Boulder County Paradigm Pilot Project

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Paradigm Pilot Project’s intention was to deliver a sustainable systems-built home that was 70 percent more energy efficient than a 1990 Uniform Building Code Home. This affordable model home could then be replicated throughout the country, depending less on fossil fuel, capitalizing on renewable energy and reducing green house gas. The project was constructed on a location that had once housed the maintenance operations for the Boulder County Housing Authority. This site was seen as an ideal location, chosen sue to its solar south orientation that was ideal for testing and establishing an affordable housing template that would combine a holistic application of renewable energy, replicable systems-built assembly and use of advanced energy efficient technology. The project included the construction of a single-family home and duplex unit in the city of Lafayette in eastern Boulder County. Ultimately, the systems-built development took half the time to complete as compared to traditional stick frame construction. The project also provided the opportunity to set up a green jobs training program. Through this training program, an unskilled labor force was taught to build an insulated concrete form foundation where the highly efficient systems-built home was set. Builders also learned how to install a geothermal system and photovoltaic panels. The Paradigm Pilot Project was a collaborative effort, led by Boulder County Housing Authority, Workforce Boulder County and a small technical assistance through the 2008 Solar American Cities grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Staff from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory served as technical directors.