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Vail Mountaineer
Friday, March 27, 2009 Alternative Smoking Products Hand Blown Glass Posters & T-Shirts
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9715 W. Colfax
NW corner of 44th & Federal
2 blks. E. of Kipling on Colfax
303.433.6585 303.202.9400
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NEWS
It’s a code green in Vail Vail could adopt new building standards in next 6 months By Beth Potter Mountaineer Staff Writer Folks in Vail said last year in a survey that housing, transportation and the environment are the most important issues to them. In response, town employees are now discussing “green building” standards that could be put to the public in the next few months, according to George Ruther, the town’s community development director. Such standards are expected to be discussed in conjunction with an updated international building code the town plans to put in place. “There could be multiple shades of green. That’s what we’re evaluating right now, is where does the town want to be in that process,” Ruther said. “Before we can determine that, we’ll be seeking input from the community and input from the town council.” Energy-saving appliances New rules could include energy-saving appliance requirements, more glazing for windows, higher standards for insulation and other related energy-saving measures, Ruther said. Some town council members have expressed support for new “green” standards. But some builders may feel that requiring energy-saving measures cost them more money, Ruther said. An Eagle Valley Home Builders Association representative was not available for comment on Wednesday afternoon. “We need to spend a fair amount of time with the building community and the community at large to know their interests on this,” Ruther said. “There can be misperceptions about what the green building code can be.” LEED-certified One thing’s for sure — Ruther is committed to keep-
A “green” home may cost 5 to 15 percent more to build, says Kyle Hoiland, president of the Eagle Valley Home Builders Association. For example: A $500,000 home has 2,000 square feet of livable area It has a R-38 insulation rating at the ceiling, R-19 at the exterior walls It has new wood siding and trim It has aluminum clad windows If the homeowner decides to upgrade with the following “green” items, it would cost as follows: Add BIBS Insulation: $3,000 (0.6 percent above construction costs) Add spray foam insulation to ceiling cavity: $2,000 (0.4 percent above construction costs) Add reclaimed wood siding or beetle kill pine siding: $5,000 (1 percent above construction costs) Add a 2.5 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system: $20,000 (4 percent above construction costs) Total percentage increase to the costs of construction in this scenario is about 6 percent. An owner could keep adding “green” items, like geothermal heating, sod roof systems, add more insulation to the exterior walls, underslab insulation, insulate the foundation walls and the percentage would increase incrementally, depending on the costs of the items. —Source: Kyle Hoiland
ing the development review time period the same for building plans no matter what additional rules are added. Working on the new rules could take up to seven months and include several public meetings, Ruther said. At the same time, four employees in Ruther’s department are now LEED-certified after passing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, exam. The “green building” industry standard is sponsored by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council. As an example of how important “green building” standards have become, Vail Resorts’ new Ever Vail ski village project has applied for the highest LEED certification rating possible on its plan to redevelop land in West Lionshead, Ruther pointed out.