What: Tour the LEED Gold certified New Fire Station at 121 Connecticut Ave, Norwalk
When: April 9, 2015 @ 5 pm
Presented by: The Connecticut Green Building Council, The B.E.S.T. Program at Norwalk Community College and the Mayor's Office Energy and Environment Task Force
Presentation of project:
David Pacheco, Principal, Pacheco Ross Architects, Voorheesville, NY
Peter Etzel, V.P. of Operations, Newfield Construction, Hartford, CT
WHAT: “What is Passive House Design?” by Tomas O’Leary
WHERE: The Mercy Center, 167 Neck Rd., Madison, Ct 06443
WHEN: Wednesday, June 18th, 5:30 -7:30 pm
HOW: Register by contacting: [email protected]
FOR: For those interested in learning more about high performance buildings and homes, including architects, designers, contractors & building tradespersons and anyone in the general community with a passion for energy responsible design and building.
The presentation is also accredited by the American Institute of Architects and offers attending AIA members (1) continuing education unit (CEU).
Photo caption/credit/copyright is: P. Campus AIA
Who: The Connecticut Green Building Council
What: The CTGBC Green Homes Committee has selected multiple homes open for the Spring 2014 Green Homes Tours. The selection of homes on tour includes substantial renovations, new construction homes, and homes under construction or renovation. A homeowner or representative from the design or installation team will be on hand at each home to explain the design and operations of the home.
When: Saturday, June 14th from 12:00 noon til 3:00 pm
Where: Click here to see a complete listing of all homes on the tour.
Register for FREE here.
Questions? Contact Joanna Grab at [email protected]
Who: People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE)
What: The 2700 square foot passive solar house includes a 5.5 kW solar electric system, solar hot water panels and tank, radiant floor heating and hydronic baseboards, a stunning Tulikivi masonry stove and energy recovery ventilator, LED lighting, Energy Star appliances with condensing clothes dryer, Mitsubishi air to air heat pumps and triple pane windows.
Great care was taken in the construction using prefabricated wall panels, double stud wall construction, insulated concrete form foundation, salvaged stone for outside walls, concrete floors with acid-free eco-stain and water-based sealer, and natural materials are used throughout the house.
When: July 12th, any time between 12 noon and 3pm
Where: Sandisfield, MA
For tour information, call 860 693 4813
For tickets ($15), call 860 623 5487
After the tour visitors are invited to swim in a nearby freshwater lake or bring their canoe or kayak to another uninhabited beautiful lake and/or take a guided hike to a secret small uninhabited lake.
At 7 PM that evening the Sandisfield Arts Center will be the site of a gourmet dinner including wine and prepared by a well-known chef. It will be followed by a concert showcasing magnificent music and professional voices singing arias, duets and trios from well-known operas.
Non-refundable tickets and maps for the tour and outdoor activities can be purchased by going online to www.pace-cleanenergy.org and click on Events. Tour tickets may also be ordered by sending $15 per person to PACE, Donna Grant, 128 Melrose Rd., Broad Brook, Connecticut, 06016 or email:[email protected]. Information should include the ticketholder's phone number, address, and email address.
To order $25 tickets for the gourmet dinner and live concert at the charming nearby Sandisfield Arts Center go online to www.sandisfieldartscenter.org
Who: Solarize Newtown
What: Solarize Newtown is celebrating its first installation of residential solar panels, using the Solarize Connecticutsm approach to community solar adoption. The installation will take place on Saturday, November 9th, at the home of David Stout. Astrum Solar, the official installer for Solarize Newtown, will host the event.
Since Solarize Newtown launched in September, more than 70 Newtown homeowners have asked for solar home assessments to see if their homes would be a good fit for solar. The more residents who participate in the program, the more the price drops, with all residents receiving the lowest possible price for their installation no matter when they sign up for the program. In addition, if Newtown reaches 100 installations, Astrum Solar will donate $25,000 worth of solar panels for a Newtown civic building.
When: Saturday, November 9, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Stout Residence – 9 Grand Place – Newtown, CT
Contact: Chelsey Saatkamp, [email protected] or 212-576-2700
More information about Solarize Newtown, including upcoming workshops, can be found by visiting www.solarizect.com/Newtown. For additional information on Solarize Connecticut or Solarize Newtown, contact Chelsey Saatkamp as shown above.
Who: Wolfworks Inc.
What: What's it like to live in a home that produces more energy than it uses? After a year living in the first certified Passive House in CT the Honig family in Harwinton is inviting you to come see their home and hear what its like to live there. Their home won the 2013 CT Net Zero Challenge and was described by Enoch Lenge of the CT Energy Efficiency Fund as, "the most efficient and highest performing house we've ever seen." While the energy savings are remarkable, this home is bright, open, and exc
eptionally comfortable without relying on complicated equipment, though it does make smart use of technology.
When: Saturday, October 5th. 10 AM - 2 PM
Where: Town Line Rd. New Hartford, CT.
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS TO TOWN LINE ROAD IN NEW HARTFORD
(GPS systems go to the wrong place if you use the actual address!)
Who: Wolfworks Inc.
What: We hope you can make the time to visit another unique Net Zero Home this Sunday afternoon. Last year Wolfworks designed and built the home that won the 2012 CT Net Zero Challenge. We're back this year with a new home in Farmington that will produce more energy than it uses on an annual basis! We call this a Net Zero Home. This is a special chance to see how we apply Passive House design principles to achieve this remarkable performance. Come inside and take a look around before we close up the walls. See and experience the difference.
When: Sunday 9/22 from 12-3 PM - Rain or Shine!
Where: 17 Metacomet Rd. Farmington, CT. 06030
More information online about the presentations, tours and what you'll learn at the house.
13 April 2013
1:00 PM-4:00 PM
$15.00 per Person
Canton, MA
People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) is sponsoring a tour that will introduce the public to the latest trends in solar power. This tour will feature two seminars, where experts in the field will talk about how implementing solar panels can help everyone to live cleaner, healthier lives. There will be a presentation on how the solar panels will be able to charge electric vehicles enough that they will be able to handle an 18 mile commute before the fuel from the gas tank even needs to take over. Owners of these electric vehicles will also be available to share their real experiences with these cars. Later, guests will be able to see how entire houses can be customized to reduce energy costs both to the environment and to the family budget. Also, guests will see the incredible opportunity for cost shaving that can be captured by encouraging their entire community to go green. Registration for this tour is required and is non-refundable and it costs a mere $15.
Register Here: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/site/webtickets/tour20130413
For More Information: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/resources/includestatic?url=..%2Faction_files%2Fhouse_tour_20130413.html
First Place winner
Harwinton
residents, Paul and Diane Honig, teamed up with builder Wolfworks,
Inc., to design and construct a ‘Passive House’ that ensures remarkably
low energy demand, something that is aligned with the goals of the Zero
Energy Challenge. The Passive House design means
that a building takes the greatest advantage of available “gains” while
minimizing energy “losses.” The resulting energy balance provides the
home with exceptional comfort and health, simplified operation and
dramatically lower operating costs.
The home also had the lowest Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index by implementing measures including: windows that captured solar energy, rigorous sealing of all potential sources of air leakage, reduced thermal bridging to help remediate any problems with insulation, the installation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and more. These measures earned the top spot for the Honigs and Wolfworks, Inc.
“Investing the extra money up front to build a more sustainable house was worth it,” said Paul Honig, “By taking advantage of incentives and rebates offered through the Residential New Construction program, administered by CL&P, we were able to offset those upfront costs considerably.”
Second Place winner
Peter
Fusaro of Preferred Builders Inc. saw the ZEC as a way to bring his
idea of a high-performance house to life. After tearing down the
original structure at a home in Old Greenwich and recycling its old
materials, Fusaro and his team rebuilt the home from the
ground up, installing only top-of-the-line energy efficient products.
“I have been in the building industry for more than 25 years and have become more energy efficient in the way I design, build and live every day,” Fusaro said. “After construction was complete, our home in Old Greenwich received six energy and environmental certifications, which I am extremely proud of.”
To achieve these certifications, a number of energy-efficient features were added to the home including high-efficiency tank-less hot water heaters, air conditioning units and a natural gas boiler. The garage features an electric vehicle charging station, and the home is equipped with a sophisticated circuit breaker that connects to the Internet and can show a homeowner just how much energy is being used at any given time. Learn more about “The Performance House” in Old Greenwich by clicking here.
Continue reading "The Results Are In: Winners of 3rd Annual CT Zero Energy Challenge Announced" »
April 4th, 2013
9:45 AM-7:15 PM
FREE, Registration Required
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut
The CCSU Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition invites the public to learn and to teach one another about the actions that we, as human beings, must take to ensure that we live in such a way that we are able to satisfy our needs while ensuring that our children and grandchildren will be able to satisfy their own. The symposium will offer 3 classes, two performances, a panel discussion, a tour, and an optional attendance at the town meeting, as well as opening and closing notes from distinguished professionals in sustainability. This event is FREE: anyone can register online to show up. *Exhibitor tables are still open.
Schedule
9:45-10:00 AM: Symposium opening and welcome with Dr. Charles Button and Dr. Jack Miller (tentative) at Alumni Hall
10:00-10:45: Transportation, Migration, and Sustainability in Four Worlds Alumni Hall
Dr. John Kelmelis expands upon a possibility raised by the United States National Intelligence Council when they published Global Trends 2030: Alternative World. This work explores four very possible future worlds. Dr. Kelmelis will explain what each of these worlds might mean for our future as well as what strategies we might use to make the most of each circumstance at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
11:00-11:45: Panel Discussion: Electric Cars and Alternative Vehicles Alumni Hall
The president of the New England Electric Auto Association (Dave Oliveria), an environmental writer and speaker (Jim Motavalli), the Senior Associates Autos Editor for Consumer Reports (Eric Evarts), and a natural gas car owner (Joe Booth) all come together in one place to talk about the real value that hybrid, extended hybrid, and electric vehicles hold. This is a special opportunity to discover what users and reviewers genuinely think about these alternative vehicles.
12:00-1:45 (*with second free registration): Water Wars Performance and Lunch Alumni Hall
While you enjoy your lunch, the Sonia Plumb Dance Company will be performing Water Wars. This is an emotionally charged piece of art that exposes the very important and very tenuous relationship that human beings have with one of our primary sources of life: water.
By Heather Burns
With the summer foliage and associated bioactivity in full swing, being cooped up in an office for 40 hours a week can be difficult for even the most dedicated employee. Personally, I head outside at regular intervals for strolls, and while it’s true that my most creative thinking takes place outdoors, it’s nice to see that my urge isn’t just a personality quirk, but is firmly rooted in science.
Harvard University biologist, Edward O. Wilson and introducer of the biophilia hypothesis concluded, “There is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems. That is, we have a natural urge to affiliate with other forms of life.
Bruce Crowle, co-owner of Atria, Inc, a Connecticut-based interiorscape design and maintenance company, has built a successful business on the concept of biophilia, while helping clients to realize the bottom line benefits of bringing nature to work™.
Crowle says, “In the mid eighties I was invited to Washington and had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dr. Bill Wolverton. He had just concluded his studies for NASA that proved tropical plants could be helpful during prolonged space exploration. His research discovered that plants and their roots and the surrounding soil (a plant system) absorbed volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), such as formaldehyde, benzenes, carbon monoxide and others, and returned oxygen to the environment.”
Likewise, a study by Herman Miller reviewed the degree to which direct exposure to natural elements might impact employees. They were able to find significant productivity gains, less absenteeism, less health problems, and a better sense of well-being as reported by the individuals who participated.
In fact, a wide range of industry experts recognizes the health and environmental benefits of incorporating plants into the workplace. The United States Green Building Council includes dozens of varieties of plants as options to improving indoor air quality, and assigns corresponding points toward LEED certification.
A growing trend (pun intended) in the interiorscape industry is green walls. Also known as vertical planting systems, vertical gardens or biowalls, these visually stunning creations produce a supply of fresh air, naturally cooling buildings in the summer and humidifying in the winter.
In 2010, Atria was proud to become the first “Platinum” rated Green Earth—Green Plants® certified interior plantscape business. “The process to gather and submit the data to earn Platinum certification was certainly a team effort,” Crowle says.
But the company’s leadership and ongoing dedication to sustainable business practices – and to promoting green business practices to their clients – is evident in all that they do. Partnerships with local growers and the use of integrative pest management are just two of the many reasons why bringing nature to work with Atria makes good business sense.
Long time Connecticut resident, (and occasional CT Green Scene contributor) Barry Katz, has just published an informative new book: PRACTICAL GREEN REMODELING: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes.
Published by Taunton Press, the book offers a compelling argument for remodeling green, guiding readers through process with over 200 color photographs of green remodeling projects from across the country.
What sets this book apart from the many how-to books on the subject is the author's emphasis on the "what to" and the "why to" of going green at home.
Asked what inspired him to write this book, Katz said, "I wanted not only to show readers what is possible, and often easy, to achieve in terms of creating energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and healthy living environments, but to provide a clear explanation of the complex and interconnected issues that make going green such a compelling choice for a growing number of people around the world."
Excerpts from the book can be found on the author's blog, The Future is Green. You can also follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FutureGreen
Continue reading "A Meeting of Sustainble Minds at The Art of Sustainable Architecture" »
Click here to read more.
Photo courtesy of Yale University/Robert Benson
by Eileen Weber
The Watkinson School in Hartford, the city’s only independent school founded in 1881, had a ground-breaking for their net-zero science facility on May 27th. San Francisco-based Project FROG designed the school’s Center for Science and Global Citizenship. This school building will be the first of its kind in New England. The construction date is scheduled for next week.
“The building [will be] as smart as the students and teachers in it,” said John Bracker, Watkinson’s Head of School. Some of the key elements in the design are a geothermal heating and cooling system as well as solar panels. Large glass windows will be incorporated into the design to trap in heat in the winter and block it out in the summer. The windows will also provide lots of natural light to cut down on electricity costs.
Bracker said that the school looked into updating its science building about five years ago. But conventional methods were too expensive. When the concept of going green for less money came up, the Board of Trustees gave the go-ahead.
“This will not only augment the way we teach but change the way we teach. The building will be as much a part of the curriculum as any other teaching tools,” said Bracker. In other words, in order for the school to teach about sustainability they have to be sustainable.
by Eileen Weber
The Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) was recently acknowledged for their green initiatives in the School of Future Design Competition. On May 1st, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Council of Education Facility Planners International Foundation (CEFPI) sponsored the event as well as the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Institute of Architects along with over 30 associations and private companies. They announced the winners of the competition, which kicks off at the beginning of the school year, in Washington, D.C.
Students from across the country participated in the competition. Given the task to redesign their school in an environmentally friendly way, they were judged on sustainability, technology and community involvement in their projects. The event was part of School Building Week from April 27th through May 1st.
"Successful schools build successful communities." said Sue Robertson, CEFPI president in the company’s press release dated the last day of the competition. "Today's students, tomorrow's green builders, are committed to creating healthy, high performing schools and communities. Let's supply them with all the tools they need to improve the places where children learn. And then, let's really listen to them—because they have some really good ideas!"
by Eileen Weber
A trip to the hospital is not exactly on everyone’s To Do list. With harsh chemicals and bad air quality, hospitals are sometimes the unhealthiest places to be. From limiting their toxic waste to reducing their energy and water usage, the surgical scrubs aren’t the only things that are green, however.
Hospitals are recycling light bulbs and batteries. They are using green cleaning products. Even choosing to switch from cotton mop heads to microfiber saves thousands of gallons of water every year. They are even incorporating nature as part of the healing process with rooftop gardens and balconies open for fresh air. Studies have shown that patients who have some connection to nature have lower stress levels and recover more quickly.
But it doesn’t stop there. Practicing a healthy green business is great. But it’s even better in a green building.
According to an article dated March 27th in The Boston Globe, more hospitals are seeing the long-term benefit of renovating in an environmentally friendly way. They have included everything from LED lighting to high efficiency glass to low VOC paints and adhesives to roof top solar panels.
by Eileen Weber
Less than a year ago, Fairfield residents Kraig and Suzanne Schulz finished renovating their home. They built it using insulated concrete forms (ICFs). They chose environmentally friendly products and energy-saving appliances. They installed compact fluorescent lightbulbs and energy-efficient windows. But all of that came with a pretty steep price tag and not without a few problems along the way.
According to a New York Times article dated March 5th, Petz Scholtus, a Belgian woman living in Spain, renovated her 18th century apartment to be “environmentally responsible on a shoestring.” However, being green on a budget is sometimes easier said than done.
Scholtus wrote a blog about her adventures trying to be eco-conscious while not squeezing her piggy bank at the same time. She reused plastic jugs as the outer shell for floor lamps. Her living room is decorated with beanbag chairs made from automotive textiles, magazine racks fashioned from antique drawers fitted with castors, and low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint on her walls. She also transported her belongings from the old apartment to the new one by bicycle. (Don’t try this at home, kids.)
Scholtus is not alone. In this country, blogs abound with nightmare renovations as well as stories of happily-ever-after eco-friendliness.
by Eileen Weber
Did you know 18% of overall indoor water use and 37% of just the hot water use comes from household showers? Did you know that while the US is home to only 4.5% of the global population, it is responsible for over 15% of the world’s consumption of wood? Did you know that unhealthy air is found in 30% of new and renovated buildings?
These were just some fun facts from GreenBuilding.com, an organization based in Boulder, CO. They are the kind of statistics that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Green Building Council, and others focused on the benefits of green building want the average homeowner to know.
Building the new and renovating the old has taken a turn in the last several years. Homeowners, architects, and contractors alike are seeing the greater benefit of being more eco-conscious with their homes.
Barry Katz, an architect and builder in Westport, has been extremely vocal about the benefits of green building. He has written articles, given lectures, and even submitted entries to this web site about the endless possibilities of a “clean, green” future with the Obama administration.
But there are some homeowners who may balk at the initial cost of building green. To that, Katz says, “It doesn’t cost more, it costs less.” He said that before you build, you’re paying your mortgage, electricity and water bills. Before construction, those bills are higher. After construction, the initial costs essentially end up paying for themselves. “From the moment you move in to your [newly built] house,” he said, “your overall operating costs will be lower.”
By now, you probably get the idea that our planet's resources are finite, but many people are beginning to catch on to the fact that our need to design, plan and build communities that are "smart" and conserve our limited natural resources, while creating a strong sense of community is imperative. On the financial side of the coin, developers, architects, builders and real estate agents are seeing great investment potential in smart growth, even in a slowed up economy.
So what is Smart Growth?
Smart growth as defined by experts at CT Smart Growth:
Mixed land use: "Our post World War II land use decisions have separated and compartmentalized the various aspects our lives. We live in one place, work in another, and venture to still another place for shopping and entertainment. This separation has created a car-centric society and taken away from the vitality of the traditional town center or Main Street. Smart growth supports the integration of mixed land uses into communities as a critical component of achieving better places to live. By putting uses in close proximity to one another, alternatives to driving, such as walking or biking, once again become viable."
Compact Building Design: "Compact building design suggests that communities be designed in a way which permits more open space to preserved, and that buildings can be constructed which make more efficient use of land and resources. By encouraging buildings to grow vertically rather than horizontally, and by incorporating structured rather than surface parking, for example, communities can reduce the footprint of new construction, and preserve more greenspace."
Housing Opportunities: "Providing quality housing for people of all income levels is an integral component in any smart growth strategy. Housing is a critical part of the way communities grow, as it is constitutes a significant share of new construction and development. More importantly, however, is also a key factor in determining households' access to transportation, commuting patterns, access to services and education, and consumption of energy and other natural resources."
Walkable Communities: "As the personal and societal benefits of pedestrian friendly communities are realized - benefits which include lower transportation costs, greater social interaction, improved personal and environmental health, and expanded consumer choice -- many are calling upon the public and private sector to facilitate the development of walkable places."
Other elements include: Strong Sense of Place, Preserve Open Spaces, Infill Development, Wide array of Transportation Choices, Fair and Predictable Development Decisions, and Community Collaboration. To find out more about the other 6 elements of smart growth, as well as valuable resources, visit CT Smart Growth. Also, check out this incredible Smart Growth project slated for Georgetown.
There are LOADS of green buildings sprouting up all over the state and the Connecticut Green Building Council recently recognized the most "intriguing" residential and institutional structures in the state, and from Yale to Usquepaug, they are certainly worth a peek.
Residential
 |
MOST INTRIGUING was awarded to the Usquepaug Residence
designed by Lindsay Suter AIA. This project is a culmination of
architectural training in good design using quality
materials and interesting sustainable principles. A very nice project, every passive sustainable device was used. The project is modest and simple resulting in an elegant affordable residence. The unique aspect to this design is the taking advantage of a great northern view by using a lot of glass to obtain the view and even daylight without glare, but solving the heat loss potential by an effective and handsome shutter system. |
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INTRIGUING was awarded for another simple basic, responsible Norfolk Residence again by Lindsay Suter AIA. This design is compact and efficient; using natural ventilation for the building. The basic fuel for heating is a wood stove that was reduced in size due to its ability to work efficiently. The materials selected and attention to best construction practices result in a fine lesson on how to build an affordable house. |
Institutional
 |
MOST INTRIGUING was awarded to the Yale Sculpture Building and Gallery, designed by Kieran Timberlake Associates in association with BVH Engineers. The building incorporates just about every sustainable device and design possible. This project demonstrates what good design and extraordinary planning can produce. A green roof covers about 90% of the whole structure. |
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INTRIGUING was awarded to the Barnard Magnet School whose design showed a very aggressive energy program undertaken by the City of New Haven. The significance of this project, designed by Roberta Washington and David Thompson collaborative architects is what can be done using public funds. The project incorporates an existing school building and a fine looking addition to meeting the goals of LEED Gold. Much attention has been paid to using all the building functions as a learning laboratory for its students. |
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INTRIGUING was awarded to the Yale School of Medicine, Sterling Hall Laboratory Wing by Svigals and Partners architects. The building design was used as an experiment by Yale to see what can be achieved using sustainable ideas in a laboratory environment. The use of Daylight transparency, strategies to develop a better work environment, recyclable materials and products that produce no off-gases was a significant attempt to demonstrate what can be done. The project has been widely published and now sets a standard for all laboratories for Yale medical school. |
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INTRIGUING was awarded to the Burton Family Football/Mark Shenkman Training Center Complex by JCJ architects in collaboration with HOK Sports. This project is significant in that it is the first NCAA Athletic Sustainable project as well as the first LEEDproject on the UCONN Campus. A challenging site and a building configuration lead to a solid design and planning effort to make this building a responsible partner on Campus. |
| For a look at more incredible green building projects in and around Connecticut, visit BuildingCTGreen.com. | |
The Holland Tunnel plans to retrofit their lamps with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which use 90 percent LESS electricity than CFLs, but DO THEY WORK?
Let's hope so.
"December 13, 2007 -- AP -- The Holland Tunnel has gone green. Crews overnight replaced fluorescent lights with light-emitting diode
The LEDs distribute light more efficiently, require less energy and
The George Washington Bridge's "necklace" of 156 mercury vapor | |
Some argue that they technology exists, but it is not yet available in Connecticut due to those with financial interests in keeping our current energy supply in tact keeping the lid screwed down tight on the technology.
Others claim that LEDs are in fact available, but they don't work.
The point here is that no matter how the cookie crumbles, we need LED technology if we're going to satisfy our energy needs with clean and renewable sources like solar, wind and small hydro. If not, we risk the nuclear power industry using carbon emissions from fossil fuels as an excuse to open up lots of plants that threaten our survival on Earth.
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