SUMMIT COUNTY - Today marks the first day of the Summit County Parade of Homes. The Parade is open today and tomorrow, and September 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets are available at the homes for $5. This year's Parade features homes in Breckenridge, Silverthorne and Keystone. There are a total of 19 homes, four of which were built using many green building technologies and products. More companies are assessing their "green" practices. Consumers are also becoming more aware of the important role they play in the upkeep of our environment.

So, is green building really going mainstream? Generating the interest in green homes is a push/pull enterprise. Homebuyers must be informed of the benefits of a green home in order to generate their interest, and builders must perceive buyer interest in order to be motivated to respond.

Another common question is, doesn't building green homes cost buyers more money? Not necessarily. Most people don't realize that there is a continuum to building green - for example a green home might have energy-saving appliances or feature a deck made of recycled materials, or a green home might incorporate cork flooring and solar power. Custom home builders have been using green building materials and technologies for quite some time, and now many production home builders are incorporating them into their homes too. As the number of builders using green materials and technologies continues to grow, the cost for these types of items is reduced.

The following is information on this year's Parade builders (RJB Development, Travis Construction, McCrery & Roberts Construction and Mountain Log Homes) who are featuring homes that meet Built Green Colorado (www.builtgreen.org) standards.



McCrerey & Roberts (47 Wolf Rock Rd. in Keystone)

• Tree protection: As this home was built, the builder took care to protect trees and other vital vegetation that normally would have been cut down. Built Green encourages healthy ecosystems for all.

• Efficient lighting: Increasing lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulbs use 60 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb, last up to 10 times longer, and because they produce less heat than standard bulbs, reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer.

• Recycled composite decking - Trex decking: This deck is made from recycled grocery bags, plastic wrap and waste wood. It is UV-resistant, very durable and virtually maintenance-free so resources are saved both in production and during the life of the deck.



McCrerey & Roberts (287 Hunter's Knob in Silverthorne)

• Advanced sealing package: Advanced sealing methods in this house will virtually eliminate any cold (or hot) drafts from sneaking in the house during the winter (and summer) months, making it a comfortable place to live, while at the same time reducing energy bills.

• Kitchen range hood: These vents blow moisture-and aroma-laden air from the range hood in the kitchen outside instead of circulating it through the home. This makes for better air in the kitchen and everywhere else, and insures you never need to worry about lingering food smells or foggy windows.

• Irrigation systems equipped with a master valve: A master valve prevents the mainline from being pressurized. If a pipe or sprinkler break occurs, a master valve will minimize water waste and damage to the landscape.



RJB Development: (2010 Currant Way in Silverthorne)

• Home designed for passive solar heating: Solar orientation is a major factor in the overall energy use of a house. Windows facing south with proportioned overhangs allow more heat gain in the winter and hold down the temperature in the summer. Window size, placement, and U-value greatly affect home comfortable and energy efficient a house is, reducing the homes heating bill when compared to a typical design.

• Solar electric system, (PV System) - renewable energy from the sun: This type of power reduces air pollution as it reduces the need for standard energy, which comes mainly from coal, oil, or natural gas. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity. It's an emission-free, fixed-price, reliable source of energy.

• ICFs - Insulated Concrete Forms: These walls are made of an insulated concrete form that sandwiches a concrete structural wall between two layers of insulating foam. The strength of concrete paired with the insulation of rigid foam makes this house quiet and efficiently comfortable.

• In-floor radiant heating system: This home is more comfortable and warms your feet up first! Instead of heating the air, this home heats the floor, and the warmed air rises, heating up the entire home. It' s a more efficient way to heat - at least 15 percent more efficient than standard forced air heating.

• Central vacuum: Everyone knows that these are convenient, but did you know about their green-living benefits as well? This central vacuum has the power to make sure that household debris is effectively removed from the carpets and flooring, while also assuring that the collection center for those pollutants is safely isolated from the living area.

• Indoor water conservation: All the faucets in this house are fitted with an aerator restricting water flow. An aerator is a simple device that reduces the amount of water that comes from the tap without impacting the water pressure.



Travis Construction (345 Game Trail in Silverthorne)

• Tankless Water Heater: A "tankless" or "instaneous" water heater provides hot water right on the spot, without having to store it in a tank at some distant location in the house. These water heaters deliver hot water with absolutely no waiting, and are more energy efficient since there is no need to sustain a full tank of hot water around the clock.