Reputable high-quality Green Builder in the Denver Area (Boulder, Thornton: rent, condos)

[stacy.nelson]

Hello, all! I was wondering if anybody knows of reputable builders who build high-quality (no cheap construction for me!) green/sustainable homes in the Denver area?

We're looking to keep the total cost under the $200,000 mark, if at all possible. Basically, we're looking for companies that have a fair amount of experience in green homes and sustainable building practices, such as recycling the majority of leftover building materials and waste products, utilizing insulation made with recycled material, alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power, etc.

I looked on the Built Green Colorado website at their list of participating Colorado green builders, but the list is extremely long and overwhelming, and would be a bear to dig through! Plus, I like to rely on recommendations and word of mouth from others who have had personal experiences, as that can paint a more accurate picture of a company's true reputation.

Sorry for rambling, and if this was posted somewhere else...I did look through and search all of the other threads before posting and couldn't find another post like this, but that's not to say I missed it!

Thanks a lot in advance for any help!

~Stacy

[2bindenver]

are you talking about condos, townhomes or single family residences?

[stacy.nelson]

Single family residence

[2bindenver]

$200,000 is on the low side. The farther out you go (away form Denver)the cheaper the housing is, then the commute gets to be a headache.

[txp]

Mcstain is probably the greenest but for 200k you're looking at a condo/townhome. Their single family homes are in the 400's.

[Augie Daugie]

reuse is the most effective recycling. not only will you not be consuming new materials, but you could also afford to live closer in town and cut your commute distance dramatically.

[stacy.nelson]

Originally Posted by Augie Daugie

reuse is the most effective recycling. not only will you not be consuming new materials, but you could also afford to live closer in town and cut your commute distance dramatically.

I completely agree that reusing is ideally the best way to go...however, who is going to find their ideal house, with the exact layout, fixtures, options, amenities, etc, that they want without having to change a thing? Especially with the things that we want in a house, which are pretty atypical, it's just not likely. With all of the remodeling/upgrading that we would end up doing (installing geothermal heating/cooling system, sustainable materials, etc) it's better to just build exactly what we want so that we'll never have to remodel in the future. That way we're not wasting all of the materials that would get ripped out of the house we purchase.

I'm also not entirely concerned about a commute. We don't especially want to live right in the hubbub of the city, or even necessarily in the immediate suburbs. We've been looking into places as far away as Longmont and Castle Rock, although I would prefer something a little closer (Golden, Parker, Broomfield, Thornton).

I suppose $200,000 is quite on the low end. That would be our max price at this point in time. However, if we're able to find a builder who is willing to work with us on the plans in the meantime, our budget will more than double in about two years when I'm finished with school and working. So we'd definitely be willing to pay more and look into builders that would charge as such, but then the construction would just get pushed back a few years (which is fine with me, as long as we're able to build the exact house we want and that we'll be staying in for the rest of our lives...I'm definitely willing to wait for that.)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by stacy.nelson

I completely agree that reusing is ideally the best way to go...however, who is going to find their ideal house, with the exact layout, fixtures, options, amenities, etc, that they want without having to change a thing? Especially with the things that we want in a house, which are pretty atypical, it's just not likely. With all of the remodeling/upgrading that we would end up doing (installing geothermal heating/cooling system, sustainable materials, etc) it's better to just build exactly what we want so that we'll never have to remodel in the future. That way we're not wasting all of the materials that would get ripped out of the house we purchase.

I'm also not entirely concerned about a commute. We don't especially want to live right in the hubbub of the city, or even necessarily in the immediate suburbs. We've been looking into places as far away as Longmont and Castle Rock, although I would prefer something a little closer (Golden, Parker, Broomfield, Thornton).

I suppose $200,000 is quite on the low end. That would be our max price at this point in time. However, if we're able to find a builder who is willing to work with us on the plans in the meantime, our budget will more than double in about two years when I'm finished with school and working. So we'd definitely be willing to pay more and look into builders that would charge as such, but then the construction would just get pushed back a few years (which is fine with me, as long as we're able to build the exact house we want and that we'll be staying in for the rest of our lives...I'm definitely willing to wait for that.)

Good luck to you if you get everything exactly as you want it, even in new construction! Do consider that a long commute isn't exactly "green", either.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by stacy.nelson

Hello, all! I was wondering if anybody knows of reputable builders who build high-quality (no cheap construction for me!) green/sustainable homes in the Denver area?

We're looking to keep the total cost under the $200,000 mark, if at all possible. Basically, we're looking for companies that have a fair amount of experience in green homes and sustainable building practices, such as recycling the majority of leftover building materials and waste products, utilizing insulation made with recycled material, alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power, etc.

I looked on the Built Green Colorado website at their list of participating Colorado green builders, but the list is extremely long and overwhelming, and would be a bear to dig through! Plus, I like to rely on recommendations and word of mouth from others who have had personal experiences, as that can paint a more accurate picture of a company's true reputation.

Sorry for rambling, and if this was posted somewhere else...I did look through and search all of the other threads before posting and couldn't find another post like this, but that's not to say I missed it!

Thanks a lot in advance for any help!

~Stacy

I design custom homes for a living, many have been "green" using ICF's, and SIP construction methods with standard wood framed methods, which can be green. The price mark you are looking at is not going to get you much here in Colorado, especially if you are requiring green. Using say ICF's is going to cost you at a minimum of 25% more than standard frame construction. for a full solar system that would take you off grid you are looking at 30-50k for the system, which includes the incentives and tax credits.

I can tell you Boulder and Boulder county is going to be THE area to look for green building, the codes adopted there essentially require all homes to be built above the 2006 IECC codes. A normal home built to 2006 codes is going to be around a 5-star energy star rated home. anything over 4500 sqft. within boulder county MUST meet a HERS rating of 10, to give you an idea of what that is, a 5-star rated house is a HERS rating of 80, which means it is 20% better than 2003 codes, a HERS rating of 10 is 90% better than 2003 codes.

[steveindenver]

Good luck to you if you get everything exactly as you want it, even in new construction! Do consider that a long commute isn't exactly "green", either.

Could not have said it better. You want green but you are willing to drive?

At that price.... sorry but Colorado is not South Dakota. Want to be green now? Live close to where you are schooling, rent -- ride a bike, walk to the grocery store etc. Should people live way the heck out there? Hell yeah, there are great exurbs and great reasons to live in them, but if you want to be green there is more to consider than windows and insulation.

I can tell you Boulder and Boulder county is going to be THE area to look for green building, the codes adopted there essentially require all homes to be built above the 2006 IECC codes.

No, it's just going to be more expensive and fewer people will build in that hell hole of hippie-crits.