Stats

Groundbreaking

Summer, 2009

Location

Edwards, Colorado: Homestead Subdivision.

Project Summary

Recent history has not seen a more important and perhaps critical time for the building industry. As the economic and ecological environments of the United States and the planet continue to pay the price for the irresponsible practices of the past it becomes increasingly critical that new attention be paid to the future of sustainable building and the lifestyles it supports. Evolutionary principles will apply, as only the proven sustainable and economically viable will survive to prosper in the changing fiscal and environmental atmospheres.

Vail Green Build will be subject to the stringent design requirements of both the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes certification process and the newly established criteria of The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), thus serving as a real world comparison of the two widely adopted standards for green building. Additionally the project will face the challenge of not only building sustainable in a remote mountain location but also keeping true to the lifestyle, culture and history of the area.

Summary of Sustainable Initiatives

Hand gathered native stones, stockpiled and used with influence in the home.
Established pre-construction “grow zone” where native vegetation will be transplanted, grown and supported during the construction phase.
The establishment of “Native Plant Expert” status through Colorado State University in order to insure native landscape preservation and establishment.
Sustainable excavation practices including minimal site disturbance and the use of bio-fueled machines.
Establishment of renewable energy sources for the construction process to include solar, wind and bio-fuel.
Proper solar orientation
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and wall panelization to reduce on-site construction waste, increase building energy efficiency and reduce construction time.
Super-insulation
High efficiency energy appliances and methods including wind, solar, wood and geo-thermal.
Locally harvested and sustainable building materials
Non-toxic finishes
Strong connection to natural environment including re-forestation efforts where applicable.
On-site recycling, composting and greenhouse operations.
Water reclamation (if applicable)
High efficiency appliances, electronics and lighting.
Connection to and support of local and national charitable organizations.

Owners – Ryan & Trista Sutter

Vail Green Home is the culmination of the dreams and ideas of its owners, Ryan and Trista Sutter. Ryan and Trista first gained fame on ABC’s hit reality series The Bachelorette. Their loyal fans followed them from that show to their televised Wedding Special that aired to over 26 million people Nation wide and countless others across the globe. Their initially public romance continues to garner the attention of television and print media as they raise their son, Max and await the birth of their second, to coincide with the beginning of the build, this spring. Ryan and Trista live and work in Avon, Colorado, which would serve as the location for the project. Ryan will be working in a hands-on role alongside his builder in all aspects of the project. His lifestyle will play a major role in demonstrating the importance of the surrounding environment on the house and its future occupants. This may be established by showing Ryan’s commitment to riding his bike the 20 miles each way to work and back or in the adventurous pursuit of inspiration and potential building materials from the surrounding mountain landscape.