CTGBC Seeks Award Applications

The CT Green Building Council's Awards Committee is now accepting projects for consideration for the CTGBC Green Building Awards in Residential, Commercial or Public/Institutional categories. The project must be built to green standards, but does not need to be LEED, it must be finished but not necessarily occupied, and it can be built outside CT as long as a member of the design team (contractor, architects, etc) is based in CT. If you have a green project in mind, contact the owner, contractor or architect and encourage them to submit at the link provided here or at www.ctgbc.org.

The Awards Committee is also seeking nominations for the 2012 Green Advocate Award. This is given to an Individual who has done the most by way of education, example, outreach and leadership to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable business.

We look forward to another year of inspiring green projects as well as recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to green building in Connecticut.

The awards presentation will be held June 21st at Kroon Hall (LEED Platinum), Yale University, New Haven.

All entries must be received by the CTGBC office by 5:00 pm on Friday May 18th, 2012. Winners will be notified in time to plan attendance at the award ceremony.

For questions, contact Kristy O’Hagan at kohagan@sctgbc.org

Green Building Update

December, 2011

Here's a snap-shot of people, businesses, schools, institutions and NGOs making green news in Connecticut over the last quarter of 2011. The team here at buildingctgreen.com is looking forward to reporting more of the same in 2012.

House Made From Storage Containers

According to the Hartford Courant, New York Architect Christian E. Salvati is constructing a two-family home in New Haven, CT by stacking and welding together six steel shipping containers – yes, those 45-footers that are hoisted onto sea-going vessels or loaded onto 18-wheeler flatbeds – three, side-by-side, for each floor. The interior walls of the containers are being carved out to make way for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms.

New Haven housing officials say they are supportive of Salvati’s house because it is a consummate green buildingproject, starting with the reuse of the shipping containers, right down to energy-efficient heating systems.

Training Fund Gets Extra $187K

A nonprofit labor-training organization with offices in Pomfret, CT and Hopkinton, Mass.,has received another $187,000 in federal funds -- on top of $5.5 million received in June -- to train dozens of Connecticut workers for jobs in the energy-efficiency and green-construction industry, authorities said.

The grant is from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, CT Congressman JoeCourtney's office says.

LIUNA Training and Education Fund, an arm of the Laborers' international Union of North America, will focus its training on the jobless and underemployed, Courtney said.

Buildings Receiving LEED® Certification

According to Drinks Business Review, Nestle Waters has revealed that its headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.The company said the (LEED) Gold certification, verified by the Green Building Certification Institute, marks its 10th LEED-certified building.

The Chase-Tallwood Science Math Technology Center at Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, CT has been awarded a LEED® v2.0 Gold certification, recognizing that the building was designed and built in accordance with strict environmental standards.

According to worldinteriordesignnetwork.com, the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven has secured the Leadereshipin Energy and Environmental Design or LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility, designed by Shepley Bulfinch, spans 516,000 square feet over 14 floors. Among its various features are 168 private patient rooms, 12 operating rooms, outpatient multidisciplinary treatment centres, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, a floor dedicated to cancer-affected children, a cancer center for women, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic radiology services for both children and adults.

The Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School joins two other Connecticut buildings to win platinum-level LEED® certification and is Connecticut’s first public school building to achieve the highest possible rating for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design from the U.S. Green Building council.

Centerpoint To House Clearwater Systems

The Hartford Courant is reporting that Clearwater Systems Corp. announced this month that it will move from Essex toMiddletown to be the first tenant in the new Centerpoint Connecticut green complex on Industrial Park Road.The building has solar panels on the roof, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, sun shades, low-flow plumbing fixtures, recycled materials, "daylight harvesting" lighting systems that dim when there is enough sunlight from the outside and a host of other features that make it a LEED® Silver certified building. Under Middletown's green building tax abatement plan, Tall Properties, the developer, is receiving a four-year tax abatement plan worth $189,000 and fee waivers worth $36,000 for the first building at the Centerpoint complex, said Michiel Wackers, the city's deputy planning director.

Carrier Training Brazilians In Green Design

Farmington, CT-based Carrier Corp. held its first program for construction professionals in Brazil lthis fall. The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) training was in advance of construction projects related to soccer’s World Cup and the Olympics coming to the country.

Two Restaurants Get EV Charging Stations

Control Module Industries, based in Enfield, CT and a manufacturer of a wide range of alternative automobile

solutions, such as electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle supply equipment has completed the

installation of the first two electric vehicle charging stations at Connecticut restaurants. Figaro Ristorante in

Enfield and Painted Pony Restaurant in Bethlehem are now ready to serve "juice" to their customers' cars.

Pepperidge Farm Breaks Ground on Green Innovation Center

Pepperidge Farm, a division of Campbell Soup Company, broke ground today on a new, green 34,000-square-foot innovation center in a ceremony at Pepperidge Farm’s headquarters in Norwalk. The center will be designed as an environmentally-friendly, LEED® certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building by the U.S. Green Building Council and will employ a variety of energy efficiency, water conservation and day-light harvesting techniques, and will use recycled building materials in the construction. Campbell recently received LEED Silver certification for the Campbell Employee Center in Camden, N.J.

Goodspeed Green Housing Project Nears Completion

This past September, Goodspeed Musicals hosted Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and several other special guests to tour the nearly completed multi-million dollar “Artists Village” project. The construction project, considered a green building project, includes energy efficient windows and appliances, geothermal heating and a pervious concrete driveway for water runoff control.

CCSU To Get Fuel Cell

FuelCell Energy, Inc., with operations in Danbury and Torrington, CT and a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants, has announced the sale of a 1.4 megawatt (MW) Direct FuelCell(R) power plant to Greenwood Energy, the North American renewable energy division of global conglomerate the Libra Group.The power plant will be located on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut and the ultra-clean electricity and steam generated by the plant will be sold to the University under a long term power purchase agreement. FuelCell Energy will maintain the plant under a multi-year service agreement and the plant is expected to be operational by December, 2011.

Church is First in State to Receive Energy Star Certification

According to Manchester Patch, the Unitarian Universalist Society East, located at 153 West Vernon St. in Manchester is the first house of worship to receive Energy Star certification in the State. The Society East has been awarded Energy Star certification by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. The certification follows a recent remodeling and expansion of the approximately 300-member Society's building at 153 West Vernon St., which was completed in March of 2010. The renovations included substantial efforts to incorporate green practices.

CT Grocers Honored for Eco-cool Refrigerators

Connecticut grocery stores Whole Foods and McQuade's Marketplace were honored this past September by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for curbing emissions from their refrigerators. Whole Foods - with eight Connecticut locations - won the Most Improved Emissions Rate Award under the EPA's GreenChill

Partnership, for the most dramatic reductions in curbing refrigerant emissions in one year. Whole Food's emissions dropped 17 percent in one year. McQuade's Marketplace in Mystic was awarded on of the Best Emission Rate Awards for its use of advanced refrigeration technology and improved maintenance practices.

First E-House Unveiled at New Britain School

Connecticut's first E-House designed to teach high schoolers green construction was unveiled last week at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain, CT. The E-House, which opened earlier this month, allows students to learn environmentally friendly practices in architecture, carpentry, electrical and plumbing. Funded by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, and Beacon Falls, CT-based CT Electrical Services is volunteering and guiding the teachers through the solar PV project.

Sustainable Design With Michael Tyre, AIA, LEED AP

There's only a few new construction commercial building projects in Connecticut currently under way and only two or three are green. Centerpoint Connecticut is one of those few and recently, our writers caught up with Michael Tyre, AIA, LEED® AP and partner in the Centerpoint project. Michael was kind enough to take some time with us and discuss Centerpoint, some of the challenges to building green and what the future holds.

Q: What is Centerpoint Connecticut?

Michael: Centerpoint Connecticut is a new, 7-building office condominium project located at the Cromwell/Middletown along the I-91 corridor. Founded on quality and environmental stewardship, the office park offers small businesses and professional practices an opportunity to stop paying rent and start building equity as well as new, build-to-suit LEED-Silver construction with strong highway visibility along I-91. Units, for Sale or Lease, range in size from 1,000 SF up to 36,000 SF with the first building being ready for immediate occupancy. Designed to maximize energy efficiency, the buildings feature rooftop solar PV arrays and will meet LEED-Silver requirements for green buildings.

Q: What makes Centerpoint Connecticut a green building?

Michael: Starting from the beginning of the planning process there was a commitment to design buildings that would offer exceptional energy efficiency to the building owners and tenants. All buildings at Centerpoint Connecticut have been designed to meet LEED®-Silver Green Building requirements and feature rooftop solar PV arrays. This commitment to energy efficient translates to significant operational savings to business owners, providing them with a distinct competitive advantage when compared to a traditional office building. Our building have been estimated to save over 30% in annual energy use, a significant fact when you consider that Connecticut has some of the highest energy cost in the country.

Q: Aside from the energy efficiency, what else is green about your project?

Michael: Each building features a reflective ‘cool roof’ membrane to reduce air condition use and increase occupant comfort in hot months. The use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures throughout the buildings contributes to an estimated annual water savings of 44%. The structure and shell of the buildings at Centerpoint Connecticut are constructed from recycled and regional materials, many of which have been manufactured right here in Connecticut. The buildings utilize highly efficient Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heating and cooling systems with demand controlled ventilation. And a highly insulated building envelope and use of high-performance low-E glazing further reduces energy consumption.

Q: Many business owners today are moving into Green Buildings to promote the green identity of their company. What other benefits can businesses enjoy by owning office space at Centerpoint Connecticut?

Michael: One exciting and unique benefit Centerpoint Connecticut offers is a 4-year property tax abatement. Because our project meets LEED-Silver Green Building standards the buildings qualify for a property tax abatement offered by the City of Middletown. This tax abatement is fully transferrable to anyone who purchases or leases office space at Centerpoint and provides substantial savings. In addition to the tax abatement, buyers can enjoy the traditional benefits associated with owning real estate: build equity, hedge against inflation, and benefit from real estate appreciation.

Q: What challenges have you encountered with attempting to develop and build a Green Building?

Michael: As with most green/LEED buildings, you often encounter a learning curve for those sub-contractors involved with construction who have not yet worked on such a project. This typically translates into higher costs because of the perceived complexities of building green. While this used to be a more significant challenge, more and more, the construction trades have had exposure with LEED requirements. Another opportunity enjoyed on this project by being both Developer and General Contractor, allows us to exercise stringent oversight on the construction process, ensuring that the quality control required to complete a cost-effective green building was successfully achieved.

Q: What are your thoughts on the future of green building in CT?

Michael: I remain confident that the practice of building environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient buildings will evolve into the norm in Connecticut. Throughout the country you see an exponential demand for green buildings and participation in voluntary ratings program such as LEED, and in time, the requirements governing green buildings will become standard aspects of local building codes. Connecticut can foster this evolution by providing incentives that promote the construction of green buildings and the use of smart technologies to reduce energy consumption. Such an example can be seen in the forward thinking policies of the City of Middletown who, as I mentioned, granted us a 4-year property tax abatement because we are creating a LEED Silver office development. Partnerships like this are critical for the success of green buildings because they allow these projects to be cost-competitive with a traditional building which is the key to the growth of this industry in Connecticut.

Michael Tyre, AIA, LEED AP is the founding principal of the architectural firm Tyre Studio and a partner in the development company Tall Properties. He received a Master of Architecture from Princeton University and worked for several award-winning architectural firms before starting his own practice. Michael is currently working on projects in Connecticut and New York and is focused on creating an integrated development practice that promotes innovative design and sustainability.

Eemax Announces New Product Line

Eemax, Inc., the market leader in commercial, industrial, and residential electric tankless water heaters, has introduced a NEW line of custom Three-Phase 480v Delta Units. With a compact design that delivers high-powered results, the Eemax Thermostatic Three-Phase, Series Six, and Series Twelve "Delta" models range from 20kW to a whopping 150kW (largest in the industry) powerhouse for commercial and industrial applications. They also produce heated water up to 40 (GPM) Gallons Per Minute. With the Delta electrical configuration, these units are easily installed at the point of use with no neutral electrical leg required. Each model features a flow device that activates the heater only on demand so there is continuous hot water and no standby heat loss, no wasted water and energy making them 99% energy efficient.

"Eemax has listened to our customers asking for a 480 volt Delta configured heater which has the same or better performance as our existing line of 480 volt Wye/Star configured products, but has installation flexibility by not requiring a neutral line. The 480 Delta series is the answer," explained Kevin Ruppelt, Eemax President and CEO. "We offer the widest range of products in the electric tankless water heater industry, and now with these 480 Delta products, we offer reduced installation cost with easier more common installation, as well as the largest Series 12 Safety Shower Instantaneous Heater we have ever produced."

To learn more, visit www.eemax.com/SafetyEquipment.

About Eemax

Established in 1988, Oxford, Connecticut-based, Eemax, Inc., has quickly emerged as the market leader in electric tankless heaters for use in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Eemax has the most extensive line of ETWH's ranging from small hand washing units (2.4 kW) all the way up to commercial safety eye/face/drench shower units (150kW). Eemax products deliver an endless supply of hot water at a preset temperature to any point-of-use application with 99% energy efficiency. Eemax also offers an exclusive line of ASSE 1070-2004 integrated mechanical mixing valve heaters known as the AccuMix line. If high tech ETW heating is needed in the home, Eemax offers a complete line of HomeAdvantage products. Eemax products are made in the USA, are lead-free and ruggedly constructed to last for decades. The company produces green products that save water, conserve energy, and reduce costs. Visit www.eemax.com for detailed product information.

Media Contact: Kevin Dokla, Marketing Manager (203) 586-7442 or email: marketing@eemaxinc.com

Green Building Awards Reception

June 21, 360 State Street, New Haven, CT

Join the Connecticut Green Building Council (CT GBC) for this cocktail reception honoring the best green buildings in Connecticut this past year. The program is being held at the new LEED® Platinum, 360 State Street Building on the fifth floor rooftop garden and lawn.

Winners will be recognized for residential, commercial and institutional projects.

360 State Street, New Haven, CT, 5th Floor Rooftop Garden and Lawn Awards Celebration & Cocktail
5:30-7:00 pm cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
7:00-8:30 awards presentation
CTGBC members $30.00, Non-members $40.00

Parking garage available in building, street parking, Metro North train station nearby.

For more information, visit http://www.ctgbc.org/event_reg.htm

Green Globes Rating System for New and Existing Buildings

June 9, OFI Contract Interiors, Newington, CT

Green Globes® is a building assessment system and ANSI standard for commercial and multi-family residential buildings. The Green Building Initiative (GBI), which brought Green Globes to the U.S. in 2004, says the Green Globes rating and certification process can be completed for less than the combined hard/soft costs and time associated with LEED.

Green Globes could be ideal for complex or specialty buildings that cannot be certified with LEED. This program will present an overview of the GBI and the Green Globes New Construction (NC) and Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (CIEB) Rating/Certification System, and allow time for questions with the GBI’s presenters.

Webinar presentation by GBI's Sharene Rekow, Vice President of Marketing /Sales, and Kevin Stover, GBI’s Technical Advisor. Live discussion to follow, moderated by Linda Reeder, author of the book Guide to Green Building Rating Systems: Understanding LEED, Green Globes, ENERGY STAR, the National Green Building Standard, and More.

Location: OFI Contract Interiors
28 Garfield Street
Newington, CT 06111

5:30 - 6:00 pm Check-in and networking (refreshments served)
6 - 7:00 pm Webinar
7 - 7:30 pm Q&A and Discussion

CT Green Building Council Members $10.00 Non-members $25.00

AIA members may request credit by self-reporting to the AIA.

Additional information, visit http://www.ctgbc.org/event_reg.htm

April Green Building Update

Here's a run down of green building news and highlights reported in Connecticut during the month of April and include announcements of green hotels, green car washes, several solar panel installations and several buildings attempting to or achieving LEED® certification.

Two UTC Units Sign Green Deals

UTC Power is a subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp (UTC), announced this past month that the South Windsor, CT based energy manufacturer will provide fuel cells to the commercial real estate market throughout the United States, as part of an agreement reached with New York City-based Newmark Energy Solution. Under the agreement, Newmark will become the exclusive distributor of UTC Power stationary fuel cells in the United States. Newmark will permit, design, finance, construction and operate the UTC PureCell fuel cells, growing at a rate of 20 megawatts of installed capacity per year.

Otis Elevator Company, another unit of United Technologies Corp., also announced this month is has inked a contract to supply and install 63 elevators and escalators for Kohinoor Square, in Mumbai. Kohinoor Square will include one of India’s tallest office buildings and is currently pursuing LEED®, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, at the Platinum level from the Indian Green Building Council.

Kohler Environmental Center Breaks Ground

This month, Choate Rosemary Hall‘s Board of Trustees held a groundbreaking ceremony for the School’s new Kohler Environmental Center. The new 31,000-square-foot building is being built with funds from a $20 million gift from Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Kohler Company and chairman of Choate’s Board of Trustees. The new building hopes to achieve LEED®-platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to Graham Wyatt, a Partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the designer of the building. Current plans for the Center also target net-zero energy usage.

Connecticut Green Lodging Certifies 30th Hotel

According to a press release sent out this month by The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Connecticut now has 30 hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts that are participating in the Connecticut Green Lodging program. These lodging facilities have implemented business practices that have less impact on the environment such as conserving energy and water, reducing waste and using less toxic cleaning products which have reduced operating costs and have given them a marketing edge. The number of facilities earning the certification has more than doubled in less than 1 year.

The certification program began in May, 2009, after environmentally progressive hotel owners contacted the Connecticut DEP and legislators requesting that Connecticut offer certification to state lodging facilities. The

Connecticut program is based on a similar program operating in Maine. Currently, 26 states have certification
programs for lodging.

The most recent lodging facility to receive the certification is Inn at Woodstock Hill in Woodstock, CT which was certified this month. Other facities receiving certification after January, 2011 include the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT, the Comfort Inn in Mystic, CT, the Courtyard in Norwich, CT, and The Holiday Inn Express in Southington, CT.

The Connecticut Green Lodging is a self-certification program based on accumulating points associated with

environmental practices at lodging facilities. The points are recorded in the Connecticut Green Lodging

Self-Certification Workbook. The workbook and more information about the program are available on
www.ct.gov/dep/greenlodging.

A workshop is being planned for September 2011 to teach hotels additional practices that will help lodging

facilities get certified. Green Weddings will be one of the featured topics. The schedule will be posted on the
DEP’s website when the details are finalized.

GE Partners With Google To Develop Largest U.S. wind farm

Google and subsidiaries of the ITOCHU and Sumitomo corporations have announced plans to invest $500 million in the $2 billion wind farm. The project has so far been developed by GE and Caithness Energy. Shepherds Flat, which is being built near Arlington, Oregon, is set to be the US’s largest wind farm. Its 2.5MW GE turbines have been installed on the first 265MW phase while building on the second 290MW section is underway. Google became a wind project owner last year when it acquired two developments in North Dakota with a combined capacity of 169.5MW.

CT DOT Opens Renovated Green Service Plaza

Hartford, Conn. - According to a press release by Connecticut Department of Transportation, the first of 23 Connecticut highway service plazas to be completely renovated – with a series of “green” features –

reopened last week in North Haven on the southbound side of the Wilbur Cross Parkway. The work began in

July 2010 by Project Service LLC, which has a 35-year contract with the state to renovate and operate the service plazas.

The North Haven service plaza, open around the clock, will offer food from Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway, gasoline from ExxonMobil and will also feature a convenience shop. Under the contract with Project Service, each of the 23 service plazas – on I-95, I-395 and the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways – will have those offerings and, in addition, on I-95, there will also be a McDonald’s. Each will also have facilities for single-stream recycling and the I-95 sites will have idle-reduction technology for tractor-trailers.

The North Haven facility has solar panels to lessen dependence on traditional power sources and the building itself has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council's Silver LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program at the Silver level. The rest rooms also feature facilities designed to use less water. Building insulation is much “greener” than the original, the heating and air conditioning units are state-of-art in terms of energy efficiency and lighting has been designed to take greater advantage of natural light during the day. Sensors have been installed to shut off lights when, for example, there is no one in the rest room. Conduit has been installed for the anticipated installation of charging stations for electric cars.

Car Wash in Stamford First in U.S. to Use Sun to Heat Wash Water

Rocky Hill, Conn. – The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund announced this month that the solar thermal installation at Greenwich Avenue Car Wash it funded through the Solar Thermal Incentive Program is now completed and successfully operating. This car wash, located at 229 Greenwich Avenue (Route 1) in Stamford, Conn., is the first in the country to use energy from the sun to heat wash water. A rebate of $28,875 from CCEF covered approximately 75 percent of the project cost.

Norwalk Museum Receives LEED® Certification

According to www.norwalkplus.com, Stepping Stones Museum for Children held a special press conference this month and officially unveiled the LEED® Gold Certification plaque presented by the U.S. Green Building Council. The award ranks the museum as one of only three public buildings in Connecticut to reach this milestone.

SunLight General Capital Announces $1M Solar Installation at Ansonia High School

SunLight General Capital, the Northeast’s premier solar energy developer and financer, announced this month that construction has begun on a $1-million, 200-kilowatt solar electric power generating project at Ansonia High School in New Haven County, Connecticut. The project, which is expected to generate nearly 230,000-kilowatt hours of energy each year, will be built at no expense to the City of Ansonia, which will reap significant savings through reduced energy bills.

Under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), SunLight General financed and owns the installation and will provide clean, renewable energy to the school, at a known fixed price that is substantially lower than local utility rates.

Ansonia High School is the city’s largest consumer of energy — one of the reasons it was chosen to house the

panels. Over the 15-year life of the city’s PPA with SunLight General Capital, it will save more than $210,000 by purchasing energy generated by the installation, which will be constructed on the school’s roof.

North Branford Considers Solar Deal

According to the northbranford.patch.com, DCS Energy of Glastonbury, CT made a presentation at this month's Town Council meeting with a solar panel plan.According to the patch.com article, council members were overwhelmingly hesitant.

Bob Oberle, the Connecticut representative of DCS Energy, addressed the council with the company's plan to install 4kW and 9kW solar panels on town buildings at no cost to the town. The company receives federal stimulus fund money that pays for the project. The panels can be installed on buildings with composition/asphalt roofs that have southern exposure to the sun and a number of town buildings may qualify, including the Town Hall, the Atwater and Edward Smith libraries, the high school, intermediate school, Totoket Valley and North Branford Public Schools District Offices.

Oberle sought the council's approval on a company inspection initiative. The company will inspect the roofs and

layouts of the buildings to determine whether they are feasible for the solar panels.

A green energy initiative will cut electric costs as the panels will work in tandem with the current energy

suppliers, United Illuminating and Wallingford Electric, with $180 per month savings from a 9kW panel and $80 per month savings from a 4kW panel. Annual savings are estimated at $1,200 to $2,000 per meter.

After Oberle's presentation council members questioned him about snow coverage of the panels during the winter, but Oberle said the snow could be left on the panels to melt.

Brio54 Designs Released For Sale

  Brio54 was founded in 2007 by Gernot Bruckner, DI arch. with the premise of introducing unique, modern and responsible lifestyle design, usually limited to the high-end residential market to a broader segment of the population.

The Brio54_Lifestyle Brand

So far they have successfully developed an iconic playful modern lifestyle brand that is neither trendy nor retro, but emerged out of the demand for a functional, yet more emotional than cerebral modern design people can relate to and feel comfortable living in.

Several product lines featuring the Brio54_Lifestyle design were developed up to the design development stage. The H1 to H5 models range from an urban infill, to a 520SF studio retreat.

In 2010 Brio54 pushed the first product line, the H4, through prototyping and built the Brio54_H4 showcase house in Milford, CT, which is now open for guided tours by appointment.

sales@brio54.com

Office: (203) 542-0996
Mobile: (203) 570-3826
Fax: (866) 488-3604

H4_Showcase / Sales
162 Hillside Avenue; Milford, CT-06460

Picture above is HOUSE 4 [ H4 ] Showcase in Milford, CT

April, 2011

New Green Office Condominiums Coming Soon

Centerpoint Connecticut, a seven building campus on the Middletown/Cromwell line that is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® program is moving ahead rapidly. The Class A office condominiums are for sale or lease and range in size from 1,300 to 6,000 square feet. Centerpoint Connecticut offers an exciting and much demanded opportunity for small business owners and professional practices: the premiere green office development that promotes a healthy environment and a healthy bottom line.

Founded on quality building design and environmental stewardship, this innovative green office project is a progressive model of commercial real estate development. Registered with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® program at the Silver level, Centerpoint Connecticut has been designed by the architectural firm Tyre Studio to “integrate sustainable building technologies and practices to generate a project that offers extremely high energy efficiency and healthy working environments.” Each building will have solar panel arrays on the roof that produce 20 KW of power annually. The project will employ Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology for the heating and cooling system which provides exceptional energy efficiency while accommodating a wide range of occupants within a single building. The developers will also use smart irrigation sensors and plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption by 40 percent. The collective green features of Centerpoint Connecticut will provide over 35 percent savings on energy consumption.

As office condominiums, Centerpoint Connecticut provides an alternative for business owners who have been frustrated managing their never ending rent expense. Office ownership allows the business owner to build equity, enjoy significant income tax savings through depreciation write-offs, and benefit from real estate appreciation. Traditionally Connecticut small business owners have been excluded from these benefits - until now. Similar to the benefits of owning a home, business office ownership adds an important asset to a company’s balance sheet and offers numerous tax advantages.

For an exciting tour of this project and contact information, please visit www.centerpointCT.com.

March, 2011

National DECON’11 Conference Comes To Connecticut

May 15-19, 2011, Yale University

The Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) will hold its bi-annual international conference on building deconstruction, building materials reuse, and construction and demolition waste recycling on May 15-19, 2011 at the prestigious and historic Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

DECON’11 will address many important and timely issues in the green building and green jobs fields; including building material salvage best practices, building materials reuse and LEED, deconstruction and workforce development, rebuilding distressed neighborhoods, recycling of construction and demolition debris, and many other topics. The conference is being held to support the growth of the building materials reuse industry, and to encourage the sharing of information. Developers, contractors, homeowners, and municipalities need alternatives to the complex problems of demolition and waste handling and deconstruction and building materials reuse can be an innovative, community focused solution.

DECON’11 will feature experts from the field sharing case studies and emerging research, panel discussions, demonstrations, as well as tours of projects and businesses engaged in deconstruction, building materials reuse, construction & demolition recycling, and green building. There will be two hands-on training programs, both a full-day of learning; a deconstruction workshop organized by the BMRA and an accredited construction and demolition waste recycling training taught by Waste Resource Solutions. Many opportunities to network are planned, including a welcoming reception at ArtSpace (coordinated by the CT Materials Reuse Network), sponsored lunches, and a conference barbeque.

Building deconstruction is becoming widely recognized as a means to recover and reuse the millions of tons of used, but still serviceable, materials generated each year in the demolition and remodeling of buildings. In addition to being environmentally preferable to disposal, reuse helps conserve our Nation’s natural resources and makes available a source of quality building materials. An alternative to hauling away a community’s building assets to the landfill, deconstruction also offers a way to keep the value of the materials in the local economy. This reinfusion of material value can help in creating jobs, developing local businesses, and helping turn distressed neighborhoods into more sustainable communities.

The conference will include an exhibitor’s hall at Yale’s Commons, an architectural landmark. Vendors will display new tools, services, and other industry information. Anyone involved in green building, community planning and redevelopment, or sustainability issues will benefit from attending this conference. Deconstruction and demolition contractors, recycling coordinators, waste haulers and other waste management professionals should also plan to attend.

The first major event of its type in New England, DECON’11 is expected to attract considerable attention and early registration is suggested. For more information, visit www.bmra.org for details on the agenda, registration, and other information.

The BMRA is a non-profit educational and research organization whose mission is to facilitate building deconstruction and the reuse and recycling of building materials.

January, 2011

CT Energy Challenge Announces Winners for 2010

The winning entries in the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge, announced this month, make for an interesting trio: two homes larger than 3,600 sq. ft. and one at 2,690, and HERS index scores topping out at 37. The first-place winner, the largest home of the three, landed a minus 7.

The Challenge, a design and build competition for single-family and multifamily homes, included 15 projects built in Connecticut between May 2009 and December 1, 2010. The top prize, $15,000, went to a four-bedroom project in Killingworth designed and built by Consulting Engineering Services, of Middletown, and J.W. Huber Architect, of Essex. The home includes R-20 slab floors, R-39 foundation walls, R-42 exterior walls, an R-62 vaulted ceiling, geothermal heating, an energy-recovery ventilation system, and a 13.65 kW photovoltaic system. A blower-door test showed airtightness of 0.43 air changes per hour at a pressure difference of 50 Pascals. The conditioned area: 4,539 sq. ft., just under the 5,000-sq.-ft. contest limit.

Less extravagant, but still big performance

The second-place prize, $10,000, went to the smallest house among the top three, a 2,690-sq.-ft. three-bedroom in New Hartford whose owners, Jeremy and Karann Schaller, designed the home to include R-15 foundation slab and walls, R-25 structural-insulated-panel exterior walls, an R-42 SIP vaulted ceiling, solar hot water (with a propane-fuel backup system), and a 7.6 kW solar power system. The construction costs on this project, Jeremy Schaller noted in a recent post to a blog site focused on the project, came in at around $320,000, or about $120 per sq. ft. – likely nowhere near the same construction-cost universe as the first-place project.

A 3,736-sq.-ft. five-bedroom in Ridgefield, built by BPC Green Builders, of Wilton, took the $5,000 third-place prize. This project, which also is seeking LEED for Homes Gold or Platinum certification, was designed around an existing, older, cape-style home. It features foundation and crawl-space insulation at R-20, R-29 insulation for the existing exterior walls, R-32 for new exterior walls, an R-58 roof, geothermal heating (via two 300-ft. wells), and airtightness of 2.0 ach at 50 Pascals.

The Zero Energy Challenge is sponsored by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, Connecticut Light and Power, and the United Illuminating Company. Like Connecticut’s other major energy conservation programs, the Challenge is funded by a charge on customers' utility bills and administered by the state’s electric and gas utilities.

Source: www.greenbuildingadvisor.com

December, 2010

ARRA Solar PV Program Launched

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has announced that it has launched the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Program (ARRA Commercial Solar PV Program). This program offers financial support, in the form of grants, to buy down the cost of installing new solar PV equipment at commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in Connecticut.

The intent of the funding is to enable owners of solar PV systems to “break even” over the life of the equipment, with a fair and reasonable return on investment compared to purchasing the equivalent amount of power from an electric utility company.

“This new incentive program enables CCEF to continue its strong tradition of supporting the installation of solar PV systems at commercial, industrial and institutional sites around the state,” said Dale Hedman, acting president of CCEF. “To date, 143 commercial solar installations in Connecticut have been completed using CCEF funding. An additional 43 projects are in progress. CCEF looks forward to supporting a diverse assortment of new solar PV projects with these ARRA funds – helping schools, businesses, farms, government buildings and other facilities go green.”

Eligible applicants include real estate developers; owners of commercial, industrial or institutional sites; and companies engaged in the development of solar PV projects. Proposed solar PV projects must have a capacity of at least 50 kWAC and must be in the development phase (i.e., not already under construction).

The total funding allocated for projects under the ARRA Commercial Solar PV Program through April 30, 2012 is $3 million. April 30, 2012 is also the date by which projects receiving support through this program must be placed in service.

Prospective applicants should review the application instructions for more detailed information about program eligibility, incentive limits, application process and evaluation process. Applications submitted by eligible applicants will be evaluated by CCEF staff, and CCEF staff will present funding recommendations to the CCEF Board, which provides all final funding approvals.

For more information about the ARRA Commercial Solar PV Program, visit www.ctcleanenergy.com/arra-pv.

November, 2010

New Ground, LLC Home Earns National Green Building Certification

A new home built by New Ground LLC has received Gold level National Green Building Certification from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. This custom home was completed in July 2010 and is one of only a few homes in the state to achieve the designation.

The builder and designer of the home, Jason Nowosad started his company New Ground LLC in 2004 and has been building green homes ever since. “All of our homes have been green, but we’ve never sought the certification from the NAHB before” says Nowosad, “ we were really pleased to achieve the gold level on our first application for certification.”

The ENERGY STAR home in North Stonington, like all of New Ground LLC’s homes is built on a foundation of insulated concrete forms. The forms snap together much like legos® and the concrete is poured inside. The home was then framed using advanced framing techniques to minimize construction waste and also build a structure that is both strong and free of gaps where air can escape.

The 2,600 square foot home was designed with resource efficiency in mind using dimensions that reduce the need for cutting standard size construction materials and simply making the most of space and materials.

The custom home was also designed with the desires of the client in mind and Jason worked closely with the customer to create a home that is not only green but also very comfortable. The 3-bedroom cape style home features an open floor plan with a beautiful spacious kitchen, a living room with cathedral ceiling, and a Jacuzzi in the master bath.

The home is insulated with non-toxic high efficiency spray foam insulation and gets its heat, hot water, and cool air from an onsite horizontal loop ground source heat pump. ENERGY STAR approved windows and solar tempering further increase the home’s energy efficiency. The home’s HERS score is 44, meaning it is 56% more efficient than a standard home.

Of course, the home has only energy star appliances including water saving models as well as CFL lighting and zero VOC paint on all interior walls.

New Ground LLC’s 2600 square-foot, Cape style home in North Stonington, CT meets the definition of green building: incorporating environmental considerations into all aspects of its design and construction.

“Builders who have their homes Green Certified through the NAHB Research Center’s National Green Building Certification Program are not just saying they build green homes,” said Michael Luzier, NAHB Reserch Center president. “They’re proving it! The Research Center requires third-party verification of every green point claimed by a builder, so seeing our Green Certified certification mark on a home ensures the homebuyer that the builder’s green claims are true.”

Additional information on the NAHB Research Center’s National Green Building Certification Program is available at www.nahbgreen.org/certification. New Ground LLC can be found online at www.newgroundconstruction.com.

October, 2010

Connecticut Green Building News Update

Bloomfield, Conn., August 30, 2010 - It's been a while since we did a Green Building News Update in Connecticut so here's the latest.

Suntech Wins contract for New WPI Facility

Suntech of Connecticut, Inc., a leading architectural glazing company specializing in the commercial market, proudly announces their selection as a contractor on the new Sports and Recreation Center at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA. The project, scheduled for completion in 2012, entails the construction of a 29,000 square foot gymnasium, complete with 14,000 square feet of cardio space and 5,000 square feet of specialized, multipurpose rooms. Featuring state-of-the-art equipment, the new center will overlook WPI’s quadrangle to the east and Alumni Field to the west. The $53.2 million development is part of the Institute’s seven-year capital plan.

The facility hopes to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification standards from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Connecticut Solar Lease Only Accepting 100 New Leases

The Connecticut Solar Lease Program is open again, but it’s only going to be available for a limited time. The program estimates it only will accept about 100 new leases before the program is closed again. If you’re interested, contact a solar installer to submit your CT Solar Lease application before it runs out.

The CT Solar Lease Program is a unique opportunity to get solar panels in the hands of moderate income households. It is a special leasing plan especially for Connecticut homeowners. Typically, commissioning a solar system on your roof would require a large upfront investment. With CT Solar Lease, the program would actually own the solar installation installed on your roof and lease it out to you a low, fixed monthly payment of about $120 for an average home. With most households in participating in the program, you can start to see the savings on your electricity bill almost immediately.

Rockville Bank Supports Green Building in Connecticut

Building green energy-efficient houses takes a lending partner willing to commit to eco-friendly building projects. Rockville Bank, a FDIC-insured bank based in Connecticut, is one such lender. The bank has helped a cutting-edge residential home builder to build a prototype house that proves that an energy-efficiency house can be artistic and a house an architect would admire. Most importantly, the house developed by Sunlight Construction with financing from Rockville Bank utilizes geo-thermal power and solar power to save energy costs.

“The science behind our energy-efficient prototype is as much common sense as it is sophisticated technology,” said Bill Ferrigno, President of Sunlight Construction and Immediate Past President of the Home Builders Association of Connecticut. “It proves that a complex, energy-efficient house can also be architecturally attractive.” This home will be virtually indistinguishable from the 13 other conventionally constructed residences he is building in the West Hills of Avon subdivision off West Avon Road.

With advanced framing techniques and state-of-the-art insulation and sealing, the entire house is “enveloped” to prevent air leakage to prevent warm air from escaping and keep cold air from seeping inside. “This ensures that less energy for heating/cooling is needed to begin with, and is climate-controlled with a sophisticated new geothermal underground heating and cooling horizontal loop system to maximize energy efficiency,” Ferrigno said.

New Operational Demonstration Program Launched

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has announced that it has launched a new Operational Demonstration Program. This program funds the installation, demonstration and testing of pre-commercial clean energy technologies in Connecticut by providing loans of $150,000 to $500,000. New features of the program include: semiannual application and funding cycles, streamlined application process, a competitive judging process and expanded list of eligible technologies. Additionally, funding of $4 million has been budgeted for the program over the next two fiscal years, enabling it to support up to six new projects per year. For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.

The Corbo Group Announces Green Home at Owl Ridge Rd in Woodbury, CT

The Corbo Group is a family homebuilding business that designs custom houses in Connecticut. As a member of the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), The Corbo Group has adopted the Green Home Guidelines and achieved the highest level of compliance, the Gold Level. The Corbo Group offers new green spec houses in an effort to develop energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally responsible houses. By incorporating various green building principles into their new homes in Woodbury and throughout Connecticut, the average house can save as much as 50 percent on utility costs.

"The home at 85 Owl Ridge represents an incredible opportunity for someone to purchase a new home in this highly desirable neighborhood. Manicured lawns, forever views, and all the fittings of a custom home await a new buyer,” says President Ralph Corbo.

The Corbo Group strives to create well built houses with energy efficient techniques and materials, such as the "Total Propane Gas" home energy package.

New Program Helps Workers Prepare for Solar Careers

The CT Business and Industry Association (CBIA), in conjunction with three Connecticut community colleges, is offering free training programs to help workers expand their skills and knowledge and prepare them for new careers in one of the fastest-growing green industries— solar photovoltaics (PV). The program is available free of charge to eligible participants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal grant.

This program is offered by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and Connecticut Community Colleges as part of the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Matching funds are provided by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

NCC's Building Program Awarded Silver 2010 CT Quality Improvement Award

NCC’s B.E.S.T certificate program—an initiative to train workers in green building and renewable energy practices-- has been awarded a Silver 2010 Quality Improvement Innovation Prize from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) Partnership.

The award is America's first state level quality award using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria for performance excellence. Baldridge was a former CEO from Connecticut who served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Reagan administration.

The award recognizes companies and nonprofit organizations from Connecticut which demonstrate innovative practices leading to improved quality, performance and marketplace competitiveness.

This year, prizes in the Platinum, Gold and Silver categories were won by 22 manufacturers, 29 service companies, two healthcare organization, three educational institutions and one state agency.

Barnes Expands Green Product Catalog

Barnes Distribution says it has added soy-based cleaners and degreasers to its product catalog to satisfy customer demand for environmentally products.

The unit of Bristol-based manufacturer-logistics firm Barnes Group Inc. says its 2010 catalog, which now includes Nutek Green and Grime Off brand cleaners, continues the line of "greener'' products that lack harmful volatile organic compounds first introduced in its 2009 catalog.

Products in the 449-item catalog include Barnes Distribution High Solid paints, cleaners and degreasers, greases and lubricants, lead free wheel weights, janitorial supplies, adhesives, sealants, lighting, all natural sorbent pads and more.

Yale Receives $1.5M US Carbon Capture Project

The U.S. Department of Energy says it has picked Yale University for a $1.5 million project to develop technologies to store carbon dioxide.

The project is among 15 at a cost of $21.3 million over three years nationally to help develop technology to store carbon dioxide in geologic formations. Officials say the projects selected Wednesday will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop and use near-zero emission coal technologies.

Yale will study questions about the chemical and mechanical processes for carbonation to be practical on a large scale.

Geologic storage is focused on depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline formations, unmineable coal seams and other areas.