By Mark Samuelson

Five new, luxury townhomes opening on a site overlooking Sloans Lake will have super-low energy bills and a LEED Gold Standard certification…along with something that’s equally difficult to find in Denver’s popular Highlands area: a very low cost-per-square-foot.

RE/MAX Professionals agent Ben Melton shows off LEED certified townhomes near Sloan’s Lake, each with photovoltaic panels. Each has a cost-per-foot slightly above $200.

According to RE/MAX Professionals broker Ben Melton, exclusive agent for the project, 3-bedroom, 3-bath townhomes at 1544 Zenobia in Denver are priced from $350,000 to $375,000…costs per square foot that are just beyond $200. “They’ll be one of the best values in the entire Highlands area, not counting their energy performance and cutting edge solar electric systems,” Melton said. more »

By Mark Samuelson

Can you build a house even greener than ‘net-zero energy?’ President Obama’s pick to serve as ambassador to Finland has done just that; and you can tour it Sunday in Boulder’s Mapleton Hill neighborhood, 1-4 p.m., just north of Pearl on Fifth.

Bruce Oreck, appointed ambassador to Finland, created the ‘Next West House’ in Boulder, on view Sunday, Aug. 9, 429 Spruce Street, 1-4 p.m.

Boulder developer and environmentalist Bruce Oreck created his ‘Next West House’ to be ‘net-zero carbon’—so efficient that it not only makes more energy than it uses, but recovers enough to compensate for what was used to build the house and its materials. Oreck calls it “the greenest home in North America”…and received a Platinum LEED certification for it—highest possible rating. more »

By Mark Samuelson

BOULDER. Work began last week on a solar-powered replacement for the home of 78-year-old Bobra Goldsmith, known as “llama lady,” who lost her house Jan. 7 to a 3,000-acre range fire that tore through the Boulder County ranch where she raises llamas and alpacas.

Gathering at Bobra Goldsmith’s home site: Brett Steury and Mary Coonce of Porchfront Homes, Goldsmith, and Matt Grandsaert and Tim Webb from Integral Engineering. Goldsmith’s llamas won grand awards at the 2009 National Western Stock Show.

“This is going to be very energy efficient, getting a high percentage of its operating power from solar and super energy-efficient construction,” said Mary Coonce, who together with husband Tim Coonce are principals in Boulder-based Porchfront Homes. “We expect to complete construction in late fall.” more »