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Building High-Performance Homes

This is a toolkit for those households faced with rebuilding after the 2021 Marshall Fire. It contains resources for planning, designing, and constructing a high-performance home that is more resilient to future climate crises. This website is produced and maintained by EnergySmart, Boulder County’s neutral residential energy advising service, in collaboration with Boulder County, the City of Louisville, and the Town of Superior.

The website is a work in progress and will be updated as more resources become available.

Overwhelmed by where to begin?

EnergySmart New Homes Building Advisor Live Office Hours

July 14th and 28th and August 11 and 25th | 9:00am-12:00pm

Marshall ROC 357 McCaslin Blvd, Suite 115-B, Louisville

Chapter 1

Healthy Home

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Chapter 2

Resilient Home

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Chapter 3

Rebates & Incentives

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Chapter 4

Finding Your Team

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Chapter 5

Materials & Equipment

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Chapter 6

Landscaping & Outdoor

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COMPARISON OF HOME PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATIONS AND INCENTIVES

For an overview of the certifications and incentives for high-performance homes please visit the link below. It is arranged by building certification type, increasing performance, comfort, and efficiency from left to right.

EEBC and EnergySmart’s Marshall Fire Home Performance Comparison
Have Questions?

Stories of Rebuilding

We’ve been dedicated to building high performing, all electric homes for over two decades. While the current labor and materials issues in the construction industry present significant challenges that we have not faced in recent history, we believe, with the right design decisions and construction knowledge, a home in Boulder County can be built today that is all electric, zero energy for negligible cost increase beyond the typical code minimum building.

Brian Fuentes, Green Architect who lost his home in Marshall Fire

One of the greatest advantages of building to a high-performance standard, is the built-in resilience and durability that comes with an airtight, well insulated home. My home was very close to others that burned in the Marshall Fires. Because of the air sealing strategies that were employed during my energy retrofit, I had no smoke damage or even smoke smell after the fires. Because we had a whole house ventilation system installed in the home, after we returned from the fires, we were able to live in our home with filtered fresh air, even when the outside air was still heavy with smoke and toxins.

Mark Attard, Green Builder evacuated during Marshall Fire

After losing our home in the Marshall Fire, we plan to rebuild with a goal of constructing a net-zero energy home. The last thing anyone needs are construction hurdles and added expense during the rebuilding process, however, I am confident that after rebates, incentives and discounts, we will be able to reach this goal with no, or nominal incremental expense. And the resulting reduction in utility costs will pay dividends for years to come. Plus we’ll have a new home that’s warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Greg Harms, Louisville Resident who lost his home in Marshall Fire

Stories & Resources

Resilient Rebuilds

Many homeowners affected by the Marshall Fire are in the process of rebuilding their homes and other structures that were lost in the fire. These videos are intended to serve as an inspiration and a source of information for those who are considering electrification as part of their rebuilding efforts. The speakers are Boulder County residents who, though not directly impacted by the Fire, have decided to add electrified elements to their homes and feel passionately about sharing the benefits they’ve experienced with others considering doing the same.

Check out their stories below!

Sue Anderson – Unincorporated Boulder County

Sue Anderson is a resident of unincorporated Boulder County. She and her wife have spent decades electrifying elements of their home – from the heat pump to the induction stove – supplementing with solar energy along the way. Rising temperatures due to climate change were a major motivator for Sue as she worked to electrify her home. And while there is initial expense associated with electrification, the short and long-term benefits like lower heating and cooling costs and increased energy efficiency earn Sue’s “1000% endorsement.”

Sue’s story

Emily Jacobson – Longmont, Colorado

Emily Jacobsen and her family live in Longmont, Colorado. When their furnace died last winter, Emily was excited to replace it with an air-source heat pump, adding another electrified appliance to their home in addition to the solar panels that they’d installed on the roof. Emily believes that our reliance on fossil fuels isn’t sustainable and that we have the technology right now to move away from them. With the resources and subsidies available to homeowners, she says that electrification “is for everyone.”

Emily’s story

Robert Stephens – Superior, Colorado

Robert Stephens lives in Superior, Colorado. For the health of his family and the planet, Robert has set out to electrify various elements of his home – from replacing a gas stove and oven to electric induction, to installing an electric hot water heater and creating infrastructure to charge electric vehicles at home. As a result, he’s been able to reduce the number of bills he pays each month and see an overall reduction in cost. Even though the steps feel relatively small, they add up over time. Community investment in electrification matters in the fight against climate change.

Robert’s story

Training Opportunity

Colorado Green Building Guild

The Colorado Green Building Guild (CGBG), with support from Boulder County, is hosting a year-long series on rebuilding. CGBG is a non-profit organization based in Boulder County that is run by volunteer building professionals (architects, builders, engineers, and building science interested individuals).

Financing Opportunity

Xcel Energy Incentives for Rebuilding

Xcel Energy is offering one-time incentives specifically for those who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire. If you are a fire-affected resident who previously had an Xcel Energy account, consider one of several ways to incorporate energy efficiency from the ground up as you begin the process of rebuilding your home.