Info Archives - Sopris Homes

Tesla Solar Roof

Written by [email protected] on August 30, 2021. Posted in Info, News, Product.

Check out this solar roof by Tesla being installed in a new custom Sopris Home in Boulder, Colorado. This design of this home has roots in our highly popular Aspen model and it is the second home we have built for these clients. The roof was installed by Weddle and Sons Roofing, a highly skilled roofer and Tesla specialist based in Manhattan, KS with multiple regional offices.

As you might have guessed, this home will have a Tesla battery system or Powerwall in addition to a geo-thermal heating and cooling system. This is a super efficient house to say the least.

There is growing interest in Solar Roofing Systems in many our new homes. Many people also take solace in not being dependent on the power grid in addition to having a clean energy source that is better for the environment and can add to the overall appeal of the home. Which solar system is right for you depends on a variety of individual factors. If you are a fan of Tesla cars or the brand in general, you’ll probably will be a fan of their Solar Roofing Systems.

Perhaps some advantages to Tesla over other solar options may be in both design and durability. To learn more about the Tesla Solar Roof you can visit the link below. In the meantime, Sopris Homes will continue to be a leader high-performance new home construction on Colorado’s front range.

https://www.tesla.com/solarroof

Custom Sopris home with Apollo Solar tiles

Sopris featured in Solar Builder Magazine for new net-zero build

Written by [email protected] on August 8, 2019. Posted in Info, News.

Sopris homes was featured in the July issue of Solar Builder Magazine for one of our recent net-zero new homes using CertainTeed’s Apollo® Tile II concrete-tile integrated solar roofing system—a first for the state of Colorado. In case you missed it here is an excerpt:

Boulder, Colorado-based Sopris Homes has been in the business of high-performance luxury homes for the past 25 years. According to Sopris Homes President John Stevens, as more communities desire and even require solar on new home construction, finding solar products that are both functional and attractive is a growing challenge for builders.

“In some areas, we’re mandated to use solar,” said Stevens. “In other areas, it’s a choice. Most people don’t voluntarily pay for solar on new home construction because for most, it’s not considered an aesthetic improvement.”

When Stevens was contracted to build a 5150 square-foot, five-bedroom net-zero home in the Portico Subdivision near Longmont, Colo., solar roofing was a very necessary part of the equation. Looking for a solution to complement concrete tile roof more subtle than the traditional rack-and-panel solar system, Stevens turned to CertainTeed’s Apollo® Tile II concrete-tile integrated solar roofing system—a first for the state of Colorado.

“I’m not aware of anything like it on the market here,” said Stevens referring to concrete-tile integrated solar systems. “You get the savings of solar energy generation and you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetic quality to get it.”

Unlike a traditional rack-mounted system, Stevens used solar tiles integrated among concrete roofing tiles, creating a seamless roof surface that also serves as a tool for energy generation. According to Stevens, the roof incorporated 229 solar tiles, each with power rating of 63 watts of per tile.

Along with energy-saving mechanical systems and insulation techniques, concrete-tile integrated solar helped the Portico Subdivision home win a Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) residential installation award. With on-site solar generation, the home achieves a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index score of -5. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the home’s estimated annual energy cost is -$392—meaning the home generates more energy than it uses.

Like any newer product, there is an installation learning curve. Stevens said installing concrete-tile integrated solar was “a new experience for everyone,” but that CertainTeed’s team of local installers and trainers worked closely with Sopris Homes to make sure the installation was a success.

“The solar installer hadn’t used the product before,” said Stevens. “CertainTeed worked hard to make sure the installation was smooth and was there to answer questions. It was a great learning experience for everyone.”

Stevens said there is a lot going on under and on the roof of the Portico Subdivision home. To the average passerby, however, it looks like any other similarly-priced home in the neighborhood, he said.

“The homeowner has gotten a lot of nice comments about the roof,” said Stevens. “From a distance, it looks just like a regular concrete tile roof. People are surprised to learn that it is generating energy.”

New Sales Center Coming August

Written by [email protected] on June 3, 2019. Posted in Communities, Info, News.

Sopris Homes is excited to announce our new sales center coming in August. The plan will be our Masonville Model, a contemporary two-story plan with 4 bedrooms, study, 3.5 baths, study, great room, bonus loft, 3-car garage. The center is located within Heron Lakes community in Berthoud, Colorado.

We chose Heron Lakes for our new sales center for its central front range location in proximity to Boulder, Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins. In addition, it is very near other great communities Sopris builds new homes including Longs Peak Farm (2 miles from Heron Lakes) and The Farm at Woodridge (10 miles from Heron Lakes).

Of course beauty and recreation is the main attraction at Heron Lakes which frames TPC Colorado – an 18-hole championship golf course. In addition, the master planed community offers lots of recreation packed activities including hiking, biking, fishing, boating and wildlife viewing amid abundant protected open space.

Directions To Heron Lakes

From Denver, take I-25 north to Exit 250. Head west through Berthoud and then take a right onto Berthoud Parkway. Head north until you get to Grand Market Avenue and take a right to enter Heron Lakes at TPC Colorado.

Sales center address:

2839 Heron Lakes Parkway
Berthoud, CO 80513

Note: This address is in a new community and may not be pinned on all GPS map overlays yet. Once the sales center is open, please contact Sopris Homes for specific directions if you are unable to locate the address in your navigation.

Heron Lakes Master Plan

For more on Heron Lakes visit: https://www.heronlakescommunity.com/community

Sopris is committed to building 100% Energy Star Certified Homes which acknowledges our continued commitment to design, quality and performance in every way. Come check out this model this summer to see for yourself the Sopris Difference in everything we do.

For more information contact John Stevens, Sopris Homes at ‭(303) 527-0000‬ or email [email protected].

100% Energy Star

Written by [email protected] on March 29, 2019. Posted in Awards, Info, News.

Committed all the way!

Sopris Homes is pleased to officially announce our 100% commitment to ENERGY STAR in 2019. All of the homes that we will build earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification. In fact, Sopris Homes is currently one of only three 100% Energy Star Builders in the Boulder area (the other two being large production builders).

ENERGY STAR certified homes are at least 10% more energy efficient than homes built to code and achieve a 20% improvement on average, while providing homeowners with better quality, performance, and comfort. By making this commitment, we have earned this special EPA recognition.

We see this 100% ENERGY STAR commitment as a true mark of leadership among elite American home builders. It’s also reinforces our commitment to excellence and green building we have had for more than 25 years not to mention lower utility bills and greater home comfort for our clients and protecting our environment.

Homes earning the ENERGY STAR label are designed and built to standards well above most other homes on the market today. When ENERGY STAR’s rigorous requirements are applied to new home construction, the result is a home built better from the ground up, delivering better durability, better comfort, and reduced utility and maintenance costs. Features of an ENERGY STAR certified home include:

• A Complete Thermal Enclosure System — Comprehensive air sealing, properly installed insulation, and high-performance windows work together to enhance comfort, improve durability, reduce maintenance costs, and lower monthly utility bills.

• A Complete Heating and Cooling System — High-efficiency systems that are engineered and installed to deliver more comfort, better moisture control, improved indoor air quality, and quieter operation.

• A Complete Water Management System — A comprehensive package of best building practices and materials protects roofs, walls and foundations from water damage, provides added protection, and reduces the risk of indoor air quality problems.

• Energy-Efficient Lighting and Appliances — ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, appliances, and fans are commonly installed throughout ENERGY STAR certified homes, helping to reduce monthly utility bills, while providing high-quality performance.

More About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For over 25 years, EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has been America’s resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Join the millions already making a difference at energystar.gov. More background information about ENERGY STAR can be found at energystar.gov/about and energystar.gov/numbers.

Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped save American families and businesses over $450 billion and over 3.5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity while also achieving broad emissions reductions—all through voluntary action.

For more information about the Sopris Homes Commitment to building 100% ENERGY STAR Homes contact:
John Stevens, President (303) 527-0000.

Solar Roofing Tiles

Written by [email protected] on January 7, 2019. Posted in Info, Product.

As a leader in high-performance energy efficient homes in Colorado for over two decades, Sopris Homes is often asked what’s up with the much hyped Tesla Solar Roof Shingles that Elon Musk promised us back in 2016?

If you ask ask around, including inquiries to Tesla you’ll get many answers. We have yet to use the Tesla Solar Shingles, but we have used the Apollo® II by CertainTeed on an award-winning new home in Boulder, CO last year.

One advantage of the CertainTeed solar roofing shingles its Apollo II solar shingles have been available for about five years now. New products are great, but they are better when they have been tested outside of Southern California or their test homes. CertainTeed is an old company with a new name; it was originally (in 1904) General Roofing Manufacturing Company. Now, it’s a subsidiary of building product company Saint-Gobain, and it specializes not just in roofing but other building products as well.

Apollo II Solar shingles by CertainTeed

Apollo II also functions as your roof, generating clean power while protecting your home from water intrusion. Features include:

• Efficiency: 14 high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells provide a power rating of 60 watts per solar shingle.
• Simplicity: Apollo II solar shingles are installed directly into the roof sheathing using standard deck screws.
• Lightweight: The Apollo II system weighs about as many pounds per square foot as a typical asphalt shingle.
• Durable: Even though Apollo II shingles are lightweight, they are designed to be strong. The solar shingles have been tested and rated to withstand 250 pounds per square foot.
• Wind resistant: The Apollo II system achieves the highest wind rating available for roofing materials and can be installed in wind zones of up to 150 miles per hour.
• Watertight: Water channels and raised fastener locations provide added protection against water intrusion. CertainTeed was a roofing company before a solar company so they can manufacture a system that doesn’t leak.

Sopris Homes knows that there will be many advancements in solar technology in the years to come and as an innovator in energy efficiency and home building we’ll keep you posted on the latest trends as what works best for us.

For more about CertainTeed Apollo II Solar Shingles visit: https://www.certainteed.com/solar/products/apollo-ii/

For more about solar energy in Colorado visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/energyoffice/solar

Winter Energy Saving Tips

Written by [email protected] on December 27, 2018. Posted in Info.

Here are some reminders from the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office on ways to save energy during the winter months. It will not only save you some money for more lift tickets, it’s the right thing to do.

• Start by setting your thermostat to 68°. Your heating system will operate less and use less energy. Program your thermostat to be down 5° at night or when leaving your home for an hour or more. Also remember to turn your thermostat down when you are leaving for the weekend or extended stay.

• Set your water heater to 120°. It’s simple. Your water heater won’t have to work so hard if it’s set at a lower temperature. In fact, each time you lower the temperature by 10°F you’ll save 3–5% on your water heating costs.

For a small investment consider adding a water heater blanket to your water heater tank to insulate the tank and reduce the amount of energy used to maintain warm water in the water heater tank. Be sure to follow your manufacturer’s recommendations.

• Make the most of Mother Nature’s sunlight by opening window coverings on south-facing windows to warm your home. Also, consider closing window coverings in rooms that receive no direct sunlight to further insulate from the cold. At night, close window coverings to retain more heat. Up to 15% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows, but the solar heat gain from the sun during the day can conserve valuable energy.

• Wash your clothes with cold water when you can. According to ENERGY STAR, washing clothes in cold water will save you about $40 a year with an electric water heater and about $30 a year with a gas water heater.

• Replace your furnace or heat pump filter regularly. Dirty filters reduce airflow, making your equipment work harder and use more energy.

• If you don’t already, install water-efficient shower heads and faucets. It really helps! 1.8 gallon per minute showerheads can reduce your hot water consumption by as much as 10%.

• Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. They cost a little more, but you can save about $40 over the life of just one bulb.

Make sure your appliances are ENERGY STAR® rated. The savings really add up over the life of the appliance.

For more visit: https://www.colorado.gov/energyoffice

A Primer on Performance

Written by [email protected] on July 19, 2018. Posted in Info.

A primer on high-performance homes

‘High performance homes’ is a term that’s tossed around a lot. We find that there is a lot of variation on exactly what it means or the benefits of owning a high performance home. Here is a very basic primer on what a high performance home is. You can be sure with investments and innovation the definition will continue to evolve.

Sopris Homes was one of the very first high-performance home builders in all Colorado and we’ve got years of experience designing and building high performance homes. Let’s look at a few things we like to think of when we consider a high performance home.

The Energy Act 2005 defines a ‘high performance building’ as one that “integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building attributes,
including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity.”

From this definition, it’s clear that a high performance home will not just be energy efficient, but will also incorporate much wider sustainability, durability, safety and cost-in-use features. If you’re not a technical expert, this is a lot to consider when designing and building your new performance home in Colorado.

Energy efficiency

A core element of a high performance home is energy efficiency. Building a home with a great thermal performance is a no-brainer. You get a more comfortable home, low energy bills and help tackle climate change. There’s no reason not to do it.

Residential energy use accounts for around 21 percent of total energy consumption in the U.S. in 2017. By building beyond building code standards we can create warm, toasty homes that don’t tax your children’s earth to run.

We focus first on creating an insulated, air-tight building envelope. Then we look to spec high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and incorporate renewable technologies where possible.

When speaking about energy efficiency and new technologies, solar roofing tiles come to mind. In a 2017 project Sopris Homes implemented CertainTeed Apollo II roofing tiles that were (1) the first Zero Energy project in Colorado to use this new solar roofing tile, (2) the largest residential solar shingle project in Colorado, (3) the first solar shingle project on a concrete tile roof, and (4) the first solar shingle project on a net zero home project. Being innovative and taking bold steps towards high performance building is nothing new to Sopris.

Health and air quality

When we think of air pollution, we don’t really consider it in the context of our homes. But a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that the air inside buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air especially near populated areas.

Its important to specify a high-performance ventilation system to prevent the build-up of indoor pollutants. Our homes are also built using materials, paints, and sealants with a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) content.

Remember, form follows function so a high performance home shouldn’t just look good; it should feel good first and foremost.

Durability and resilience

We want your home to last not just one lifetime, but several lifetimes. Durability is a factor in every decision we take on materials, finishes and construction methods for a project. We seek out more resilient alternatives to traditional products, like wood sidings or rock that may look natural but but is more durable and requires less maintenance.

It’s important to consider the whole-life cost of products when setting your budget for your home. Using durable products may mean a slightly higher up-front cost, but better value over the long term.

Digitally embedded

Consideration of technology in home design used to be just about making sure there were enough power and communication outlets. But all this has changed. With the growth of ‘smart’ home technologies, our heating and cooling systems, appliances, entertainment and security systems can be linked together and controlled from a simple phone app. So you can interact with your home even when you’re on the move.

Life cycle of the building

Environmental performance is not just about reducing the energy consumption of the home. Taking a whole life cycle approach means you look at all the environmental impacts relating to the construction and use of your home.

So what does this mean? Well, it means looking at the materials that go into constructing the home, and how they’re produced and disposed of. It means thinking about how the building will need to perform not just now but ten, twenty or even fifty years into the future.

For example, there are various different types of cladding and siding you could use. A whole life cycle approach considers the durability of these materials and maintenance costs to determine which material is the best value over the lifetime of the home.

Optimal design

Though not part of the formal definition, in our eyes a high performance home must be aesthetically pleasing. Your home doesn’t need to be a contemporary, modern design (though many high performance homes are). Depending on your location, a classic design may fit in better with your surroundings.

The key to designing your perfect home is making sure it meets both your present and future needs. We incorporate design elements such as flexible living areas, linked indoor/outdoor spaces and smart home workstations to make sure your home can adapt as your life changes and integrates new technologies.

All a bit too much detail to think about? If you’re looking for a Colorado Home Builder who specializes in designing and building custom high performance homes, get in touch with Sopris Homes today to learn more.