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SAWHORSE
Denver building boom getting 'greener'
http://www.9news.com/news/denver-building-boom-getting-greener/75028902
KUSA - Denver’s building boom is about to get greener. This week, the Denver City Council approved new buildings codes aimed at making new construction in the city more energy and water efficient.
Turns out, some buildings in the city were already complying with the new codes, years before they came about.
At DaVita’s downtown high rise, it’s windows, windows everywhere – by design.
“It’s easy to acknowledge that a green building is a good thing to do,” said Casey Stock, DaVita Program Manager of Sustainability.
The U.S. Green Building Council just awarded the DaVita building LEED Platinum certification, one of only a handful in the state to reach the highest level of environmental efficiency. Stock showed us what all that means, starting with the “smart elevators.”
“The majority of the energy used by an average elevator is used by taking off the first floor, so what we did was optimize that,” she said, as she typed into a keypad, stating the number of people in the group and what floor they were heading to.
The computerized system then uses that information to operate the bank of elevators in way that uses the least amount of energy. Efficiency in energy use is key throughout the building.
“As the sun moves around the building throughout the day and it uses those frequencies that come in and actually turns down the light throughout the building, so you’re only using the light that you actually need,” Stock said.
What’s happening there is a high-level example of what Denver is now aiming for: new buildings codes, approved by the city council, are looking to make new buildings more energy efficient. That includes insulation and lighting improvements that could reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a structure.
“Every building that gets built now in Denver will require up to 25-percent less energy -- and we’re building a lot in Denver, as you know,” said Denver Building Official Scott Prisco.
Last year, the city issued more than 75,000 permits for homes, building and building addition construction. Prisco said the new codes bring the city in line with more environmentally-friendly construction standards.
“What that means to everyone is we’re looking at safer, healthier and more energy efficient buildings,” he said.
Back at DaVita, their building includes water efficient bathrooms, composting and even carpets made from recycled plastic bottles. They also provide incentives for employees who use public transportation or bike to work, as seen in the bike racks and bike repair station located in the building. They are just some of the features they plan to try and replicate with a new building they’re preparing to build next door this summer.
“It’s a good, healthy thing to do and we hope to lead by example,” Stock said.
As for the new building codes in Denver, they will go into effect in six months.
http://www.9news.com/news/denver-building-boom-getting-greener/75028902
KUSA - Denver’s building boom is about to get greener. This week, the Denver City Council approved new buildings codes aimed at making new construction in the city more energy and water efficient.
Turns out, some buildings in the city were already complying with the new codes, years before they came about.
At DaVita’s downtown high rise, it’s windows, windows everywhere – by design.
“It’s easy to acknowledge that a green building is a good thing to do,” said Casey Stock, DaVita Program Manager of Sustainability.
The U.S. Green Building Council just awarded the DaVita building LEED Platinum certification, one of only a handful in the state to reach the highest level of environmental efficiency. Stock showed us what all that means, starting with the “smart elevators.”
“The majority of the energy used by an average elevator is used by taking off the first floor, so what we did was optimize that,” she said, as she typed into a keypad, stating the number of people in the group and what floor they were heading to.
The computerized system then uses that information to operate the bank of elevators in way that uses the least amount of energy. Efficiency in energy use is key throughout the building.
“As the sun moves around the building throughout the day and it uses those frequencies that come in and actually turns down the light throughout the building, so you’re only using the light that you actually need,” Stock said.
What’s happening there is a high-level example of what Denver is now aiming for: new buildings codes, approved by the city council, are looking to make new buildings more energy efficient. That includes insulation and lighting improvements that could reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a structure.
“Every building that gets built now in Denver will require up to 25-percent less energy -- and we’re building a lot in Denver, as you know,” said Denver Building Official Scott Prisco.
Last year, the city issued more than 75,000 permits for homes, building and building addition construction. Prisco said the new codes bring the city in line with more environmentally-friendly construction standards.
“What that means to everyone is we’re looking at safer, healthier and more energy efficient buildings,” he said.
Back at DaVita, their building includes water efficient bathrooms, composting and even carpets made from recycled plastic bottles. They also provide incentives for employees who use public transportation or bike to work, as seen in the bike racks and bike repair station located in the building. They are just some of the features they plan to try and replicate with a new building they’re preparing to build next door this summer.
“It’s a good, healthy thing to do and we hope to lead by example,” Stock said.
As for the new building codes in Denver, they will go into effect in six months.