Verdigris Group Breaks Ground on Ultra-Green Residential Development in Breckenridge, Colorado

Online, November 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Verdigris Group, the visionary real estate development, consulting and brokerage company has commenced construction on their newest development-The Tenderfoot House, located on the slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort, high up in the ski-country of Colorado.

Verdigris Group is a carbon-neutral real estate development and services company that specializes in green building, high-performance property development and sustainability consulting. Additionally, Verdigris Realty is their in-house brokerage division specializing in marketing and sales for developers and builders.

"The Tenderfoot House will shine as a beacon of sustainable development in the high-country" says Garratt Hasenstab, Director of Development for Verdigris Group. "We're so excited to be developing such a perfectly-situated piece of property. We've spent a good deal of time and have invested heavily in land acquisition for this project-we had to have the proper location with unsurpassed views and of course, direct access to the slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort, and in the end that's exactly what we have."

Hasenstab continues, "We are dedicated green developers and building science specialists, and we take our mission very seriously. This project will serve as an example of the best practices we have established in green real estate development through years of innovation and implementation in the industry."

Their comprehensive and integrated planning approach on this project they claim is the foundation upon which they will achieve the efficiency and sustainability goals that they are striving to reach. Already, the Tenderfoot House is slated not only to achieve an astonishing Energy Star energy-efficiency rating (HERS rating) of 58, which means that this property will be 42% more efficient than a home built simply to current building-code, but also to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's prestigious LEED Gold Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and all of that efficiency prior to any renewable energy being utilized on site.

Tenderfoot Phase I consists of two luxury, ski-in/ski-out, 4 bedroom/3 bathroom, single-family residences on the slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort. The tried-and-true real estate maxim "Location. Location. Location." says it all regarding the significance of the surroundings of this development. Not only is this setting ideal for year-round recreation, and situated in the idyllic ski-town of Breckenridge, but the stunning, 'million-dollar views' of the entire Breckenridge Ski Resort are dazzling from behind the 20 feet of high-tech glass and spacious decks on the front elevations of the residences.

These custom homes have been meticulously designed both architecturally, by aMa Architecture, as well as through interior design consulting form world-renowned Atlas Galleries of Chicago, to take advantage of all that this setting offers, while utilizing the best practices of building science to ensure incredible efficiency, highly-elevated level of comfort, superior durability, and resonant mountain aesthetics.

As for how they are green, the three levels of the Tenderfoot House will be clad in locally reclaimed pine and locally sourced stone. Interior finishes include high-efficiency HVAC with heat recovery ventilators (HRVs), tankless on-demand hot water systems, water-sense™ fixtures and dual-flush toilets, stainless-steel Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient Energy Star lighting with occupancy sensors throughout, multiple enclosed, power-vented stone fireplaces, highly-durable FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified wood-framing, carbonized bamboo flooring, high-efficiency low-e windows, exceptionally insulated building envelope, and no-VOC paints and sealants throughout - and those are just the highlights. This all boils down to a super-efficient, extraordinarily comfortable, remarkably green project.

The open plan on the main-level includes kitchen, dining and living space featuring a spacious gourmet kitchen with ample granite countertop space, custom glass-tile backsplash, stainless steel floating range-hood and appliances and European cabinets. The living room features a stone wall fireplace and abundant glass doors and windows opening up to extensive views of the slopes of Breckenridge. Additionally, enjoy the live/work flex room which offers endless possibilities for an office, study, library, media-room or 4th bedroom.

The 3rd-floor includes master-suites with 12 foot windows and glass doors, dual walk-in closets, 5-piece spa bathrooms, stone wall fireplaces and great decks opening out to the slopes all serving as a retreat from the elements while at the same time bringing inside the astounding beauty of this outdoor environment. Down the hall from the master-suites one will find the high-efficiency laundry room, and another spacious bedroom, nursery or office.

The ground-floor features a spacious garage with a built-in recycling center and plenty of storage, mechanical room and owner's lock-off suite which comprises another full bedroom and full bath.

Hasenstab states that, "The key factor in this project's success is the synergy of our development team. From the deep collaboration we've had with our architect, to the commitment we've had with our building engineers and contractors, we share the common goal to reach further than we have before in order to achieve something outstanding. Remember, we're at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea-level, which puts us in the same climate zone as Alaska. Achieving the efficiency that we're poised to realize at this altitude will be a remarkable achievement."

The residences at Tenderfoot House will be completed by February 2012. For specifications, detailed floor-plans, and any other questions contact our Tenderfoot Project representative at Verdigris Group's development division Verdigris Properties toll-free at (800) 805-2830 x11 or alternatively, send an email to: [email protected] with Tenderfoot in the subject line.