| 20|20: Green Building for Your and the Planet’s Health
Zocalo Community Development, the developer of 20|20, has made a principled commitment to reduce the impact that its projects have on the earth and its environment, and to build to LEED®-certification standards.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Healthful for You
20|20 Uses Wool Carpets: Wool carpets don’t “off-gas” the way most synthetic carpets do. Typical carpet is composed of nylon which contains additives that contribute to creating unhealthy indoor air. Such off-gassing has been known to cause “Sick Building Syndrome” and can also contribute to overall low-air quality. Though far more expensive than the typical carpet, wool carpet is part of the 20|20 commitment to improved indoor-air quality.
20|20 uses Low-VOC-Containing Materials: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted from traditionally-used paints, adhesives, and other building materials. VOCs are carbon-based and contribute to global warming and unhealthful indoor air quality. 20|20 has committed to significantly reducing the level of VOCs utilized in a number of materials including paint, carpets and sealants/adhesives. This commitment reduces the building’s overall VOC content and ensures a superior air quality.
It is estimated that people spend up to 90-percent of their time indoors, making the materials utilized in building construction essential to occupant health. Unfortunately many buildings, new and old, do not pay enough attention to the quality of materials utilized. It is estimated that 2% of all office workers suffer from some type of Sick Building Syndrome. LEED-certified office buildings have been found to be a healthier work place, with decreased absenteeism and increased productivity. Though there aren’t nearly as many LEED-certified residential buildings as LEED office buildings, it’s likely that, in time, research will show that people are healthier and less often sick in LEED-certified homes, just as has been documented in LEED-certified office buildings.
Healthful for the Earth
20|20 generates Renewable Energy: The 50,000 watts of electrical power that will be produced from a roof-mounted photovoltaic system will represent one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in Colorado. This system is projected to offset the power demand of the entire building’s common space resulting in financial savings for the HOA and energy savings for the traditional power grid.
20|20 uses Induction Cooking: Induction cooking is more than twice as efficient as either gas or traditional electric “resistance” cook tops, resulting in less wasted energy. Induction technology uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy directly to the cooking pan. This direct-energy transfer, in addition to increasing efficiency, increases your comfort by maintaining cooler air in the kitchen. (Other benefits of speed, temperature control and cook top safety are also delivered by induction cooking technology. You can see a demonstration of this in our sales showroom.)
20|20 Recycles Waste: The construction industry is a large contributor to landfill waste nationwide. It’s estimated that in 2006, construction waste represented a 60 million-ton contribution to land fills nationwide. A huge portion of this could be recycled. To reduce 20|20’s impact on local landfills, construction waste such as concrete, wood and metal will be diverted away from the traditional waste stream to be recycled at area facilities.
Healthful for Your Pocketbook
20|20 uses 90-percent Efficient Heating: A 90-percent efficient heating system means real dollar savings for residents while creating a more-efficient building. Most residential projects today install cheaper, 80-percent efficient systems. 20|20 is consciously installing this more expensive system in recognition that, over the course of its life-cycle, the system will generate more savings than its initial cost premium while using energy more efficiently. (Your 20|20 heating system will produce far less greenhouse gases, too.)
20|20 is a Near-Zero Energy Home: Through a unique collaboration of our solar installer, Namaste, and our lender, Countrywide Home Loans, we can offer 20|20 owners a two-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system projected to generate the majority of electrical demand for individual residential units. By lowering its interest rate on a typical 30-year mortgage by _ of a point, Countrywide helps to make the acquisition of the solar system cash-flow very quickly. Accounting for electric and interest rate savings, the additional cost of the PV system should pay for itself the first year!
20|20 is 30% More Efficient: By using highly efficient appliances, installing high-tech, insulated glass and utilizing passive solar measures such as well-positioned balconies, 20|20 will be 30% more efficient than similar buildings. These measures will both save you money on energy bills and enable the building to operate with less energy demand.
20|20 is expected to be the first LEED-Gold certified condominium project in the Rocky Mountain Region. The first LEED-certified condominium in the state, RiverClay Condominiums, is also being developed by Zocalo Community Development.
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