This presentation provides a brief overview of the LEED for Homes process for 725 Forest St, Denver CO 80206. This house was developed by 3BY LLC (www.3-by.com) and was certified Gold and completed in May 2009.
2. Project Overview
Developer/Architect/Interior Design: 3BY, LLC
Speculative, luxury, modern, single family home
Design goal: strive for LEED-Platinum, push design
envelope, optimize use of 4700 sf lot (no alley), no
comfort compromises,entertainment-friendly, low-
maintenance
Other requirements: Up to 5 bedrooms/5 baths, 2800 sf
above grade, 2 car attached garage, open plan, up/down
laundry, wine room, media room.
Less than $160/sf direct construction costs.
More information: http://725.3-by.com
3. Major LEED strategies
High-performance envelope: Insulated
Concrete Form foundation, SIP
Construction, High-performance windows
• Contributed to: Insulation, Air
Infiltration, Material-efficient
Framing, Environmentally Preferable
Products, windows
• 6 of 89 LEED-H credits
• Incremental cost ~$5,000
4. Major LEED strategies
(cont.)
Renewable energy and high-efficiency
systems:
• Contributed to: space heating/
cooling, water heating, renewable
energy
• 12 of 89 LEED-H credits
• Incremental cost: ~$15,000
5. Major LEED strategies
(cont.)
Compact (4700 sf), infill site, in
Denver’s Mayfair neighborhood:
• contribute to: site selection, preferred
locations, infrastructure, community
resources, access to open space, and
compact development
• 15 of 89 LEED-H credits
• Incremental cost: masters thesis??
6. Major LEED strategies
(cont.)
Water efficiency:
• Contributes to: irrigation system,
indoor water use
• 7 of 89 LEED-H credits
• Incremental cost: nominal $,
performance, user-experience
8. Financial Analysis
3763 Livable Sq. Ft. (excl. garage)
$160 per livable sq. ft. direct
construction costs (excl.. all soft
costs and general conditions expense)
Total cost premium for LEED-Gold
versus code-compliant: < 5%
Operating cost savings: $1,000+ per
year at current prices. (722 therms
NG/3226 kwh)
9. Summary and lessons
learned
Start with a preferred site
Be realistic about what tradeoffs you
are willing to make, e.g. toilets,
showers, motion sensors, waste
management,lighting
Follow-up on the details
A high LEED rating is not a substantial
cost increase, more a matter of focus
Why not platinum?
10. Key Partners /
Vendors
Energy Logic: LEED Rating/inspection
LaFarge Concrete
Integra-Spec ICF of Colorado
Sutherland’s Lumber
ACH Foam Technology: R-Control SIPS
Copper Creek Architectural: Gienow windows
Cooper Heating & Cooling: HVAC
Cronen Plumbing
Environmental Designs Inc.: landscaping
Bella Energy: solar PVC
Ferguson Enterprises: plumbing and appliances
