Green building in the Colorado area has increased in popularity recently. This trend is not only a reflection of changing environmental values, but also the increase of new environmental responsible building techniques that are more affordable and convenient. This is great news for homeowners who want to “be green” and still appreciate a quality and attractive home.

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The new ecological building trends for 2014 include:

• Solar power will more widely used for residential and commercial buildings.

• Energy efficient building materials will become more popular, as energy costs continue to rise.

• Green buildings will become more and more “smart”. Computer-controlled buildings will let homeowners control their homes online, making being green more convenient.

• Zero-net buildings will become more widespread and attractive to homeowners.

If you are in the Colorado area and are ready to start making your home or business more ecological friendly and convenient, contact our green building experts from Trilogy Builds. We can help your live a green and better life at home.

Remodeling your bathroom does not have to increase your carbon footprint or lead to increased deforestation. There are several environmentally-friendly bath flooring materials that you can choose. Here is a look at our top recommendations:

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• Concrete. This unlikely floor material is actually becoming widely popular in modern bathrooms. It can be made green with the use of recycled materials, such as glass, porcelain or ash. If you don’t love the look of traditional concrete, a slatted wood overlay can be used to warm it up.

• Pebble Tile. Made from smooth stones, pebble tile gives your feet a gentle massage every time you step into the bath. Stone is eco-friendly because it requires very little manufacturing, and much less waste is generated than with linoleum or hardwood.

• Recycled Glass Tile. Glass tile looks sophisticated in any bathroom, and it can be eco-friendly, too — as long as you choose tile that’s made from recycled glass. Brands vary from 30 to 97 percent recycled material. The color options are endless with glass tile, too.

At Trilogy, we take pride in offering the most attractive and eco-friendly building options. If green home design is your priority, then contact us today to get started achieving your dream home.

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LEED homes have come a long way in recent years as a number of significant changes have been made. The trends in green home design have seen a lot of progress, transforming into what you see before you today. What are these changes though, and how can they best benefit you?

• The great thing about LEED homes is that they are far more realistic in their goals, whilst allowing you to achieve your ideal vision.

• Sustainable treatments are the main methods used during their construction, meaning that they’re more innovative, as well as cheaper too.

• A quality LEED home will contribute to its surrounding environment as they each give something back. This could be either a rural landscape, or even the architecture of an urban setting.

• LEED homes should be set in the style of their surroundings.

There’s plenty more progress expected from within this particular area of green home design. For more information, or for any other enquiries, then get in contact with an expert today to see how they can help you.

Too many people like to think of the outdoors and indoors as mutually exclusive and it really needn’t be this way. There is so much you can do with green home design when creating the ideal living space. What goes into building the ideal home then, and how can you make the most of both the external and internal?

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• Cross-ventilation can help to create the perfect atmosphere on a hot sunny day outside. Keeping the temperature at an acceptable standard is imperative and this also works when considering fireplaces for the cooler days.

• Embrace the outdoors with large sliding glass doors to really accentuate the space. This will allow the blend between the two to be far more seamless.

• Having a breeze is important as this will allow the air to be far fresher than it would be otherwise.

• Architecture is helpful to keep in mind as you make the most of the space as it transitions from one to the other. This also goes for such elements as foliage too.

There’s plenty more ways to fully utilize the external and the internal with green home design. For further information contact an expert at Trilogy Partners to see how they can help you.

When that sun comes out you will be wanting to make the most of it and this is easily done with some creative use of the architecture. Any green building has the ability to provide a cooling effect so you can enjoy the outdoors in a far more relaxed manner. What are the most ideal starting points then?

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• Shade can help when glass doors just aren’t enough. With a shading device you can minimize any greenhouse effects whilst allowing enough heat through to relax in.

• White is the best color for any roofing surfaces, due to its ability for repelling heat. This in turn keeps your home cooler and more comfortable.

• Foliage and water features can really help to keep the atmosphere fresher and cooler. They can also act as shading when needs be as well.

• Architecture incorporating a chimney effect will allow any warm air to rise whilst retaining a cooler atmosphere below. This should then leave you with a more comfortable environment.

There are many more methods for creating a green building that fully utilities its cool architecture. For more information, or for any other inquiries, then contact our experts at Trilogy Partners  today.

Here at Trilogy Partners we are often asked about what other homeowners have added to their home. While your residence is specific to you, there are certain features that make it a more pleasant place to be. If you are making plans for a home remodeling, consider adding heated floors.

Whether you live in cooler climes, or dislike the cold feel of your floor beneath your feet, a heated floor is an excellent option to remedy this problem. The bathroom is often the most frequent location that this warming solution is used.

Stepping out of a warm shower, or tub, and on to a cold floor is a shock that no one ever enjoys. Some might say it even ruins the whole experience of the warm water. We can rid you of this issue by placing heating elements under the flooring keeping it warm for your bare feet.

The heated flooring feature has many aspects which include a timed cycle to guarantee your floor is warm when you need it to be.

Speak to our design professionals about other wonderful elements we can implement in your home to make it your own personalized retreat.

A growing trend in luxury home design is green building. The growing concern about saving the planet, preserving resources, and doing more with less is catching on like wildfire. However when it comes to green roofs, there are a lot of misconceptions that may be keeping you from diving into this trend. Let’s talk a bit about some of those myths here.

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Myth #1: Green roofs cause leaks.

Not true! A leaky roof is caused by improper installation or wearing away of the waterproofing membrane — whether you have a green roof or a traditional roof.

Myth #2: You can DIY a green roof by putting dirt on the roof.

Not true! You need more than just potting soil to make a good green roof. In addition, your home needs to be analyzed by a green roofing specialist to determine if your home can handle the weight of rain soaked dirt and plants.

Myth #3: Green roofs are complicated and expensive.

Not true! People are confused about what is new to them. That is why hiring the right green roofing specialist is essential to getting the facts about how green roofs can improve your home life.

For more information about getting your very own green roof, then contact us today at Trilogy Partners

The addition of natural materials is an excellent way to tie the interior décor of a home with its outdoor spaces and its setting. The neutral colors and textures of these materials make for a subtle but beautiful transition. Here are a few ideas to help you accomplish this goal:

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• Reclaimed Wood Floors: The repurposing of old wood into flooring is beneficial in two ways. It adds a dramatic aesthetic element to your home and also helps preserve the natural environment.

• Natural Stone: There is a natural stone to fit any décor from traditional to contemporary. In addition, they are suitable for any room from counters in the kitchen through the fireplace in the family room to the walls and floor of the bathroom.

• Sisal Window-Treatments: Usually seen in rugs, this natural material has gained a lot of popularity with interior designers in the last few years. It is soft, durable and available in a wide variety of colors and styles.

For more information on this and other green building topics, please contact us at Trilogy Partners.

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Homeowners are considering the impact they have on the Earth. Whether building a home or thinking about a renovation, you can make a conscious effort to use green building materials that do everything from conserving nonrenewable resources to being more energy-efficient. Trilogy is a believer in sustainability, and recommends these green building materials.

• Bamboo. The fastest growing grass in the world is biodegradable and offers a sturdy, solid option that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Research also shows that bamboo releases a high concentration of oxygen into the atmosphere.
• Composite Decking. Resistant to stain and mold, this option is green-friendly. First, it’s made with reclaimed and recycled materials, which helps to save the trees. Second, it’s long-lasting.
• Eco Paint. Homeowners who are concerned about volatile organic compounds can opt for eco paint, which is known for having low concentration of that harmful stuff. Plus, the air quality in your house will improve.
• Reclaimed Lumber. Save the forests by using sustainable timber made with salvaged wood.
• Recycled Glass. Glass scraps from beer bottles, glasses and other objects receive new life as counters, backsplashes and other additions.

Stay tuned on the latest green building trends from Trilogy.

A home may be aesthetically appealing, but is it also efficient? Such is the question addressed by green building, a resource-efficient process applied to a structure’s cycle. Nowadays, builders are expected to create beautiful homes with minimal waste.

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Energy efficiency is the usual focus when the topic of green building comes up, but that’s only one aspect. Many other designs focus on others. Let’s take prefabrication (or prefab construction, prefab for short) as an example. In prefabrication, the foundation is built in the construction site, but the floors, walls, roof, etc. are built and assembled in a factory, to be transported to the site. On a smaller scale, this is also the idea behind the DIY furniture of IKEA.

Because they’re mass-produced in a factory, prefabs are cost-efficient, but are still high in quality. They’re also flexible because they can be used for several homes and still yield a unique look for each, depending on the architects working on the construction. Think of prefabs as Lego blocks — kids with the same set of blocks can create different designs.

We at Trilogy Builds support new ideas that improve efficiency. As our tagline aptly puts it, we design smart and build beautiful.