This residence was the first LEED Platinum Certified residential project in all of southwest Colorado (only the 7th in the state of Colorado). If you’re unfamiliar with LEED, here’s an excerpt from the US Green Building Council that created and administers the program for reference: LEED certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points) (source: usgbc.org/leed). As you can see, LEED Platinum is the highest level of certification and the most difficult for an architect, builder and homeowner to achieve because the standards are so exacting. The home was featured in the USGBC publication as an exemplary project and the first of its kind in its region. Here are a few of the many details which allowed this residence to qualify for the highest level of LEED: Passive Solar Design Techniques including Solar Orientation, Thermal Mass Concrete Floors and Day lighting, Insulated Concrete Form Foundation and Underslab Insulation Boarding, SIPS Wall Panels (Structure Insulated Panel System), Ground Source Heating and Cooling System (Geothermal), Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Heat Recovery Ventilation fresh air system, High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures, Very High Performance Windows, Energy Star Lighting and Appliances, Low VOC Paints, Stains and Adhesives, Native Drought Tolerant Plants, 100% Drip Irrigation with Smart Controls, Underground Cistern, 100% Permeable Paving, Greenhouse for food and herb growing and many many other features. Solar is both active and passive with precise positioning of house for optimum southern exposure and window size to capture maximum sunlight. Please ask your real estate professional to share the extensive documents attached to this listing detailing features and benefits of this home. The residence was constructed by Galbraith Builders, one of the area’s preeminent and most respected builders of high-performance homes. The subdivision it belongs to, Trapper’s Crossing, is just a few miles outside of Durango, and offers exceptional view corridors, large homesites and buffers from other properties for privacy (this residence is on 38 acres), and proximity to Durango’s newest and most popular recreational amenity, Lake Nighthorse. The neighborhood is replete with exceptional and beautiful luxury residences and unique for its large parcels so close to Durango and its highly sought after dining, shopping and recreational amenities. The home incorporates universal design (living in place) principles such as raised countertop and toilet heights, lever door handles, wider hallways, and no threshold shower access. Designed for one-story living congruent with the high-desert surroundings and topography, this showcase of the most modern technological and practical advances in environmental and energy conserving features is truly one-of-a-kind.