Geos Green Community

     Overcoming the dependence on fossil fuels is a great challenge to many communities around the world. The average American home produces over seven tons of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that is a by-product of fossil fuels, each year. One community has made its reliance on fossil fuels a thing of the past. As the first fossil fuel free community in the United States, Geos, Colorado is powered by the heat inside the Earth and the warmth of the sun heating the outside of the Earth. Geos is also the largest master planned, net zero energy community in the United States.

     Geos is a green community comprised of four different neighborhoods; each neighborhood has something to offer. It is made to fit anyone’s choice of lifestyle with everything close to home. There are parks, playgrounds, private gardens, shops, and even views of a large meadow that has been nicknamed “the beach”. Approximately 250 homes are planned for the community and vary from townhouses and condos to single family homes;

     Using on-site geothermal and solar systems, the community is designed to supply 100% of its own energy needs. Designers even took into consideration the placement of each house so they can get the most out of the sun. The houses are built in a checkerboard pattern to minimize the shadows from a neighbor’s house. The geothermal energy which uses underground geothermal exchange systems to take advantage of the Earth’s constant inner heat is used when solar power isn’t available.

     Geos’ sustainability doesn’t just stop with the use of solar and geothermal energy. The community uses a variety of techniques to conserve and manage their water usage. There are rain gardens that are scattered throughout Geos to help harvest both rain water and snow water. Each garden sits about six inches below the street so the water is funneled toward the trees and shrubs. The water runoff from hard surfaces such as parking lots and cobblestone roads is diverted to parks, lawns and other places that need the water. Trees are considered a staple in this green community because they provide shade, food, fences, and numerous other things. The community hopes to one day launch an orchard co-op project.

     The community is located between Denver and Boulder, next to the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains. The community has trail systems nearby to encourage fitness as well as an appreciation of the natural fauna. Geos stands apart as a premier green community. This Colorado community is becoming the place to live for those who love the Earth.