Merten: Innovators in Green Building and Design
By Judy Finman
Merten is Green to its core.
“I started Merten in order to provide people with the latest innovations in Green Building design and construction,” says founder, President and CEO Donna Merten. “The results have exceeded my expectations, and I am excited to continue this rewarding service.”
Merten is a full-service, sustainable design-build firm. Comprising Merten Design Studio and Merten Construction, the firm specializes in the Green architecture and sustainable construction of high-performance remodels, new construction, and developments. All Merten homes are Energy Star-rated and Built Green. Merten also designs and builds according to LEED.
Merten homes are furnished with such energy-efficient technologies as geothermal heating and cooling, solar thermal, photovoltaics, low-e glass, exceptional insulation, and overall Green architectural design.
“We bring years of experience in high-performance building design and construction. For our clients that means lower energy bills, exceptional comfort and sustainability, and overall beauty. Merten homes embody refined, unassuming elegance,” says Brad Duckham, Merten marketing director.
Sustainable design-build means Merten builds for the long term. The company applies Sustainability Principles to the site, the design, the materials, and technology – like storm water management; optimizing active and passive solar; promoting healthy indoor air quality; responsible use of renewable materials, resources and energy; and much more.
Delighting Clients
Here are a few of Merten’s remarkable projects, which embody its principles of eco-friendliness and sustainability. You can view them at www.merteninc.com.
• Surrounded by the Phantom Canyon Nature Preserve, this new home received LEED-Gold certification. The home has many beautiful design accents and innovative energy solutions. As part of the stringent LEED process, site disturbance was minimal. All aspects of the design and construction addressed resource conservation and the use of local materials.
“Dream clients, this couple told us they wanted to help Merten receive its first LEED certified project. This type of collaborative dynamic exemplifies Merten’s reason for being in business,” says Duckham. “The clients joined in for the timber raising and treated all contractors, subcontractors, and neighbors to sustainable catering and a bluegrass band. They kept insisting that they were going to adopt the Project Manager responsible for their project.”
• The Mapleton Cottage is the smallest building designed by Merten so far. It is the first straw bale structure ever built in Boulder’s prestigious Mapleton Historic District. The 375-square-foot cottage offers multifunctional use without sacrificing comfort, efficiency, or beauty. Environmental air quality was essential to these clients, and every material and product had to undergo client and contractor review. Merten ensured that subcontractors were knowledgeable and respectful of the client wishes for eco-friendly construction materials and techniques.
• Originally built in 1955, this 955-square-foot ranch has received a complete green remodel. Transforming this energy-deficient home into an energy-efficient showpiece was challenging and exciting, especially since it was the architect’s home. Featuring clean burning power (courtesy of geothermal heating and cooling, heat recovery ventilator, and photovoltaics), the home provides quiet comfort. Moreover, zero-VOC paints, stains, and finishes also contribute to the home’s exceptional indoor environmental quality.
• A 65-acre historical farm in Longmont, from the late 1800s, has been transformed into a vibrant holistic center. In keeping with the restorative qualities of this spiritual environment, sustainable building techniques were encouraged and welcomed.
Four Mile Canyon Fire Victims
Merten is offering discounts to those whose homes have been damaged or who have lost their homes. “Our hearts are with you,” “says Brad Duckham. “If you choose to rebuild, please consider our suite of services. We will work to meet your bottom line.”
Schedule an appointment
Located in downtown Boulder, Merten’s office is behind Pharmaca on 17th and Pearl. Merten offers a pressure-free, casual, and efficient consultative environment. Walk-ins are welcome, If you’d like to schedule an appointment, please call 720.304.0011 or e-mail dmerten@merteninc.com. The initial consultation and on-site visit is free of charge.
Merten, Inc., 2017 17th St., Boulder, 720.304.0011, www.merteninc.com
Scridb filterNatural Grocers: Natural Meat, Natural Turkeys, Naturally Raised
If you are Natural Grocers’ Co-President Kemper Isely, you don’t help run the family business without developing a pet peeve or two.
One of Isely’s pet peeves is the liberties other stores take with two words: “natural meat.”
“USDA regulations technically let producers and stores classify meat as ‘natural’ as long as nothing was added after the animal was killed,” he notes. “So what happens is, a lot of chain stores out there advertise natural meat that actually has been fed animal byproducts and treated with antibiotics and hormones– meat that wasn’t raised naturally at all. It’s not fair to consumers who see the word ‘natural’ and think they’re doing something good for their family.
“Just read the label carefully: it should tell you what is and isn’t in there.”
Natural Grocers looks for meat that is humanely raised, grass-fed, without additives, organic whenever possible and from small ranches. Isely says that in his experience, most ranches want to do a good job and put out a quality meat, but Natural Grocers has strict guidelines about what we will and will not sell, and we won’t allow the chemical treatments.
An example of truly “naturally raised” meat and poultry is Natural Grocers’ fresh, free-range, deep-chilled turkeys from Shelton’s and Mary’s. Mary’s Heritage turkeys are linked genetically with the turkeys shared at the original Thanksgiving meal. These turkeys still have brown feathers and retain the ability to fly.
Why are these turkeys so delicious? Customers and chefs alike point to Mary’s and Shelton’s grain and vegetable protein diet (never any animal protein); they love that these turkeys are raised humanely and able to graze freely, allowing some muscle to build. The combination brings a sweeter more flavorful bird for white and dark meat lovers alike.
While other stores merely imply their turkeys were raised naturally (and then artificially plump them with drugs, hormones and strange chemical combinations), Natural Grocers’ turkeys have a confirmed seal of approval that they were fed and raised on ranches that adhere to Quality Assurance International Guidelines for organically grown turkeys. The bottom line for you is: They taste delicious, are as pure and good for you as possible, and as close to that original “Thanksgiving” meal as possible.
Reserve your turkey in the stores or on Natural Grocers’ website. (Natural Grocers does not ship turkeys.) They’ll be ready for pick-up on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, 303-986-4600,
www.NaturalGrocers.com
Cold Fire® is about Safety First
Cold Fire® is a highly- effective, enviromentally- friendly fire fighting agent that should be readily available in case of a fire emergency. It is an eco-friendly alternative to gels, foams and retardants.
Cold Fire® is a 100% biodegradable, non-corrosive, non-slip and non-toxic product that does not inhibit a fire investigation any more than plain water. It is one of the few– possibly only–fire suppression agents available to extinguish E85 and other types of bio-fuels.
Cold Fire® will suppress class A, B, D, & K fires, is non-corrosive, and has an indefinite shelf-life. It comes in non-freezing blends and provides distinctive thermal barrier protection to persons and objects it is applied to while quickly removing heat from the fire and preventing re-ignition. Cold Fire® is a non-toxic and 100% biodegradable wetting agent that when combined with water (no agitation required) acts as a catalyst to remove both the heat and hydrocarbons from the fire tetrahedron. Put out fires faster, using less water, while reducing the risk of injury to fire fighters and potential victims.
For more information please go to www.coldfiresw.com or email us at info@desertmountaincf.com
Scridb filterPennies from Heaven – System Components
In the last At Home Green Edition, Flxx® Rainwater Harvesting Systems presented a general overview of rainwater harvesting, and what it meant to rural Coloradans.
We explained that the passage of Senate Bill 09-080 allowed residents that have a current well permit to capture rainwater for ordinary household purposes, fire protection, domestic animals and livestock on farms or ranches, and the irrigation of on acre of gardens and lawns.
This issue, we wanted to offer an overview of what FRH recommends to install a quality rainwater harvesting system. To retain the highest quality water and the quickest return on your investment, it is important to consider these components before installing a harvesting system on your property.
1. Catchment Area and Conveyance System
The main drive of any harvesting system truly depends on the efficiency of your roof and conveyance system. As you can imagine, harvesting rainwater off a roof that is metal will give you a better quality and higher volume of water than harvesting off an asphalt, tile or wooden roof. Keeping your gutters clean and free of debris also gives you the best chance of maximum uncontaminated capture.
2. Filtration Products
Filtration levels required for your system depends greatly on use and the equipment available. Rainwater that is used to irrigate your lawn or for fire protection requires far less filtration and treatment than drinking water or indoor utility use. Filters can be installed inside or outside the tank, and can be used to filter out anything from twigs, leaves and other debris down to sand and extremely small particulates.
3. Overflow/Pest Prevention
In general, rainwater is a clean source of water, but these components help prevent unintended contamination in your rainwater harvesting system from unwanted pests (mosquitoes, rodents, etc.), or an unusually large rain event that could overwhelm your storage system.
4. Storage Tanks
Storage tanks can be the pivotal part of your harvesting system. One can choose from a 65-gallon barrel to thousands of gallons of underground storage, so determining the usage and the amount you want to store is critical. Since one inch of rain can produce 623 gallons of water on a 1,000-square-foot roof, a larger storage system will give you an opportunity to supplement your water supply while providing the greatest long-term benefit.
5. Delivery Systems
Once the rainwater has been harvested, you have to have a way to use it. FRH supplies a whole line of pumps, controls and liquid level alarms that allow delivery of the water for its intended use.
6. Contact our professionals for consultation and pricing information
From site assessments to maximize your harvesting potential, water usage or product recommendations, Flxx® Rainwater Harvesting Systems will take care of you. There’s no obligation, just information. Capture the rain and recapture your investment in your rainwater harvesting system today!
For more information, please visit www.flxxrainwater.com or call 800.783.3207.
Scridb filterResolution Energy a leader in responsible and clean energy
Resolution Energy designs and installs high efficiency heating and cooling systems all along the Front Range.
The variety of high efficiency projects include: solar space heating, pool heating, domestic hot water, radiant space heating, mod/con boilers, dual fuel and traditional heat pumps, high SEER air conditioning and evaporative cooling solutions. These systems provide superior comfort compared to traditional home mechanical systems.
The innovative solutions that Resolution Energy has installed can be found all along the Colorado Front Range and into the surrounding mountain communities. Customers receive a system that has had the utmost care and pride put into the designs and installations.
As a Colorado-based company, Resolution Energy has been able to draw from a well-educated and environmentally cognizant work force. Its team includes locally licensed installers, a nationally certified system designer, and high efficiency, customer-first sales consultants.
The first customers of Resolution Energy were friends focused on high efficiency, and the company strives to make all its customers part of this growing community.
Resolution Energy’s team has the hands-on experience that separates it from the “green wash” of the burgeoning high efficiency marketplace. The company’s focus is to provide the most appropriate energy solutions on a customer-to-customer basis. Its design consultation and energy modeling services ensure its systems will address the energy needs of its customers first.
The non-commission, non-quota-based sales consultants put the customers’ energy needs first and foremost. And as a “conservation first” focused company, it hopes that its honesty will nurture long-term future relationships with its clients.
Let Resolution Energy’s detail-oriented staff guide you through the design process, system commissioning and proper maintenance procedures.
The Resolution Energy business model may be a break from tradition, but 21st century energy demands have brought about a need for a paradigm shift.
Please join Resolution Energy and help America lead the world into a bright future of responsible and clean energy.
For more information, www.resolutionenergycolorado.com.
Scridb filterGo Green Flooring Offers Sustainable & Beautiful Choices
Amid a growing concern for the environment and our health, sustainable and healthy products have moved into the consumer mainstream. Go Green Flooring in Boulder has been moving in the direction of sustainable and renewable product alternatives for it’s customers for over 15 years.
Go Green Flooring is a family-owned business that specializes in an array of environmentally friendly flooring and countertop products for both residential and commercial use. Owners Jerry and Brenda Steele encourage their customers to look at the many green alternatives now available at affordable prices. Jerry has been in the flooring industry for 40 years, and is an expert in many aspects of textiles, especially rugs from all regions of the world. Tom Martin, who has been with the business for over 20 years, is very knowledgeable in the industry and can offer expert advice and help customers determine which products are best suited for their needs.
Go Green focuses mainly on sustainable flooring. When we opened our doors in 1983, our focus was on wool carpet and area rugs. Over the years, we began looking closely at other types of sustainable and more eco-friendly flooring. We now offer products such as recycled-content synthetic carpets, low and no-VOC pads, cork, bamboo, Marmoleum and glass & recycled content glass tiles. We just recently added eco-friendly countertop materials – Bamboo and Vetrazzo.
The Steeles “most definitely” notice a trend toward eco-friendly products. There has been a remarkable interest just in the past two years. The younger generation is raising their families in Boulder, focusing on healthier, more sustainable products, and making their indoor environments healthier by doing so. The eco-friendly products are just as durable and beautiful – even more so than the other types of flooring. By asking questions and discussing goals and budgets with our customers, we can quickly help find the best choices.
We pride ourselves in offering exceptional customer service, and offer free estimates and design services. We have expert installation crews who have been with us more than 20 years. We have installers for carpet and hard surface, who are certified & insured, and have extensive experience. Go Green Flooring offers a lifetime warranty on all installations, no matter what the product is.
Cork and wool carpet are the top sellers at Go Green Flooring. Cork is very popular in Boulder, as cork is the more sustainable flooring product. It is also anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, making it suitable for any room in the home, especially kitchens. Cork has a “softer” feel underfoot, and comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors to coordinate with almost any décor. Contrary to what most consumers think, cork is not a “soft” floor, and is extremely durable and easy to maintain.
Another big seller is SmartStrand carpet, which is made in part from renewable sources – specifically corn sugar. It is one of the softest & durable carpets on the market today. SmartStrand carpets offer a lifetime stain warranty, which makes it especially popular with active families with children and pets.
Go Green Flooring specializes in wool carpet. We sell more wool carpet than synthetic, primarily because wool is a natural fiber. Wool has inherent stain and soil resistant properties and will actually improve the indoor air quality of a home. Go Green offers all-natural biodegradable wools, which are completely dye and VOC free. These are particularly important aspects for consumers with allergies or who are chemically sensitive. Put a low or no-VOC pad under your carpet choice, and you are on your way to a healthier home.
We’re always looking for new products to offer our customers. There are lots of green products available today, and it’s important to us that we can offer flooring alternatives which are not only healthier, sustainable and friendlier to the consumer, but also friendlier to the environment. We are always looking at the entire life cycle of a product, and the impact on the environment in terms of manufacturing and discarding.
Visit Go Green’s showroom and see for yourself the large selection of eco-friendly flooring and countertop products for your home.
Go Green Flooring, 5485 Western Avenue, Boulder
303.440.4442, www.gogreenflooring.com
Boulder Creek Life and Home
With roots that go back more than 30 years in Boulder County, Boulder Creek Life and Home was building homes before “green” practices were widely considered in the housing industry.
“A long time ago, we made a commitment to build all of our homes to Built Green standards,” recalls company principal David Gregg, who guides the architecture, project development and community planning. “As we analyzed the requirements, we discovered that in many instances, we were already building to those standards. We tweaked some of our construction specifications, and created some new efficiencies in our methods. Overall, going green was a pretty easy transition for us.”
To understand the full impact of Boulder Creek Life and Home’s commitment to green building, consider this: every home it builds meets or exceeds Built Green standards. And the builder is doing this in six different Front Range communities, every day, across every price point.
“What we do is utilize proven and practical green building techniques and materials, bringing them into the mainstream to create homes that deliver high value and lower energy costs,” explains David Sinkey, vice president and co-owner. “This allows us to do more with each home, and to do more of them.”
Gregg says it all comes down to the details. “The insulation we use, the type of windows, the framing techniques and the way we seal the homes to prevent air leakage, it all requires strong field coordination and the willingness to follow through, to make sure that all the steps are done right.”
Low-E glazed windows and blown-in cellulose insulation make your home easy to heat and a breeze to cool, lowering your annual cost for heating and cooling your home year in and year out. Two-by-six framing is standard instead of the two-by-fours you’ll find elsewhere, creating sturdier, deeper walls that hold more insulation and are more soundproof.
At two points during each home’s construction, an independent third-party construction observation company inspects each home to ensure it is being built to code and to Boulder Creek Life and Home standards, Gregg says. “They conduct a pre-drywall inspection, checking the ducts, caulking and sealing.”
This dedication to quality construction and design earned Boulder Creek Life and Home nationwide recognition in 2008 when the National Association of Home Builders recognized the Blue Vista community in Longmont with a Development of the Year Award for “excellence in green residential design and construction practices, and outstanding green advocacy efforts.”
Me? Buy a home? Don’t miss the My First Home Expo on Saturday, Feb. 27
Are you considering your first home purchase? Boulder Creek Life and Home invites you to an exciting and informative event, designed to help you get the information you need to make an informed home buying decision. Attend free seminars on financial planning, lending practices, tax credits and organizing your first home – each presented by professionals who are recognized experts in their field.
Enjoy a free barbecue lunch and refreshments, and watch the home energy efficiency demonstrations by Home Performance Solutions (complete with a blower door test and thermal imaging). Register to win one of several iPod Nanos. And you’ll be helping a good cause just by attending, since the event sponsors will donate $20 to the Emergency Family Assistance Association for every registered attendee.
Expo sponsors include Boulder Creek Life and Home, Taylor Moving Company, County Line Lumber Company and Advantage Bank.
My First Home Expo will be held at Kingsbridge Townhomes, 1656 Venice Lane, Longmont. For more information and directions, call 303.502.5338 or e-mail info@LiveKingsbridge.com.
Scridb filterNorthfield Commons and Northfield Village
Boulder’s newest neighborhood featuring Energy Star® homes, duplexes, row houses, town homes and condo lofts near trails, shops and restaurants. Learn more at NorthfieldCommonsBoulder.com.
Colorado’s natural beauty – blue sky, sunshine, mountain vistas – is the backdrop for Northfield Commons.
The Cottages at Erie Village
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Boulder Creek Life and Home
The past year has seen a virtual reshuffling of the deck in the world of business.
Brand-name companies have gone through cycles of downsizing or simply ceased to exist. The housing industry has been no exception, as major homebuilders have scaled back developments or left the marketplace entirely.
Amidst the turmoil, however, local homebuilder and community developer Boulder Creek Life and Home has stayed the course, focused on creating vibrant neighborhoods with innovative, Built Green® homes and low-maintenance living. And more than merely surviving, the builder has actually found this to be a time of growth and innovation.
“I actually like how this market has challenged the traditional ways we manage our business,” says sales and marketing manager Paul Gortzig. “We have remained focused on our core principles, and more so, we have stayed focused on our homebuyers. The challenges we experienced led us to innovative solutions to not only manage our business, but also to find ways to grow our business. In a time when other companies have been downsizing their staff, we have steadily grown our team with talented professionals.” The National Homebuilding industry has taken notice as well, bestowing the company with a Development of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders.
Gortzig reports that the local home market is turning around, evidenced by sustained interest and sales at each of the homebuilder’s neighborhoods. “People are acting with confidence on plans that they had put aside for a while,” says Gortzig. “The activity Boulder Creek has experienced in the fourth quarter of last year supports the confidence and optimism we have moving into 2010. It’s an exciting time.”
Founded more than three decades ago, Boulder Creek Life and Home’s active lifestyle communities now include The Heritage at Vista Ridge in Erie, Erie Village, Blue Vista and Shadow Grass Park in Longmont, and Calmante in Superior.
Announcing a New Active Lifestyle Community in Longmont
Adding to its already impressive portfolio, Boulder Creek Life and Home now announces Kingsbridge, a community in the Renaissance neighborhood in Longmont, which will include 134 townhomes at build-out. Four floor plans offer two or three bedrooms with 1,400 to nearly 1,800 finished square feet. Each residence also includes a private two-car attached garage. Unlike condominiums, homeowners own both the townhome and the land it sits on.
“This location in southwest Longmont is ideal for people working in Boulder, at IBM or other tech jobs along the Diagonal Highway corridor,” says Brent Patterson, sales manager for Kingsbridge. “And it’s just minutes from retail centers and community amenities.
“We are offering these homes at very attractive introductory prices to the first 10 homebuyers. We have created undeniable value with the intention of making a big splash in the market. When people see this incredible value at Kingsbridge, we are very confident they will respond.”
Like every home Boulder Creek Life and Home builds, each will be constructed to Built Green standards, with 2×6 framing, low-e windows, composite sidings and decks, Energy Star® appliances, centrally located, high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, and air-sealed building envelopes to ensure maximum insulation value.
The company has taken the standard of green building far beyond “concept” and “experimental” homes. “We can build a well-designed, energy-efficient home without having to add 15 or 20 percent to the cost,” says company co-owner David Sinkey. “We know it’s not about living with less – it’s about living better.”
Visit the models at Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is located in West Longmont just off Airport Road in Boulder County. Three models are now open for your visit.
From Boulder: Head northeast on CO-119 (Diagonal Highway). Turn left (north) on Airport Road. After 1 mile turn left (west) onto Venice Lane. Look for the blue flags. The Sales Center is on the north side of Venice Lane.
From Longmont: Head southwest on CO-119 (Diagonal Highway). Turn right (north) on Airport Road. After 1 mile turn left (west) onto Venice Lane.
From Denver: Head north on I-25 to Exit 240. Turn left (west) on CO-119. Head west through Longmont for 10 miles. Turn right (north) on Airport Road. After 1 mile turn left (west) onto Venice Lane.
The Sales Center is open Monday noon to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment.
For more information, call 303.502.5338 or visit www.LiveBoulderCreek.com.
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