In the design world, because there are an infinite number of options and choices, choosing just the right item for the right purpose sometimes feels downright overwhelming. But from the beginning we thought a hefty carved stone sink would be perfect for the kitchen in the Timber Trails residence in Breckenridge. The theme of the house was European Castle reconstructed after World War II (yes, every house has a story) and this sink, or one just like it,  seemed to balance well with the massive rafters and beams and stone walls that would surround it. But because we were building this house to LEED “Sustainable” standards, we needed to source the sink from as close to Colorado as possible (LEED encourages local purchasing to reduce the environmental impact of shipping.) So, after some searching, we sourced this sink from Mexico, which is certainly closer to Colorado than Europe or Asia, which were other options. Sometimes choosing the “right” thing means more than just form and function. Especially if you are as concerned as we are about designing and building in a way that is friendly to the planet.

The American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) latest Home Design Trends survey shows that Americans are showing more concern with affordability and energy efficiency when building their homes. At Trilogy Partners we have been designing and building sustainable homes for our clients in the Rocky Mountain region for a number of years. We build homes using green building techniques and innovative technology.

The AIA Design Home Trends Survey also noticed an interest from homeowners in the area of recycled materials, energy management systems, solar applications, back-up power generators and geothermal systems for cooling and heating. Our recent Zero Net Energy home, which was the first constructed in Breckenridge, Colorado, allowed us to utilize green design techniques to build a more sustainable home for our client. As a full service design and build team we are able to build a home the way in which it was envisioned, from start to finish.

“A sustainable home not only nourishes the planet, it nourishes the soul.”– Trilogy Partners

Courtesy of American Institute of Architects

For more information on our Zero Net Energy Home visit us online at TrilogyBuilds.com or give us a call us at 970-453-2230.

We were excited to hear that Metropolis magazine has partnered with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for the Next Generation 2011 Design Ideas Competition. GSA hopes to achieve Zero Environmental Impact for its 9,600 properties and wanted to challenge the design community to help transform their downtown building in Los Angeles.

GSA’s Chief Architect Les Shepherd, says, “Metropolis’s Next Generation Design Competition is important because it brings visionary design to real problems. The results: highly innovative solutions to the issues of our day. That’s the kind of thinking we need. We’re not merely seeking to bring our buildings in line with current best practices, we’re looking for breakthrough thinking, and we expect to see it demonstrated in this year’s competition.”

Susan S. Szenasy, Metropolis’s editor in chief notes that, “We’re all eager to see how the skills and creativity of this environmentally concerned, community-oriented, and technically savvy generation of designers can make a positive impact on our built environment.”

At Trilogy Partners we know a thing or two about building a Zero Net Energy Home and the positive impact it makes on a community. Click here to learn more about our Zero Net Energy Home in Breckenridge.

For details on the competition please Metropolismag.com.

This Zero Net Energy Home built in the prestigious Timber Trail neighborhood is a wonderful mix of old world design and cutting edge technology. The home is a tribute to energy conservation. It utilizes solar, geothermal exchange, advanced building and insulating technology. The homeowner, Mr. Muller, refused to compromise on either aesthetics or energy conservation.