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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