10 reasons to build green in Colorado

Building Green means having a lower environmental impact for the short and long term of construction.

1. More comfortable living. This means fewer drafts, less extreme indoor temperatures, using the sun in winter and keeping cool in the summer.
2. Lower energy costs to heat in winter and stay cooler in the summer. Save money and burn fewer fossil fuels.
3. Lower energy cost means fewer fossil fuels burned, which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Even if you are using wood or pellets to heat, less of these labor and transportation heavy fuels are needed.
4. Use longer lasting and durable products that have a longer service life. Save more money in lower maintenance and replacement cycles. Offsets constant landfill influx.
5. Less energy intensive material combinations for building construction. Consider fiber-cement siding to vinyl siding for example. One is made from cement, sand and wood fibers. The other is from a cocktail of mined minerals with a very long landfill life span.
6. Designing for the particular environment and lifestyle of the occupants. Build smarter, not bigger.
7. Incorporating or planning for on-site renewable energy generation.
8. Applying existing and emerging technologies to remotely control indoor home environmental conditions for comfort and energy savings.
9. Take advantage of local, regional and federal tax rebates and incentives. Save even more money.
10. Higher resale values with a lower monthly energy bill and maintenance.