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2002
Renewable Energy in Buildings Award
McStain High Plains Environmental Center |
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The center
obtains a percentage of its domestic hot water from solar panels
installed on the roof. Inside there is an educational display
about how the solar system works.
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The High
Plains Environmental Center in Loveland is an outstanding example
of use of renewable energy in a residential building and built by
a production homebuilder, Boulder-based McStain Enterprises.
Credit: McStain Neighborhoods |
Kristin
Shewfelt, Director of Environmental Programs for McStain
Neighborhoods, accepts the Award at the CRES 2002 Conference.
Credit: Dave Bowden |
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Back to:
AWARDS PAGE |
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The Colorado
Renewable Energy Society (CRES) recognizes McStain Neighborhoods
as an outstanding example of including renewable energy and energy
efficiency into a residential building. CRES awarded McStain's
High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) its Colorado 2002
Renewable Energy in Buildings Award in the category of residential
construction.
Located just off of I-25 and U.S. Highway 34 in Northern Colorado,
the HPEC anchors a new housing development called Centerra.
Eventually, Centerra will incorporate a mix-use residential
community that is collocated with commercial and industrial
employment centers. HPEC is an environmental educational community
center that houses exhibits on solar energy and Loveland's wind
energy program. The center also oversees habitat restoration and
enhancement of the 275 acres of lakes and wetlands that encompass
the new development.
Headquartered in Boulder, McStain is a leader among production
homebuilders operating in Colorado to offer solar energy and
energy efficiency as standard features for their customers. The
company constructs about 400 homes per year. For more information
about McStain, see:
http://www.mcstain.com/
Building Description
Like all of McStain's buildings, the HPEC is rated by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star homes. This building
has an 87 rating out of a possible 100 score under Energy Star. To
make sure that its (production) homes achieve this high level of
energy efficiency, McStain has energy raters randomly audit 10%
its new homes. As reflected in the Energy Star rating, this home
consumes 30% less energy than a typical Colorado home meeting the
minimum standards of the Model Energy Code.
The light fixtures contain compact fluorescent bulbs throughout.
The dishwasher and refrigerator are Energy Star rated appliances.
The HPEC features an air conditioning unit with a seasonal energy
efficiency rating (SEER) of 12, and the furnace is 90% AFUE sealed
combustion.
The HPEC contains 3,204 square feet (sf) of finished floor space,
1,348 sf of unfinished basement, and 529 sf of crawl space. The
construction cost was $226,000.
McStain takes full advantage of recycled materials in the
construction of this home. For starters, the insulation is
wet-blown cellulose made from recycled newspaper. The insulation
is blown into a 2" x 6" cavity achieving an R-21 insulation. The
carpets are made from recycled P.E.T pop bottles and recycled
wool. There is recycled content in the tile and linoleum, and the
decks are made from recycled wood fiber and plastic.
Use of Renewable Energy
The High Plains Environmental Center makes use of solar energy for
heating domestic hot water. There are two 2' x 8' solar collectors
located on the garage and facing southeast that heat water in a
120-gallon storage tank located in the basement. There is a small
exhibit in the lobby about solar energy that features a gauge
comparing temperatures in the collectors and the water storage
tank.
CRES also recognizes the architects of record on the High
Plains Environmental Center, Bloodgood, Sharp, & Buster of
Scottsdale, Arizona.
http://www.bsbdesign.com/ |
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