Ranchos project building green for Nevada

A Gardnerville Ranchos housing development has been selected as a pilot project to demonstrate energy efficiency and green building.

Heritage Nevada, a senior gated community by Kit Carson Development, features Energy Star-rated homes in the Job's Peak Cottages subdivision in the Ranchos.

"The Environmental Protection Agency selected our program as the pilot project on how to show the country how to use renewable, sustainable energy," said Jack Fleming, project manager of Kit Carson Development.

While energy-saving and green building principles are becoming more common in single home construction, Fleming said the Heritage Nevada project is a tract home format.

The Energy Star program was developed in 1992 through the U.S. Environmental Protection and Energy departments to rate energy-efficient products. The Energy Star label is on major appliances, lighting, home electronics and most recently has been added to new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.

"Energy Star projects save energy costs," said construction manager Pete Coates. "People are acknowledging that global changes are happening - by going Energy Star, it will affect this."

As well as Energy Star, Coates said new construction uses green building technologies.

Heritage Nevada is a certified builder through the U.S. Green Building Council in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system. Green building recognizes energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection and sustainable site development.

Homes in the Heritage Nevada project are built in an environmentally friendly way by reducing operating costs and conserving natural resources.

"The houses are built from Styrofoam blocks filled with concrete. It's clean - there's no sawdust, no cutting - they go together like Legos," said Coates.

"Sustainable means the product does not degrade the environment. We are reducing the carbon footprint."

Heritage Nevada's Job's Peak Cottages subdivision is at 1227 Kimmerling Road in the Gardnerville Ranchos. Information, 265-1177.

On the Web:

-- Energy Star at www.energystar.gov

-- LEED green building system at www.usgbc.org

-- www.heritagenevada.com