For Henderson community, nothing’s like the sun

Concordia Homes is building Nevada's first solar community in the foothills of Henderson at Racetrack Road and Burkholder Boulevard.

The Sommerset development will have 48 homes incorporating the latest solar technology and "green" construction methods to provide optimum energy efficiency, Concordia President Gidget Graham said.

With homeowners concerned about increasing energy costs, it's more important than ever to emphasize conservation, she said.

Standard green-building features include an interactive display that provides homeowners with real-time and historic feedback on electricity and water consumption, energy-efficient appliances and an advanced lighting package.

With a solar-panel system and General Electric "ecomagination" products, a 2,700-square-foot home can reduce the average electric bill by 70 percent, from $300 a month to $90 a month. Monthly utility bills vary based on home size, location, construction characteristics, number of occupants and their lifestyle, temperature settings and other factors.

Sommerset homes will range from 1,700 square feet to 2,700 square feet with three to five bedrooms. Prices start in the mid-$300,000s.

Residential housing represents 20 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The average home actually pollutes more than the average car.

The EPA hopes to reduce annual carbon emissions by more than 3.5 million metric tons by 2012, the pollution equivalent of removing 3 million cars from the roads, just by improving the energy efficiency of homes.

GES YARD: LM Construction completed a 22-acre marshalling yard for Las Vegas-based GES Exposition Services at Sunset Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. The project cost was about $3 million.

The new yard has the capacity to park 600 diesel trucks and has three truck weigh stations and three modular trailers. Construction included mass grading and paving with underground utilities, site lighting, scale facilities and substantial off-site improvements.

"The convention industry continues to be a stronghold for Las Vegas' local economy," LM General Manager Michael Carroll said. "This new yard enables GES to consolidate and expand their truck marshalling facilities and serve the entire valley's convention business from one very strategic location."

PROPERTY MANAGER: Two out-of-state companies have retained Gatski Commercial of Las Vegas to manage their local real estate portfolio.

Seattle-based Western America Commercial has about 372,000 square feet at Desert Inn Office Center, Hot Rod Hill, Renaissance Office Park and Somerset Park.

Santa Fe, N.M.-based BGK Group owns the 304,000-square-foot office building at 101 Convention Center Drive and two buildings totaling 113,000 square feet at Century Park, 1771 E. Flamingo Road.

BROKER DEALS: Ron McMenemy of NAI Horizon represented South Tech in the purchase of Commons of Seven Hills, 26,484 square feet of retail development in Henderson, for $16.5 million.

Dan Doherty, Patti Dillon and Laura Hart of Colliers International represented Harsch Investment Properties in the 38-month lease of 10,000 square feet of industrial space at Green Valley Corporate Center to Chamlian Enterprises for $221,000.

The same Colliers brokers also represented Sunset LV Holdings in the sale of 72,000 square feet of industrial space at Park West Business Park to Sunset Logistics Center for $9.4 million.

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0491.