BROWN
4>EPA Energy Efficient and Affordable Homes
SnS, Protection Planned for Former Mine Scarred Property
Agency I /
Sustainability Pilot Background
COLORADO
EPA's Brownfields Sustainability Pilots provide technical assistance to assist
communities in achieving greener, more sustainable results when redeveloping
brownfields. These pilots also provide models for other communities across
the country.
EPA provided San Juan County, Colorado with a green design for affordable, low
income housing in the Anvil Mountain Neighborhood adjacent to the Town of Silverton
in southwestern Colorado. EPA provided assistance to identify and evaluate energy
savings and alternative energy options for the housing project. EPA support also
included identifying additional resources and funding sources.
Anvil Mountain Neighborhood Project Background
San Juan County and the Town of Silverton chose the Anvil Mountain Neighborhood as the site for an affordable,
low income housing project. The property is the former location of the Rose Walsh Smelter site, a mine scarred
brownfield, comprising 12 acres at 9,400 feet elevation. The project includes the development of up to 49 housing
units ranging from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet. Prior to the Brownfields Sustainability Pilot, the town began site
investigations using EPA regional Targeted Brownfields Assessment support. Site cleanup is being accomplished
using an EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant and other matching and leveraged funds.
The town hopes to combine green design and construction with affordable housing. Given the town's location, energy
costs for heating and cooling can be high. Therefore, energy savings are a priority. Another priority for redevelopment
is to preserve historic aspects associated with the town's mining and railroad legacy.
Project Highlights
EPA's assistance to the town and county focused on evaluating site conditions and plans, identifying and evaluating
energy efficiency options, and providing recommendations regarding potential resources and funding approaches the
town may pursue to implement the recommendations. Silverton received assistance from the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) through a separate Technical Assistance Project funded by the U.S. Department of
Energy. Using energy modeling information provided by NREL, energy savings strategies were identified including:
• Solar Orientation
• Glazing
• Shading
• Thermal Mass
• Isolated Gain Passive Solar
• Building Envelope
NREL designed energy conservation options based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code that was
adopted by the county as the baseline building code for the Anvil Mountain Neighborhood. In addition, EPA provided
recommendations for next steps to achieve successful funding and implementation of the development effort.
San Juan County expected that site cleanup would be completed in time for housing construction to begin in 2009. Since
additional soil remediation was required in spring and summer 2009, construction will now begin in 2010. The county is
moving forward with implementing recommendations from the pilot project and NREL's energy modeling. Specifically,
the county is adjusting building orientation, window types (glazing) and window area.
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Challenges and Lessons Learned
Experienced Developers Help Facilitate
Project Implementation
San Juan County currently serves as the
developer for the project and may find securing
traditional funding a challenge since it has no
prior experience building similar developments.
This is especially true in the challenging lending
environment that currently exists. Accordingly, the
EPA technical assistance team suggested that the
county hire a developer experienced in affordable
housing and sustainable redevelopment as the
project moves forward given that banks prefer to
lend to entities with experience.
Diversifying Project Funding
The county originally counted on funding from the
State of Colorado to cover two thirds of project
costs. That funding was no longer available after the state suffered from the national financial crisis. The project
faces a funding shortage of between $326,000 and $764,000. EPA assisted in identifying grants and other
potential funding sources to help diversify the pool of funding sources.
A typical home in Silverton, Colorado.
Sources for Additional Information
For more information on this project, please see the full Anvil Mountain Neighborhood technical assistance report at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/anvil_mountain_brownfields_report_final.pdf
Additionally, please see the San Juan Development Association Web site at:
http://www.sanjuan2000.org/housing.htm
Regional Contact Information
For more information on the Anvil Mountain Neighborhood project, please contact:
Sabrina Forrest
EPA Region 8
303-312-6484
forrest.sabrina@epa.gov
Energy Efficient and Affordable
Homes Planned for Former
Mine Scarred Property
EPA-560-F-09-516
October 2009
www, epa.go v/bro wn fields
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