According to the 2010 census, the population of the United States is projected to have an 8.9 percent increase in the next decade. Builder Online reports that “The 10 metro areas expected to see the biggest jumps in population between 2010 and 2020 are mostly in states that experienced increases of between 15 percent and 25 percent in the last decade: North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Georgia, Idaho and Colorado.”

Grand Junction’s growth, which rose over 25 % in the last decade, can be accredited to the oil and gas industry. For more information on the 2010 Census please visit 2010.census.gov.

The Switzerland Alpine Club and the ETH possess cooperated within designing a modern as well as sustainable mountain hut. It makes sense a distinctive hut design, plus, the actual 90% of energy self-sufficiency. Yes, the actual hut is strengthening itself using the solar energy which abundantly available on Monte Rosa. The hut will be referred to as an “exceptionally innovative architectural point of view” as well as take up a place of two,883 meters up within the Swiss Alps, looking over the actual perfect landscapes, the actual awe-inspiring glaciers regarding Gorner of Grenz, and also the Matterhorn. Indeed, the mountain hut is expected to give a new idea within high-altitude construction. The actual hut had been started to build in the summer of 2008 through anchoring the actual hut’s steel fundamentals within partly cranked rock. The actual fakeness itself is ultra-modern, like shards regarding stone very increasing from amongst the compacted snow. Interior walls as well as ceilings tend to be regarding wooden in this four-level structure.

Aspen’s chief building official Stephen Kanipe recently spent a week in Dallas helping to craft a new green construction code for commercial buildings.

Kanipe sat on a panel of 12 that reviewed upwards of 1,400 changes to the first draft of the International Green Construction Code. The hearings took place May 14-21 in Dallas. Kanipe has been working with the International Code Council on green building codes for about two years.

The hearings were characterized by 13-hour days where proponents or opponents of changes to every section of the code that was up for review could make their arguments. The hall at the Sheraton Hotel also was packed with lobbyists from the construction industry and manufacturers, Kanipe said. At the end of the week, the committee had produced a new section of its commercial building code that will be up for final adoption at a meeting in Phoenix later this fall.

“The committee does the best it can to determine if the changes are awkward or forward the intent and purpose” of the green building code, Kanipe said, adding that various groups — be they builders, administrators or materials suppliers — have differing opinions on the changes.

The International Green Construction code would be applied to all buildings — except duplexes and single-family homes — in jurisdictions that adopt it. It is intended to manage how energy is delivered to a site, how a building uses water and how it’s situated toward the sun, among other elements, Kanipe said.

The International Code Committee paid for the trip, although Kanipe spent many hours of his time at work preparing for the meeting, he said. City officials granted him authority to do so because they feel it’s important for Aspen to stake out a leadership position on green building issues, Kanipe said. At the conference, he joined colleagues from building departments in Austin and Seattle, among other green conscious cities.

Source: AspenDailyNews.com

Biking Lake Dillon June 3 2011

After being away for several weeks visiting friends, getting reacquainted with my mountain bike, and blogging from the road, I have returned to Summit County. My timing was paired to coincide with the return of real warmth after a long and snowy winter. The mountains are still covered with white, but the rivers and streams are bursting with melt water delighting the rafters and kayakers. Today there isn’t a could in the sky and the temperature is destined for about 70 degrees. And so the summer will flow here, as things go from white to green. For the next three months, the weather will perfect joy. So if you are thinking of a summer vacation destination, there’s plenty up here that we’d love to share with you. Clean air, sunshine, and perfect temperatures are only the beginning. For more information visit the Breckenridge Resort Chamber or the Town of Breckenridge website.

While the rest of the country is experiencing high temperatures moving into summer season, Colorado’s climate is very moderate. Here in Colorado you can enjoy the best of both worlds, skiing in the winter and biking and hiking in the summer. Whatever time of year our residents are always outdoors experiencing all that the Rockies have to offer.

If you are looking to build a second home or vacation getaway you should consider majestic Colorado. Our mountainous terrain is the perfect backdrop for you future home site. At Trilogy, we can help build you the vacation home of your dreams. We have the experience and knowledge of working and building homes in the Rocky Mountain region.

For more information on building in Colorado please contact Trilogy at 970-453-2230 or visit us online at Trilogybuilds.com.

We wrote in our post about Building in Colorado that it’s hard not to be inspired by our surroundings.  I think that Spanish architects Cadaval & Solà-Morales feel the same way about this house they built nestled in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees.  Take a look at this incredible home located on top of a mountain with views of two different valleys.