BigHorn Home Improvement Center

Jim Yost

Overview

• Location: Silverthorne, CO
• Building type(s): Retail, Commercial office, Industrial
• New construction
• 44,400 ft2 (4,130 m2)
• Project scope: a single building
• Suburban setting
• Completed April 2000
  The Center was constructed in three distinct phases. This description focuses only on the third phase.
• Rating: Green Building Challenge --Level: 2.6 in GB Tool 1.76

Built on a previously developed site in Silverthorne, CO, the BigHorn Home Improvement Center is an example of responsible development.

The Center was built in three phases. The third phase, housing a hardware store and lumber yard, is especially interesting to the green building audience and is the only portion discussed here.

A SMALL RETAIL BUILDING – Information from this case study was originally featured in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings for Climate Zone 7.

Environmental Aspects

This commercial facility features numerous energy-saving innovations. Extensive daylighting and natural ventilation cooling systems lower energy demand. Bragging a standing-seam roof-integrated photovoltaic system, the largest commercial PV array in the state, BigHorn has set up a net metering agreement to sell electricity back to the utility company.

Additionally, existing on-site wetland areas were expanded and utilized in the development of BigHorn's stormwater management plan.

The environmental design of the new construction is in keeping with BigHorn's commitment to green building. The Center specializes in green building products, technologies, and advice.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by Don and Betsy Sather, Charlie Cole, Corporation, for-profit
• Typically occupied by 95 people, 77 hours per person per week

Building Programs

Keywords

Integrated team, Green framework, Wetlands, Glazing, Passive solar, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Occupant recycling, Daylighting, Natural ventilation