Community News

“Turn off the lights” is a familiar saying in most homes.  As a society, we use a tremendous amount of energy on a daily basis, but recently more attention has been given to preservation and increased efficiency, both due to the cost involved and because it is the right thing to do.  Standard changes include increasing insulation and upgrading windows, using compact fluorescent bulbs, replacing air filters on furnaces on a regular basis, and turning down your water heater thermostat.  There are many rebates, tax credits and incentives available to encourage trying these steps.

On a larger scale, homes and buildings are being designed, built, or retrofitted to take advantage of energy efficient features, going as far as being certified.  A brief lesson about LEED, which stands for “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design”, is that it is an internationally recognized certification program in which buildings must meet certain benchmarks via a point system to ensure that all of the green features are operating as designed.  It can be applied to any commercial or residential project, whether new construction or major renovation.  There are five categories that are scored – Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.  Additionally, there are four different levels that a building can be qualified – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  One common misconception is that building green will increase the cost of construction or remodeling, but using common sense design from the start plus the decreased operation and maintenance costs and long term return on investment can all add up to a great decision. 

We are fortunate enough to live in an area that has many favorable examples of green construction.  The Bozeman Public Library, completed in November 2006, was the first LEED certified public building in Montana (Silver level) and features a solar energy system at 17 kilowatts.  Other projects include the Big Sky Health and Fitness Center (Gold), MSU Gaines Hall Renovation (Silver), Morrison Maierle, Inc. (Gold), and Xanterra Parks & Resorts in Gardiner (Certified).  The newest example is the Safeway supermarket located at the corner of 19th Avenue and Main Street which opened the first week of December.  It is the first LEED certified supermarket in the entire state of Montana.  Features include storm water management, refrigeration techniques, and interior lights being managed for appropriate usage, among many others. 

Bozeman also boasts several significant renovation projects that are quite astounding.  Most recent is the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s renovation of the former Gallatin Valley Seed Company building on South Wallace Avenue.  The design allowed for the building to be retrofitted as a LEED certified commercial building upon full completion.  The property just completed the installation of a 23.5 kilowatt solar electric system to utilize Bozeman’s shining natural resource.  And the city of Bozeman announced at a rededication ceremony on January 13, 2012, that the new City Hall (old library) is receiving LEED certification.  The $2.3 million renovation completed in 2008 included adding a second story, complete with solar panels on the roof and a new mechanical system.  This is the first existing municipal building in Montana to be LEED certified.

In 2008, a local Bozeman home became the first LEED certified residence in the state of Montana.  The house used eco sensitive paint and flooring, recycled deck materials, and fiber and cement shingles.  Outside, the property’s landscaping utilized native and drought tolerant plants along with an efficient irrigation system.  By mid-2011, there were over 10,000 LEED certified homes nationwide. 

A different qualification for Green homes comes in the form of ENERGY STAR Blue, a government backed verification for energy efficiency.  The Environmental Protection Agency has set guidelines with regards to features that will decrease utility bills, improve indoor air quality, and assist with protecting the environment as a whole.  The improvements included generally lead to savings of hundreds of dollars per year.

An interesting website to peruse is www.bozemanhouse.com which also includes a section of local builders and subcontractors who specialize in different areas of green building and could be a good starting point if you are interested in exploring the option of new construction or remodeling with efficiency in mind.  Please note that I don’t guarantee this is a complete list of resources.  The Southwest Montana Building Industry Association (SWMBIA) has a Green Building Committee which is active in providing resources and information, including how to make sure that energy efficient features are properly credited during the appraisal process.  An interesting quote from their website is “Did you know: In the first year of construction, a new home built in 2010 will spend 46% less on energy than the same sized home in 1990, after adjusting for inflation.”  That’s great news for the building industry and homeowners in general.  Additionally, the National Association of Realtors® has created a GREEN designation for training real estate professionals how to look for and understand green features when dealing with properties. 

On a related front, Governor Brian Schweitzer just announced that over 6,800 Montana homes have been weatherized for increased energy efficiency in part due to benefits from the 2009 Recovery Act.  The program is financed by the Department of Energy and gives tax credits for purchases that contribute to energy conservation or alternative energy systems.  Though the program is quite lengthy and detailed, the bottom line is that Governor Schweitzer reported that the average family can save $400 in the first year alone.