DENVER-Dorado Developments, a privately owned real estate development firm plans a small townhome development at West 33rd and 34th avenues and Shoshone Street in the increasingly trendy Highland neighborhood. But what Dorado execs hope will make the project standout is the way the units stand out is their "green," or environmentally friendly, construction. A total of 15 units in two phases in three new buildings will be priced from $450,000 to $600,000 and will range in size from 1,950 sf to 2,400 sf. The architect is Bothwell-David-George Architects Inc.

The units will be constructed with Insulating Concrete Forms, or ICF, which is a recycled by-product of oil production, which otherwise would be discarded, according to the developers. The ICF installation produces little or no waste materials that otherwise would land in landfills, they say. About 25 to 30 trees are saved for each project by using ICF, they say.

ICF is not only a green building material, but the company says it is a better material than traditional building materials. An ICF building won't rot, dry out, crack, split, creak, warp, or attract insects or mold, says the company. In addition, an ICF wall system is made up of eight inches of concrete and 2 ½ inches of foam inside and out, for an overall width of 13 inches. ICF buildings are so dense that they are virtually sound proof, the company notes. Indeed, an ICF's R-value is between 40 and 50, much higher than traditional insulation. Typically, this will cut an energy bill by 40%, although it currently costs about 15% more than traditional construction. On the other hand, it qualifies for an energy-efficient lending rate, so the borrowers mortgage rate may be lower.

Also, a well-built ICF building can withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour, which is not a threat in Denver. However, that makes it a perfect construction material for tornado- and hurricane-prone areas, says the company.