Sierra Colina Village
P. O. Box 129
Lake Tahoe, NV 89448

Planning for...
LEED* Green Certification
Energy Star Rating
Pedestrian & Bike Trails
All Fire Sprinklered Homes
Preserving Open Space
Moderate Income Homes

Sierra Colina is striving to achieve platinum certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Green Building Certification Rating System.  A LEED platinum certification is the highest possible standard.  Sierra Colina homes will be designed for energy savings and energy efficiencies, as well as using materials that will create healthier living environments for Sierra Colina homeowners.  Sierra Colina aspires to be the first residential neighborhood in the Tahoe Basin to achieve LEED for Homes certification for all of its homes.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC strives to transform the way buildings are designed, built, and operated.  The USGBC has developed LEED Rating Systems (i.e., New Construction, Commercial Interiors, Existing Buildings, Homes, Campuses, etc.) to determine whether structures meet sustainable criteria.  While LEED is already a well-established national green building standard for commercial buildings, USGBC began the LEED for Homes Pilot Program in August 2005. The Pilot Phase was intended to test the LEED for Homes checklist with stakeholders nationwide, contributing to its potential revision and ultimate standardization. The Sierra Colina Village Project was accepted into the LEED for Homes Pilot Program in 2006 (USGBC, 2007).  In February 2008, the LEED for Homes Rating System was launched by USGBC and the Sierra Colina Village Project became LEED for Homes registered project in the full program.

The LEED for Homes Rating System is a voluntary green building certification program that recognizes and rewards the nation’s top green homebuilders in terms of environmentally sound construction and community development.  LEED provides a framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. LEED for Homes rates qualified homes at the certified, silver, gold, and platinum levels, in recognition of the level of performance achieved.  To achieve certification, projects must meet all prerequisites and a minimum number of points within eight credit areas: innovation and design process, location and linkages, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and awareness and education.

The proposed Sierra Colina Village Project is striving to obtain LEED platinum certification, the highest LEED certification level (although achieving this highest level or any other level of LEED certification cannot be guaranteed).  Measures that may be implemented as part of the project that would contribute to achieving LEED certification include, but are not limited to:

• Site Location - The location is an urban infill site within ½ mile walking access to over 15 basic community resources, community open spaces, the County recreation center and administrative offices, as well as the community transit center. The site is also located within a ½ mile of existing water, sewer, and roads.
• Reduced Water and Energy Use - High efficiency energy and water systems using the latest technology will be installed. The average LEED certified building saves 40% on water use as compared to a conventional building.  Additionally, the average LEED certified building uses 32% less electricity, 26% less natural gas and 30-40% less total energy as compared to a conventional building.
• Energy Star for Homes - Energy Star qualified homes are independently verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Energy Star homes are significantly more energy efficient than standard homes, incorporating a variety of energy-efficient features, including effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and Energy Star qualified lighting and appliances.  These features contribute to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.  Sierra Colina Village is an Energy Star Partner and has committed to obtaining Energy Star certification for all of its residential units.
• Use of Environmentally Preferable Materials – Materials will utilize the latest technology (including high recycled content) and be acquired from local sources (within 500 miles) when feasible.
• Reduced Waste – A Waste Management Plan will be utilized throughout the construction process to minimize waste and increase the amount of reuse and recycling.
• Use of Native Vegetation – Native drought tolerant landscaping will be used to minimize the landscape water demand.
• Stormwater Management and Water Quality Treatment – This design will substantially exceed minimum requirements and typical standards of practice for stormwater management as required by TRPA, and when implemented, will result in a high level of water quality performance. This design will also meet the requirements of the Douglas County Storm Drainage Design Criteria and Improvement Standards.
• Awareness and Education – Sierra Colina envisions providing homeowners and the community with educational materials regarding LEED certification.
• Improved Health For Homeowners – By using moisture-control detailing, pollution and contamination-rejection and ventilation strategies during construction, green homes are healthier for residents.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gases – Through reduced energy consumption, sustainable homes generate less carbon dioxide to operate, thereby reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.  Green homes use less energy and generate less carbon dioxide through their operation, require less transportation energy for their occupants, or avoid release of other greenhouse gases (such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and foam insulation blowing agents).
• Reduced Ozone Depletion – Green homes minimize the use (and release) of ozone-depleting substances. This involves replacing chlorofluorocarbons-based chillers, specifying non-HCFC mechanical equipment, and avoiding foam insulation produced with an HCFC blowing agent.
• Reduced Toxic Emissions From Use Of Sustainable Building Materials – The manufacture of certain building materials, including some types of plastic, results in the emission of toxic air pollutants. The same materials (and others) may also emit toxins at the end of their lives, when they are land-filled or incinerated. There is growing concern about additives such as phthalate plasticizers and brominated flame-retardants that are added to some plastics. LEED certified green buildings use materials selected to reduce the emission of toxic air pollutants, thereby contributing to the reduction in local air pollution. Some building materials also contribute to air pollution, such as smog, through the release of volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”). By selecting green building materials, air pollution sources are reduced.

In summary, LEED projects seek to provide homeowners with homes that offer:

• Economic Benefits (i.e., lower energy and water bills)
• Environmental Benefits (i.e., reduced greenhouse gas emissions)
• Quality of Life Benefits (i.e., improved comfort, less maintenance)
• Health Benefits (i.e., reduced exposure to mold, mildew, and other toxins)
• 3rd Party Verification (homes are certified to meet LEED standards)

By participating in the LEED for Homes Program, the Sierra Colina Village Project would seek to create high quality sustainable homes that are energy efficient, resource friendly, and healthy living residences.  Sierra Colina Village residents would potentially experience reduced home operating costs, while potentially conserving energy, water, and other natural resources.  The Sierra Colina Village Project would be a unique LEED for Homes project that could serve as a model project for green building and spotlight Lake Tahoe as a leader in sustainable home building (See “Links” Sierra Colina Village DEIS, Chapter 2.4.10 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design at page 2.4-61 – 2.4-63).

*LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council