes being built too, even some underground homes.

[TahoeTexan]

Originally Posted by nickjs

Are there companies in Colorado that design environmentally friendly houses and buildings, for people living off-grid, or wanting low energy bills and heating bills? Using renewable energy and sustainabe design principles?

I'm from the UK and this area is becoming important over there. Is there demand for this sort of thing in Colorado? And what companies are out there and in which cities?

Thanks for your help

Nick

Good questions. We are planning to move to CO in the future and are really passionate about the subject. I look forward to reading more responses.

[McGowdog]

These guys build all over the country and they are all about energy efficient homes and buildings.

"Jersey Devil is a design/build architectural practice that specializes in innovative and energy-efficient structures"

Jersey Devil design/build

Here's some shots I just took of a house they built in the early 80's:






I'd just started high school when they built that one. While I was a sophomore in college, I went out to the DC area (McLean, Va) to help them build the Hoagie House. This one features the Roto-lid:



Here's the Dog when I was 20;

[Katiana]

There are adobe, earth-packed, straw etc homes being built too, even some underground homes.

Shades of the sod houses of Nebraska in the 1800s! Who would have known they were ahead of their time!

[archaeo]

I went to the University of Washington School of Architecture, where Steve Badanes of Jersey Devil taught a design build class, which I was a part of - I would highly recommend them. Very innovative.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by archaeo

I went to the University of Washington School of Architecture, where Steve Badanes of Jersey Devil taught a design build class, which I was a part of - I would highly recommend them. Very innovative.

Cool! I worked with Steve, Jim, Greg, and John. Steve, Jim, and I think Donna did the house in Colorado City. That's where I first met them. I was Devil #15 many years ago. It seems so recent. I wonder if these guys are building anything today.

If I ever win the Lotto ( my early retirement plan ), I'm gonna have these cats build me something.