Emporia
Emporia Classic Level 2 48 AMP EV Charger UL Listed
The Emporia Classic Level 2 48 AMP EV Charger UL Listed is a home charging solution designed for electric vehicle owners seeking efficiency, safety, and smar...
$429
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House Feature
This Townhome Just Outside Denver has Zero Energy Bills
The average low temperature in Denver, Colorado during the months of December, January, and February oscillate between 19 and 21 degrees. Even if you live in a small apartment of 900 square feet, you can expect an average utility bill of well over $100 with that total jumping significantly during the long, cold winter.
A 1,800 square foot townhome on the outskirts of Denver that comes with an energy bill of exactly zero dollars per month, then, would certainly help to reduce the cost of living while subsequently increasing home affordability.
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By Tobias Roberts, Rise Writer
Feb 4, 2025 · 6 min read
The Geos Neighborhood
The Geos Net Zero Energy Neighborhood is located northwest of Denver, Colorado in the city of Arvada and embodies smart living in a decarbonized community. Their stated vision is to “build a community for active residents who want to live independent of fossil fuels.”
Norbert Klebl is the expert and visionary behind the Geos Neighborhood project. According to Mr. Klebl, “I have friends in Austria who were building passive houses over 20 years ago. They used ethanol fireplaces only a few days a year when the temperatures were below zero. With 300 days of sun in Colorado every year, I was confident that a high-density neighborhood with efficient homes and shared natural spaces here could provide a model for the world of smart living. Geos has realized a decarbonized community, and that was my mission.”
This new urban strategy located in the midst of one of North America's most nature-friendly metropolitan areas that is also bathed in a generous amount of year-round sunlight is founded on the goal of net-zero energy. Every one of the homes built in the Geos Neighborhood is fully equipped with a rooftop PV system of at least 3.5 kW to be able to power homes and charge at least one electrical vehicle. Homes are specifically designed with maximum solar orientation in mind while state-of-the-art ventilation strategies maintain superior interior air quality. The advanced building technologies focused on passive house standards for housing envelopes and mechanical systems maximize the energy efficiency of the structure.
Homes are to be limited in size ranging between 700 and 2,800 square feet, making it easier to meet their energy needs with renewable energy systems. The high-performance shell is well insulated with walls achieving an R-30 rating, while roofs increase to an impressive R-50 rating.
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Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
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