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Vision – Net Zero Energy

Developer Norbert Klebl‟s Vision:

To encourage radical improvements in the American homebuilding

industry through the example of Geos – anticipated to be the

largest net-zero energy, urban mixed-use neighborhood in the US.

Local Context

Comprehensive Planning

Views

Aerial

Public Process

1. Update of Comp Plan 2003-2005

2. Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) 2006-2007

• Three Submittals

• Wrote a Sustainable Mixed-Use Zoning Code for Geos

• Planning Commission & Council Approval

3. Final Development Plan (FDP) 2007-2008

• Three Submittals

• Detailed design of parks

• Staff Approval

4. Individual Final Development Plans (FDPs) for each project

(ongoing)

5. Infrastructure Groundbreaking late summer 2009

6. Vertical Architecture starts winter 2009-2010

Collaborating with City Staff

Geos builds upon traditional

mixed-use urbanism. It

incorporates into traditional

urbanism numerous

sustainable systems.

Urban Density optimized

with Passive Solar Orientation

High performance “Passive

House” building strategies

Energy comes from

Photovoltaics, Geothermal, and

Solar Thermal and replaces all

natural gas use so that these

are fossil fuel free buildings.

Net-Zero Energy Site Planning and Architecture

DENVER’S HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD

CORNER STORES

TOWNHOMES AT ENDS OF BLOCK

PARKING AT ALLEYSAND ON-STREET

SINGLE FAMILY AND DUPLEXES

Geos Plan Based on Traditional Development Pattern

Fire Protection and Traffic

Life Safety on Per-Capita Basis

TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAMS

To this Development Pattern, Integrate Passive Solar &

Optimize Solar Orientation with Urban Density

Integrate Active Solar:

Coordinate Tree Heights with Active Solar Access

Collaborating with City Landscape Architect on Zoning Language

“Rain Gardens” in every

yard

“Street Tree Rain Gardens”

between sidewalk and curb

Percolation Parks threaded

through neighborhood as

common greens

Integrated Stormwater Management

Integrate Stormwater Runoff with Public Landscapes

Integrate contact with

natural resources into

community life

Integrate agriculture at

private and community

scales

A diverse public space

network that fosters a

complexity of human and

natural relationships

Urban Stewardship: “Be The Resource”

Integrate Pathways, Parks, and Social Places

Master Land Use Plan

Mixed-Use Areas

Sustainable Mixed-Use Zoning Code

Town Square Surrounded by Residential over Commercial

Home Types Home Sizes

Row Homes 1,100 – 1,800sf

Single Family 1,800 – 2,000sf

Paired Homes 1,600 – 1,800sf

Live/Work Units 1,600 – 2,000sf

Condominiums 600 – 1,600sf

Co-Housing 800 – 1,600sf

Sustainable Homes are “Not Too Big”

Public Landscapes: Street Tree Rain Gardens

City Landscape Architect, Public Works, Urban Drainage

Public Landscapes: Percolation Parks

Public Landscapes: Town Squares

Public Landscapes: Pedestrian Promenade & „The Beach‟

Checkerboard Layout

Checkerboard Single Family

Every other home is

either an alley house, or

at the front of the lot.

Yards are shaped like

courtyards.

Doors and windows to

the north are minimized.

Windows and overhangs

are optimized for passive

solar heating and cooling.

Checkerboard Live/Works

Townhouses or live/work

homes with ground level

home offices are

permitted in these

locations.

A wide townhouse layout

permits solar gain to

side-by-side bedrooms

and side-by-side living

spaces.

Service spaces are to the

north.

Doors and windows to

the north are minimized.

Windows and overhangs

are optimized for passive

solar heating and cooling.

Homes open to sunny,

south-facing yards.

Urban Design of Checkerboard Frontage

Live/Work homes with south-facing patio yards

Live/Work Site Plan

Zoning Code

Public Fronts of Single Family Homes

Private Landscapes at Checkerboard Homes

Recycling & Composting, Zoning

Checkerboard Layout with Alley Houses

• Passive solar orientation – sun is primary source of conditioning heat

• High performance building envelope – high insulation, low air-infiltration

• Heat Recovery Ventilator – fresh air intake and energy conservation

• Solar thermal collectors – for domestic hot water and back-up conditioning heat

• Ground source heat – for domestic hot water and back-up conditioning heat

• Solar photovoltaic – achieves net zero energy goal

Geos Utilizes Demonstrated and Cost-Effective Solutions:

Green Building Technology

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Building Department and City Manager‟s Office

Xcel Energy and Public Utilities Commission

Passive Solar

30%

High Performance Shell

40%

HRV - 10%

Ground Source

Heat Pump or Solar

Thermal 20%

Total Reduction 100%

Natural Gas

1,0

00 T

herm

s=

$1,1

50

Heat Pump Cooling &

Building Shell - 15%

Energy Star Appliances - 5%

Monitoring - 5%

Photovoltaic Solar

Offset

65%

Total Reduction 100%

Electricity

8,0

00 k

Wh =

$1,2

50

Goes Objective: Build Net Zero Energy Homes... Now!

• 100% Energy Consumption Reduction

• Eliminate Fossil Fuel Use

• Photovoltaics offset the minimal energy needs of the home

Efficient Lighting

10%

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Green Building Technology – Net Zero

Thank You