"Pine Glades is on track to be the first LEED certified residential community in the state of Wyoming."

Pine Glades will be the first residential development in Wyoming to receive the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) certification. The residences at Pine Glades were not only designed to protect and preserve the natural setting but also to fit within the environment rather than the other way around.

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high performance "green" homes. A green home uses less energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

Green Development
The Pine Glades environmentally-sensitive holistic approach can be seen throughout the architecture and site plan.

Site Plan:

  • Over 80% of the property's trees will be left on site;
  • Residences will be clustered in an area of less than five acres, leaving nearly 12 acres of open space;
  • Buildings are innovatively arranged to minimize site disturbance. The residences will run in two rows parallel to the existing slope and parking spaces and drive aisles will be located underneath the buildings to further reduce the development's footprint; and
  • The natural landscape of Pine Glades will be overseen by the Teton Science School's Conservation Research Center, which is staffed by experts in preserving and enhancing the ecological qualities of individual properties.

Architecture/Interior Finishing:

  • "Low-E" insulated windows will block the sun's ultraviolet rays and infrared heat to keep homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter;
  • Exterior siding will be made of dead standing pine logs rather than freshly cut live trees;
  • Shared walls will result in a 40% decrease in energy consumption;
  • 30% of the cement mix used in concrete will be replaced by fly ash, a coal burning by-product, which results in the removal of landfill waste material;
  • Construction waste will be reduced significantly as off-site cutting and fabrication of walls will be utilized;
  • Radiant heating in the flooring reduces direct heat loss and minimizes energy use;
  • To ensure that the roadway snow melt system operates only when necessary, a sensor will be imbedded in the asphalt to detect temperature and moisture;
  • The electricity generated for the snowmelt will be offset by green tags; and
  • Eco-package for interior design and appliances are available.

Pine Glades recently registered in the Yellowstone Business Partnership's Greater Yellowstone Framework for Sustainable Development program, which goes beyond LEED criteria to measure a project's short and long term sensitivity to regional and local landscapes and values. Independent certifiers with no financial ties to the projects will review projects for compliance with criteria in the categories of land use and conservation, biodiversity, cultural and historic values, the built environment, public service and infrastructure, transportation and connectivity, community vitality, recreational resources, and regional innovation and investment.