Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce

Green Building in the Buena Vista Area

By Dustin Heron Urban

It seems that you can find a green version of just about any item you might buy these days, whether it be a ream of paper, a car or—you guessed it—a house. There are numerous construction technologies and practices, which can significantly reduce a home’s energy consumption and environmental impact while also being economically beneficial for the homeowner. While a tight spray-in foam insulation package and energy star appliances may cost more up-front, for instance, such an investment can be paid off over time in savings on heating bills. Despite current economic conditions, the green building and certification industries are here to stay according to Buena Vista’s Chris Martin, owner of Headwaters Energy ( www.headwatersenergy.com/ ).

Martin conducts home certifications in the Arkansas Valley for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes program and the Energy Star program. While the Built Green Colorado certification program has been forced to announce a period of “intermission” starting this spring, Martin foresees Energy Star and LEED for Homes strengthening their foothold in the industry.

And there has been no shortage of demand for sustainably built homes in the Buena Vista area. Martin listed nearly a dozen builders in the Upper Arkansas Valley for whom he conducts certifications. Local builders specializing in green construction include M.E. Reed & Associates, Fish Builders, and South Main Building Company. Habitat for Humanity is also constructing an Energy Star residence off of West Main in Buena Vista.

But is building or purchasing a green home doing enough? It depends on your level of concern about the environmental impact your actions have. If you are looking to minimize or neutralize your impact, a green home is just part of the picture. Ultimately our lifestyles dictate the size of our footprint. What we eat, whether we compost and recycle, how much we drive and how much stuff we buy and discard all affect the size of our footprints. You may live in a green home, but if you commute 200 miles per day, your impact will obviously be larger than if you worked closer to home. Climate change is a systemic problem, and our responses to it must be systemic in nature, taking into account all facets of our personal, national and global lifestyles. 

One project which integrates green building into a systemic approach to environmental friendliness is the South Main neighborhood ( www.southmainco.com ). Located on the banks of the Arkansas River just east of Buena Vista’s historic downtown, South Main is a walkable neighborhood which integrates a mix of residential and commercial uses. All buildings exceed Built Green Colorado certification standards while also creating for their owners an opportunity to live within walking distance of most daily needs. The owner of South Main’s Rock Run fine art gallery, for instance, operates her business out of the first floor of her building while residing on the second floor. For residents of such a community, minimizing driving miles is a logical and convenient option.

Another factor affecting the impact of a green building is its design. Simply put, a green building is not truly sustainable if it is torn down 15 years after it was built because it is not loved. After observing that some of Buena Vista’s oldest buildings are of a traditional design, South Main determined that their green buildings would last longest, and hence be the most sustainable, if all buildings adhered to traditional design principals.

All told, green building’s rise in popularity in the Buena Vista area is a positive development. And attention to good architecture and neighborhood design will ensure that such structures are loved for generations and realize their full measure of sustainability.

Find Local Businesses that specialize in Green Building

Book a place to stay when you check out our area for relocation

View Photos of the area and see why we want to be Green

Brought to you by Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Tourism Office