Denver Among America's Greenest, Most Livable and Most Popular Cities

When it comes to green living, Boulder gets five stars for its commitment and ingenuity as I discussed in my last post. But it should be noted that as far as major metropolitan areas go, Denver ranks among the most environmentally friendly cities in the nation (as well as one of the most desirable to call home).

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released results of a study that sought to determine America's greenest skylines as reported Monday on Forbes.com. A city's ranking was determined by the number of Energy Star-certified commercial buildings and manufacturing plants.

Denver ranked as having the 7th greenest U.S. skyline with 109 Energy Star-certified buildings including the signature "cash-register looking" building that is the Wells Fargo Center.

According to the EPA, a total of 6,200 buildings have been awarded the Energy Star designation nationwide for an annual utility savings $1.7 billion for those buildings.

In the past week, Denver also has garnered attention in two other notable categories on Forbes.com's real estate section:

• On April 1, Denver was named No. 11 in Forbes' list of America's Most Livable Cities
  
  
• On March 30, Denver was ranked No. 10 in Forbes' list for Cities Where Americans Are Relocating.
  

That's good news for Denver's real estate market!

It's Green Year-Round In Boulder, Colorado

Even on those rare days when the Flatirons are socked in by clouds and the ground from Pearl Street to Chautauqua Park is covered in a blanket of snow, green is everywhere in Boulder, Colorado. By 'green' I mean eco-friendly ... a badge that Boulder has proudly worn even when "being green" wasn't a coast-to-coast corporate mantra. For example...

• Did you know that the Boulder Community Foothills Hospital is the first LEED-certified hospital in the country?


• Did you know that Boulder's 29th Street shopping district has designated preferred parking for hybrid vehicles?


• Did you know that CU-Boulder's Folsom Field is the country's first zero-waste collegiate football stadium?


• Did you know you can take a self-guided telephone tour of Boulder's commitment to green living?

I discovered these facts in a 16-page guide produced by Boulder's CVB. It's called "City of Boulder and Boulder County: Leading the Way in Green from Science to Sustainability" and is worth reading if you ever doubted Boulder's status as a 'green goddess'. Most relevant to the Boulder real estate industry is page 4 of the guide that discusses critical initiatives affecting property owners and builders...height restrictions, Boulder's mandatory 'Green Points Building' program and Boulder's approach to growth as its quality of life attracts droves of outsiders.

It's interesting reading no matter which side of the fence you're on when it comes to Boulder's bold approach to being green!

Boulder's Green Reputation Earns Presidential Praise

Denver was in the national spotlight yesterday when President Obama signed the $787 billion economic stimulus bill at Denver's Museum of Nature and Science. But for us Boulder residents, it was great to see Boulder earn some national stage time as the poster city for a greener future. Boulder businessman Blake Jones, who is the President and co-owner of Boulder's Namaste Solar, actually introduced President Obama and gave him and the Vice President a tour of the solar panel system that Namaste Solar installed at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. During his speech, President Obama acknowledged Boulder as "a community that is on pace to be the world’s first Smart Grid city."

Boulder's commitment to being a green city has certainly impacted the process (and cost) of home building and remodeling in Boulder. The city of Boulder was the first municipality in the United States to mandate a residential green code. That was in 1996 and the code was revised in 2001. Boulder City Council adopted the Boulder Green Points ordinance in November 2007 and it went in effect a year ago this month. Last November, new requirements were passed that increase energy efficiency in new commercial construction and residential remodels and additions. These requirements go into effect March 2.


While many home builders I work with have felt the financial pinch of the Green Points ordinance (it does cost more up front to build green), the silver lining - or should I say green lining - of Boulder's green building movement is a healthier and more sustainable city that will be among the nation's most desirable places to call home. Thus, Boulder will see a stable and growing real estate market and be a mecca for energy-related job opportunities.


Lastly, Boulder's environmental charge has helped inspire some incredible architecture and design that reflects the innate beauty of Boulder. I recently sold 'Boulder's Glass House' (pictured above) and have several other premier listings that are prime examples of the emergence of 'eco-architecture' in and around Boulder.