Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
The Hamptons has long been considered the summer playground for the rich and famous. To many year–round residents of Eastern Long island however, it is also home to a people with a fierce loyalty to their environment and a dedication to protecting the natural beauty that surrounds them.
When The Hamptons Green Alliance (HGA) was formed, a group of local tradesmen organized to promote sustainable design. A net–zero energy, carbon neutral home, was proposed to the architectural community, and many local architects began searching for a suitable project.
On December 22, 2008 the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Dubin in Southampton, LI became engulfed in flames and was destroyed. This tragedy would attract the attention of The Hamptons Green Alliance through the efforts of friend, fellow environmentalist, and local architect, Richard Stott.
Richard F. Stott, AIA, LEED AP (Accredited Professional) the owner of Steelbone Design Company and Flynn Stott Architects, P.C., reached out to the Dubins during this time and hosted a meeting that would bring together, what is now known as the Project Team; Telemark Inc. (founder of HGA and General Contractor), HGA founding members (six trade contractors) Craig Lee, of Lee Architecture and of course Richard F. Stott. Craig and Richard will lead the team that has designed and planned for the construction of a residence that will set the standard for sustainable carbon neutral building for the future.
Richard discussed the benefits of building a LEED certified structure and the Dubin's, with their natural inclination to be environmentally responsible, agreed. Richard also became aware that one of the Dubin children had taken the loss of the house and his room very hard. He began a dialog with the Dubin's 13 year old son about the LEED for Homes process and the boy responded with a keen interest. In turn, the Dubin's son shared his new passion with the teacher of his honors science class. Southampton High School began taking an interest in the green building process in the Hamptons. A special project has evolved that will allow this inquisitive student to report to his class on the design and recreation of what promises to be a very special home.
INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY
The Project Team began meeting together in a collaborative effort to share information and to contribute their expertise as the design developed. New technologies were discussed that impacted several trades and needed to be coordinated with design and fellow members of HGA. The team approach to design, development of specifications and integration of technologies evolved into a new project delivery approach that has been developed by the AIA know as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) that "integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction."
WHAT DOES LEED CERTIFIED MEAN?
The USGBC (United States Green Building Council) has created a rating system, LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Green Building Council members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and continue to refine this international rating system. The "LEED for Homes" rating system addresses eight major areas:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation and Design process
- Location and Linkages
- Awareness and Education
Attaining LEED certification is a challenging endeavor where various levels of accomplishments are rewarded via a points system. The highest level of achievement is platinum, the goal of this project.
WHAT IS A NET–ZERO ENERGY HOME?
It is a home that does not require more energy to operate than it consumes. The home's energy must be created in a sustainable way such as generating electricity and hot water though the use of solar power . photovoltaic and wind generators for electricity and solar thermal for hot water. The use of geothermal (ground source heat pump) technology will be used for heating and cooling. To minimize the amount of energy required to heat or cool a home, the structure would be designed with advanced, high–performance building strategies and take advantage of passive heating and cooling design techniques. The home remains connected to the grid however when the electric production from photovoltaic wind generators exceeds electricity usage the electric meter turns backwards. When electricity usage exceeds production the electric meter turns forwards. The goal is; the net result will be zero.
WHAT IS CARBON NEUTRAL?
President Barrack Obama has indicated that his administration's goal is to implement "Cap and Trade" legislation. This will bring to the forefront the concept of our country's participation in the new international agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, beginning to be known as the Copenhagen Protocol. The new legislation will cause awareness that we, the US, must reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases to diminish the global warming affects associated with increased levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (CO2e).
In essence everything we use, own, or consume has a carbon footprint associated with its production. Until recently there has been no method of scientifically establishing the actual carbon footprint of manufactured products across the broad spectrum of goods and services.
The president of Telemark, Frank Dalene, member and cofounder of HGA, has created the first indexing system and methodology to establish an objective and scientific way of measuring the carbon footprint associated with the production of all manufactured products. The HGA House will be the pilot program in establishing a standard, in the way a carbon footprint can be scientifically and accurately measured in the manufacturing of a home. It will be important, that a demonstration of this methodology be established. Without it, the claim of carbon neutrality associated with the construction of homes and buildings will be without merit and subjective.
To our knowledge no one in the world has successfully constructed a home with a carbon neutral footprint because the science did not exist until now. We will provide the science and certify the carbon neutral status of this home. Aside from the calculation of the carbon footprint of the construction of the home we will also calculate the carbon footprint of the home's operation going forward with the goal of certifying the carbon neutrality of the home's lifecycle. To do so, it will be helpful that the goal of zero energy is met. It will be our intention to offset Co2e emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and established science surrounding the Kyoto Protocol to achieve carbon neutrality certification.
By achieving the above goals the Hamptons Green Alliance will deliver to the homeowner a certified LEED Platinum, zero energy and certified carbon neutral home. While this project is a groundbreaking endeavor; we believe documenting this effort will create a model for others to follow or adopt as best practices in the future.
WHO WILL BUILD SUCH A HOME–AFFORDABLY?
In February of 2008, Telemark Inc, a 30 year old Bridgehampton based general contractor reached out to five other building related firms with the intent to form a not–for–profit entity with the mission of providing the public with information concerning how to save energy in homes. In addition, the founding members would create an online resource where one could find information required to build energy efficient homes. The group created The Hamptons Green Alliance with a website of www.hamptonsgreenalliance.org.
During one of their meetings, an HGA member made the point that the group needed to do more than just provide information, "we need to apply our knowledge". To illustrate their community commitment, HGA agreed to build a home on favorable economic terms for a deserving client provided the client would agree to have the project filmed and documented. After various meetings with the client, architects, general contractor, USGBC, and all HGA members, a plan has come together which creates a high performance building system that includes some of the following attributes.
- High performance sealed building envelop
- Geothermal heating and cooling
- Thin film photo–voltaic solar power technology
- Wind Power
- Rainwater harvesting system for irrigation
- Evacuated tube solar based hot water system
- Smart home technology utilizing the latest in electronic controls
Documenting the project will provide insight into the world of sustainable building, provide an understanding of the various components required to create a zero energy home, educate the viewer about carbon neutrality, focus on how carbon is measured, and provide a general understanding of the LEED for Home process. We will also be able to illustrate that good building science is not complex and expensive but understandable and cost justified. Having access to past energy cost data will allow real world energy cost savings calculations.
The story of how an interest in building science and sustainable building can impact, not only a family, but through the eyes of an inspired young boy, sparks the interest of a school and community. The benefactors will most certainly include each and every participant. As we embark on the meaningful rebuild of a home to turn one family's tragedy into triumph, it is our hope the result will be an exciting, impactful project that will also create an educational experience and marked change for a stronger, more sustainable community.
