One of the exciting criteria we hear quite a bit from our clients is a request for us to help them find a downtown Denver condo or loft that helps them live a green lifestyle. A great deal of that is simply location. It may involve living close to the light rail station or bike trails so they can leave their cars parked or it might simply mean living in Downtown Denver footsteps from their office.
But another factor is the construction of the building. This includes the methods for heating and cooling (and utility bills later), the materials in construction, the air quality, and much much more. It's a big deal. And for many it's on the "must have" list when selecting their new downtown Denver condo or loft. Unfortunately, just like there can be mislabeling in foods and other products many real estate developments throw around the words "green" or "sustainable" without any real basis. That is why the U.S. Green Building Council established a LEED® certification project. Real Estate Development projects must qualify in specific criteria and be awarded points for each goal met. These areas may be air or water quality, materials, location, and more. If you don't meet the point score you don't qualify. This third party measuring system ensures that for a project to meet LEED® qualification it really is truly green.
And SPIRE is one such building. As mentioned in this article SPIRE qualifies not only as a LEED® qualified building but also as one of the largest LEED® certified buildings in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. And it's right here in Denver. Just one of the many many reasons so many of our clients have selected SPIRE as their new home in Downtown Denver.
Here are some excepts from the official release about areas where SPIRE scored points..
• Over 90% of all regularly occupied spaces provide direct line of sight views and access to daylight.• 100% Green Power, renewable energy contract to provide renewable electricity for the building.• 61.4% reduction in potable water consumption from a calculated baseline by using native plants, drip irrigation and moisture sensors.• 26.5% reduction in potable water use due to utilization of reduced-flow lavatory, kitchen sink faucets and shower heads, dual flush toilets, and waterless urinals.• Improved Indoor Environmental Quality through enhanced air filtration, low-emitting materials for paint, coatings and carpets.• Commitment to recycling with a dedicated single stream recycling chute located on all occupied floors.• Transportation options that augment a 97/100 walk score (one of the highest scores in Denver) include 180+ bike racks, motor scooter and motorcycle parking, discounts on Low Emission Vehicle Parking spaces, Connect by Hertz car sharing service located in the ground and adjacency to RTD light rail and the city’s B-Cycle program.