www.thesummitdillon.com

 

Trilogy Design Works, a sister company of Trilogy Partners, is thrilled to announce that The Summit Residences Dillon is now accepting reservations. This 18 unit development’s architecture is from Eric Smith Associates, and was developed and designed by Trilogy Design Works using their patent-pending Project Management Modeling™ process. Virtual reality was utilized to perfectly plan every square foot of the Residences for optimum resident experience, and to allow potential residents to go inside of their selected condo to see and feel the space as if it were already built.

The listings are being offered by Doyle Richmond of LIV Sothebys of Breckenridge. Exclusive virtual reality tours through the condos allow you to experience the spaces, see the interior design options, feel the ceiling heights and spaces, as well as check out the views before the new construction is complete. These are available at the Sotheby’s Dillon office by calling Doyle or Deborah.

Underground heated parking with 2 spots for each unit, fire pits, hot tubs and spectacular views are just a few of the exciting amenities being offered in this new construction condominium development. Providing lock-off options that allow owners to enjoy and rent at the same time ensures that no one will be missing a powder day on the mountain! A huge activity lock-off storage area with 153 square feet of space comes with each unit and is customized to fit your mountain lifestyle whether it be mountain biking, snowboarding, SUP, skiing or hiking with your dog. There is even a dog and bike wash in the heated garage to help keep your condo clean.

153 square feet of customizable storage space.

 

Juice up your electric car at the charging station in the garage before heading out to one of the 7 ski areas within 35 minutes of Dillon, Colorado. Or hop on your bike to head to the newly renovated Dillon Amphitheatre for a national musical act or family movie night by the water.

Contact Doyle Richmond or Deborah Clawson to experience these condos through Virtual Reality today!

www.thesummitdillon.com

Going green doesn’t have to cost more. Experts at the NAHB Research Center have identified design and construction tactics that builders have used to minimize the cost premium for green.

Everyone needs to stretch a dollar these days. This is certainly true for home builders, and it’s especially true for home buyers in the entry-level, affordable, or workforce housing sectors. Green building, once widely perceived to be a luxury approach to home building, can be a viable solution for both builders and consumers in the affordable market.

Constructing a green home does come with some added costs, but a lot of builders find that green practices can actually reduce their construction costs and enhance the quality of the homes they build. Many green practices also result in operational and maintenance savings for homeowners.

Using a combination of input from builders participating in the National Green Building Certification Program and results from recent research we did for HUD on the costs and benefits of green affordable housing, the NAHB Research Center has identified seven beneficial practices to consider when building green for the affordable market.

1. Work closely with your suppliers

If you’re new to green building in general or to building green homes with a lower price point, you may want to start your journey by talking with your product suppliers.

Richmond, Va.-based First Richmond Associates has been building quality workforce housing for nearly two decades. Recently, the builder decided that going green with its homes would provide even greater value to customers and set its product apart from the competition. Susan Hadder, president of First Richmond, admits the company didn’t know much about green building, so she let her suppliers know about the new direction they were taking and asked for their help.

“A lot of them were as new to green as we were,” says Hadder, “but they were excited to help us find the best product options available from various manufacturers. It was kind of fun for everyone to discover something new.”

Hadder says she got very quick responses from all her product reps, along with some incentives, which helped her identify what the company needed to get its new green homes certified to the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700). She was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the green product options that would garner points for the home in the certification process were actually an even swap for her in terms of price.

Specifically with flooring options, she found that recycled-content carpet and padding, engineered hardwood flooring, and recycled tile for the bathrooms were all competitively priced with the products she traditionally used — some a few pennies more per unit, some a few pennies less. First Richmond now has two of their Earth-Friendly workforce homes (sales prices range from the $170,000’s to low $200,000’s) Green Certified to ICC 700 by the NAHB Research Center, and the company has plans for more.

2. Look for two-for-one green product benefits

To maximize green benefits while keeping construction costs low, use products or practices with multiple green features. For example, when specifying cabinets or cabinet materials, look for those that have low- or no-formaldehyde content and are made of recycled material. That way, you may be able to gain green certification points for both indoor environmental quality and resource efficiency. While most green rating systems won’t allow for “double dipping” on points (i.e., claiming points in more than one area for the same green attribute in the same product or practice), most will allow for multiple green attributes in the same product to be counted across multiple point categories.

3. Don’t forget about water efficiency

In our work with HUD, we found that water efficiency improvements for both new and renovated affordable projects are commonly overlooked even though they offer a quantifiable benefit to homeowners for little to no additional construction cost. Be sure not to discount the cost benefits for affordable clients of low-flow faucets, toilets, and showerheads, as well as rated water-saving appliances.

As for finding the products at an affordable price, there is a much wider array of low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads on the market today than even five years ago, and the most basic models are cost neutral with comparable non-low-flow fixtures. Most major plumbing product manufacturers now offer these products, eliminating the need for costly special orders, in most cases. With bathroom sink faucets, even if your manufacturer of choice doesn’t make a low-flow version, you can buy replacement aerators that satisfy the requirements of most national green rating systems for around $2 a piece.

New construction on the Goose Pasture Tarn in Blue River, Colorado outside of Breckenridge.

 

4. Consider alternative framing techniques

Some changes in your framing materials or techniques might provide both cost/time savings and a means to an end in securing points toward green certification. For instance, consider using panels or trusses in lieu of site-built systems. These techniques are labor and resource efficient, resulting in less on-site waste and possibly lower labor and materials cost overall. Fabricated systems often create greater thermal efficiency over stick frames. Many green rating systems, including the National Green Building Standard, also award points for use of panels and trusses.

If you want to continue framing totally on site, there are several optimum value engineering (OVE) techniques that can save on material or labor costs, and can generate green points at the same time. Look into options like:

  • Ladder blocking — uses less wood; provides more room for insulation; gets green points
  • Two-stud corners — at least one less stud at each corner; allows for more fully insulated corner; gets green points
  • Switch from 2x4s at 16 inches on center to 2x6s at 24 inches on center — may result in small increase in incremental cost initially, but gets a lot of green bang for your buck.

5. Explore low-cost strategies with design

Green, at any price point, is not accomplished through product selection alone. Many of the other “ingredients” for a green home involve strategies that can cost very little or nothing at all. For example, depending on the orientation and size of your lot, flipping a house plan is a very low-cost, low-effort activity that can result in green benefits like positioning the majority of windows on the south side of a home for passive solar and natural lighting gains.

6. Pay attention to placement and sizing of hvac and plumbing systems

Optimize your duct runs and centrally locate your mechanical room for material cost savings and increased energy efficiency. Even for smaller homes, be sure not to have more ducts or longer duct runs than you need in any part of the house. Using a central return also reduces material costs and is a simple system that can provide adequate circulation and cost savings to both you and your buyers.

Placing all your HVAC equipment, including ducts, in conditioned space within the home is also beneficial. In addition to creating significant energy savings for homeowners, this practice may also allow you to spec smaller, less-expensive HVAC equipment and limit or eliminate the need for additional insulation for the duct system. Many homes today, even those that may be otherwise energy and resource efficient, have oversized HVAC equipment. As the building envelope of your homes becomes tighter and more energy efficient, the HVAC burden is significantly reduced. A smaller system obviously costs less and could offset other green upgrades you’re making in your homes.

For your plumbing system, make sure you have chosen the most efficient design for your purposes. For multi-story homes, consider a stacked system, which will probably require shorter plumbing runs, less piping, and possibly less labor time from your plumbing contractor. Also consider centrally locating your water heater, as a central location makes the average of every run shorter, thereby reducing material costs.

7. Rely on green design professionals

Green homes often require a higher degree of precision in their design and construction to ensure that the finished product works the way it was designed to work, as a whole house relying on interdependent systems for its optimum efficiency and homeowner comfort. Having experts well versed in green products, practices, and protocols can save you thousands of dollars in trial-and-error and callbacks in the long run.

That being said, there are different ways to go about creating your design team. One way is to seek out experts in areas such as mechanical systems, plumbing design, and landscape architecture, with specific expertise in green building practices. Another tactic is to rally those with whom you already work to the pursuit of greener, more efficient homes. Similar to the enthusiasm and excitement Susan Hadder generated with her suppliers when First Richmond began seeking green solutions, you may generate the same kind of interest with your existing construction partners to learn all they can and contribute. Either way, it’s important to get everyone in your construction chain on the same page with what you’re trying to accomplish. Contractors and suppliers that are not informed can create inadvertent barriers to your ultimate success.

More information and technical detail about these techniques can be found on the Research Center’s technical website,www.ToolBase.org.

Created in 1964, the NAHB Research Center (www.nahbrc.com) is a full-service product commercialization company that strives to make housing more durable, affordable, and efficient. The Research Center provides public and private clients with an unrivaled depth of understanding of the housing industry and access to its business leaders.

Source : Professional Builder

Extreme remodel on the Goose Pasture Tarn in Blue River, Colorado

Choosing to build a net zero energy home can have a huge effect on not just reducing your environmental footprint, but on the cost of your home over its entire lifespan. You may have to invest more money into building a net zero energy home, but that the savings you’ll experience over the home’s life will be well worth it.

Trilogy Shares Ways to Selecting Zero Energy Home Plans

Source: Shutterstock.com

Once you factor in utility incentives or tax credits, your net zero energy home will only cost between 5 and 10 percent more to build than a normal home. The leftover difference will be recouped over the next 5 to 10 years in energy savings.

One of the key aspects to designing a net zero energy house is to build the most efficient building envelop that you can afford. The building envelope is the thermal barrier between the inside of your home and the outside of your home. The more effective it is, the less heat will leak out during the winter and the less cool air will escape during the summer.

Consider the benefits of designing a net zero energy home and contact us at Trilogy Builds for advice on selecting the green home design for you.

Home automation is something that many people are implementing into their home designs due to the fact that it makes the home more convenient and functional. However, there’s an added benefit to home automation: reducing your environmental footprint.

automation

Source: Freshome

So how exactly is home automation a green building feature? Well, one of the features that home automation can provide is the ability to integrate smart lighting controls that allow you to turn off all your lights at once with the touch of a button, as well as power controllers that will turn off appliances automatically. This makes using electricity much more efficient and helps to ensure that you’re not wasting energy.

Another excellent home automation feature is the occupancy sensor. We’ve all forgotten to turn off the lights when leaving the house at one point or another. By installing an occupancy sensor, you’ll ensure that your lights don’t just stay on until you return. This is because an occupancy sensor can detect if no one is at home and will automatically turn off your lights in an empty house.

Consider home automation as part of your green building design and contact us at Trilogy Builds for more green building techniques.

In today’s society, many companies are trying to go green for preservation of the environment. Also, many companies are making their building feature novel architectural designs while doing so. These green architecture designs listed below are just some of the ideas that are spreading like wildfire.

Buildings are now being built from sustainable materials. This is better for the environment because it reduces pollution. Also, a lot of buildings now have water collection devices. So when it rains, natural water will be collected, giving companies the chance to reuse this water for other purposes.

A pivotal feature for this type of architecture is buildings that feature solar powered panels. These panels are installed at the top of a building. Using the sun’s rays, electricity is generated. This is an efficient, green way of keeping a building running in terms of its electrical appliances.

Sun shading is another important design incorporated into green buildings. These shading devices help reduce building peak heat gain, which improves natural lighting in the building. Thanks to these green architecture designs, the environment will not suffer as much. For more information on green agriculture, contact us today.

Planning out a building project is a big undertaking, but a solid plan is the best way to prevent stress, problems, and to save and time and money. If you’re not sure how to start the planning process, follow these tips from Trilogy’s Partners.

Trilogy Partners open kitchen

Trilogy Partners

The first thing you should do is find a design professional. A professional team can guide you through the process to ensure everything goes smoothly. Make sure to meet with them in person and discuss design ideas.

Next, work on creating a building plan. These plans will show a rough layout of the floor, including how many bedrooms and bathrooms there are going to be. You need plans first before the professional can start the building project.

Plan out what features the home is going to have. You can either do this alone or get help from an interior designer. Things you need to consider range from doorknobs, light fixtures, rugs, windows, and countertop materials.

For more information on planning a building project, contact us today.

Building a home is an experience that you will never forget, but it comes with its challenges. This is especially true if you decide to build a home on a hill. Fortunately, these tips will make this a little easier, saving you stress and time.

It’s imperative that you sketch the home out first. Study the hill, as this gives you a feel for the form and structure of it. When sketching, consider things like how natural water will flow around the building or what type of views you want to have from inside your home.

In order to build your home, temporary roads and construction sites will have to be created. So, you should plan on re-landscaping your home after the building project is completed. This ensures your home on the hill is elegant and looks natural.

Try to find a placement that will minimize excavation. Getting the property surveyed should reveal a good spot. The less you have to excavate, the more time and money you can save.

For more information on building a home, contact us today.

More and more people today, including homeowners and corporations, are starting to utilize green technologies when building. Green building is better for the environment, and it betters society as a whole. Now, schools are taking the same approach, educating students about green technologies.

Open book with green nature world coming out of its pages

Source: Shutterstock.com

Education for Sustainability implores students to make smart decisions about preserving a healthy ecosystem. In fact, there’s an actual plan that outlines a strategy for 50 states to utilize green education in their school agenda.

And, online communications and forming working groups are collaborating together to create a funding campaign. This campaign shares best case models and also materials. By the end of 2025, there is a goal for at least 35 states to have a comprehensive green policy. This ensures students are learning about ways to improve and better the environment for future generations to come.

It’s this type of education that is going to make the world a better place. K-12 students will have resources at their disposal to make better decisions that will have a positive impact on the environment.

For more information on green design and green building, contact us today.

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.

ecofriendly building tips

Source: Shutter Stock

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:

ecofriendly bathrooms

Source: Trilogy Partners’ Gallery

  • 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.

965 N Ten Mile Dr. , Unit A1 Frisco, CO 80443
Phone: 970-453-2230

Email: information at trilogybuilds dot com
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