First Net-Zero Energy Home in Connecticut

Consulting Engineering Services (CES) is a MEP engineering firm that is wholeheartedly committed to sustainable design and has a very strong “practice what you preach” mentality. In December 2008, President and CEO of CES, George V. Keithan, Jr. decided to commit to fostering an entirely new life-style and design the first Net Zero Energy Home in Connecticut, which coincidentally would become his family’s private residence. With the hard work of CES employees designing the MEP systems, J. W. Huber Architect LLC and Essex Squared LLC and numerous contractors, the home was completed in November 2009 and is the first Net Zero Energy Home in Connecticut.

The modest New England farm house style home sits at the end of an 800-foot driveway on a secluded 14 acre lot in Killingworth, CT. Accompanying this home is a post and beam barn, chicken coop and detached barn style garage. The property will serve as a working organic vegetable farm and tree farm. The roof of the barn is where the 65 solar photovoltaic panels are installed that will provided all of the electrical power for the residence. On the roof of the main house are 10 solar hot water panels for heating the domestic hot water. Altogether these panels will generate 20,000 kwhr/yr of electricity. The house also has a water-to-water standing column Geothermal HVAC system that will also be used for the domestic water well.

The interior of the home has a soft elegance with its combination of modern technology and understated farmhouse details. When the rooms aren’t being filled with natural light they are lit with LED fixtures and the paint, woodwork, flooring and cabinets were all chosen because they emit low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Many of the finishing details throughout the home come from recycled materials; reused countertops from old homes, an old barn door installed on a slider to hide the LED television, recycled doors for the interior rooms and recycled slate for the window sills.

Paperwork has been submitted to register this residence as LEED® for Homes Platinum certified - the highest of the nationally accepted benchmarks developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The home also meets the requirements of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund Net Zero Challenge.

March, 2010

Tall Properties To Build New Green Office Condominiums

Tall Properties Development Company is moving ahead rapidly with Centerpoint Connecticut - green, Class A office condominiums for sale or lease, opportunistically located along the Interstate-91 corridor, this seven building campus offers units ranging in size from 700 to 12,000 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 25 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. Rain water from the building roofs will be harvested and used to irrigate all of the on-site landscaping. The collective green features of Centerpoint Connecticut provide an estimated 40% savings on energy consumption and 70% reduction in water usage.

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.

Tall Properties, LLC is an innovative development company focused on creating exciting and sustainable real estate solutions for Connecticut’s communities.

Above rendering courtesy of Tyre Studio

buildOn.org Partners with Moving Windmills Project

December, 2009 - Moving Windmills Project, the U.S. 501(c)3 co-founded by The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind author William Kamkwamba has announced that it will partner with buildOn.org, an NGO based in Stamford, CT and Kasungu, Malawi which builds primary schools in the developing world, coincidentally and fortuitously including William Kamkwamba’s home province.

buildOn.org empowers people and transforms lives by partnering their after-school service programs in the U.S. with communities in developing countries to build schools.  buildOn.org students add tremendous contributions of community service in their own cities and neighborhoods and buildOn youth actually build schools and bring literacy to children and adults in developing countries around the world.

Since 1992:

97% of students involved with buildOn programs in the U.S. go on to college.
U.S. student volunteers have helped build 332 schools in rural regions of developing nations (including Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Nicaragua and Senegal).
More than 136,000 children and adults have attended those schools and over 54,700 are currently enrolled.
Parents in developing countries have contributed more than 652,437 volunteer work days toward building schools.

The Moving Windmills Project was founded in 2008 to pursue rural economic development and education projects in Malawi, Africa. Its motto is, “African Solutions to African Problems.” Rather than invest in top-down, externally imposed agendas, Moving Windmills works with local leaders to determine, organize and implement the appropriate solutions. Areas of focus include: food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, health, education, clean water and community building. Moving Windmills Project works primarily in the Kasungu district in Malawi, Africa.

The primary school William Kamkwamba attended through standard 8 (U.S. 8th grade) was constructed by the Catholic Church in 1950 to educate 450 students. It encompasses three buildings with two classrooms each. Unfortunately, the currently student population is 1480 students and was even higher during William’s time. There are no desks for the children or teachers and they must sit on the floor. There is also no power, light, or clean water. The roof leaks through many holes and the cement floor, which is frigid during the winter and scalding during the summer, is pockmarked with holes. The Malawian government provides teachers’ salaries and textbooks.

The new building project encompasses a master plan for approximately seven new structures over the course of two to three years. Each new school building will sturdy construction, fully equipped classroom, boys' and girls' latrines, and, thanks to William Kamkwamba's design additions, carbon-free hybrid solar/wind power, battery storage systems, lights, ventilation fans and A/C electricity. The plan also provides for a much larger library than the one that inspired William to build his windmill. Books will be furnished in partnership with American NGOs. Each building can be used to educate 150 students during the day, and for adult classes at night. The buildings can also be used as community meeting spaces.

In the buildOn process, community stakeholders sign a covenant to participate in the buildings' construction, by making the bricks and providing the manual labor. The community also warrants equal education access and attendance for girls and boys through out every grade. Orphans must also be educated free, with uniforms provided. buildOn works with the community over three years, providing adult literacy programs and school support. buildOn has already built several schools in the Kasungu province.

"buildOn is pleased to partner with Moving Windmills Project to rebuild Wimbe Primary School, which "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," William Kamkwamba attended. We look forward to working closely with the community to build a modern school that serves their 1480 girls and boys," said Marc Friedman, COO of buildOn.

"Moving Windmills will raise the money, and with their precise expertise, experience and proven community methodology, buildOn will build the schools. Then we will add green power, water, and books." said Tom Rielly, MWP executive director.

AI Tech Center Green Plans Unveiled

November 23, 2009 - Earlier this month and against the backdrop of the demolished former Channel 3 building, Abul Islam, President & CEO of AI Engineers, Inc. of Middletown unveiled the latest plans for the future AI Tech Center at the corner of Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford. When completed as planned, the structure will be one of the first U.S. Green Building Council LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified commercial buildings in the State.

Before a room full of business, political and economic leaders of Hartford and the state, Islam unveiled detailed renderings of the 180-thousand square foot, 13-story office tower that will incorporate numerous green technologies including photovoltaic power, fuel cells, and a central solar light well that will maximize the capture of daylight. “This building will be able to produce at least 50 per cent of its own power”, said Islam who stressed the importance of incorporating technological advances as a way of generating new growth in the region.

AI Engineers, Inc., a multi-discipline engineering firm, will occupy two floors of the proposed building. Islam introduced the first additional prospective tenant, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, which has signed a letter of intent to occupy another floor of the AI Tech Center.

The plans, created by the Boston architectural firm Childs, Bertman, Tseckares, Inc. (CBT), show dramatic renderings of a mosaic-like structure with glass situated to maximize the capture of solar energy and topped by a rooftop garden surrounding the light well roof that will flood the interior building with natural daylight. Jones, Lang, LaSalle, the world’s second largest commercial real estate firm, will be leasing the rest of the building including retail space and a rooftop restaurant that will offer spectacular views of the city. Suffolk Construction of Boston, Massachusetts, which has worked extensively with CBT around the country, will be erecting the building.

City of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez lauded the efforts of Mr. Islam whose vision has generated so much excitement and interest for the project. “This building represents Hartford’s Future” said the mayor citing the increasing development along Columbus Boulevard which he referred to as “Science Row”. State Senator Gary LeBeau, Chairman of the state legislature's Commerce Committee, lauded the project as a bold and exciting step towards creating high-value job growth. “This project represents the future of innovation economies” said LeBeau stating that the project is additionally powerful because it is utilizing existing infrastructures.

For additional information please visit www.aitechcenter.com .

Other Recent Green Building News
November, 2009

Starwood Moving Headquarters to Connecticut

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell recently announced that Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. will relocate its global corporate headquarters to Stamford, bringing millions of dollars in investments and 800 jobs to the state.

“For months I have worked with Starwood executives and my economic development team to make this deal – and the jobs and investments it brings – a reality for the people of our state,” Governor Rell said. “I am thrilled to see a company of Starwood’s stature make the business decision to move here and invest here. It is a triumph for Connecticut – and it speaks volumes about what our state has to offer businesses.”

The company’s move from White Plains, New York, to Stamford’s waterfront Harbor Point development is planned for January 2012. Harbor Point is already home to major employers such as Pitney Bowes and Deloitte & Touche. The company’s new headquarters will be certified under the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards program.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel and leisure companies, with 982 hotels in nearly 100 countries and nine renowned brands including Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis and W Hotels. Plans call for Starwood to partner with the landlord to invest $40 million into renovating the existing facility.

The company, which plans to occupy 250,000 square feet of space by January 2012, will create more than 800 full-time Connecticut-based positions within two years. Newmark Knight Frank’s Neal Golden, Ross Perlman and John Goodkind represented Starwood Hotels in the transaction.

The Department of Economic and Community Development will assist the project with a $9.5 million loan and up to $75 million in Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Tax Credits. In addition, Starwood expects to receive up to $5 million in sales tax exemptions on building materials through the Connecticut Development Authority. The exemption is subject to approval by CDA’s Board of Directors.

Norwalk Starts Building Green wastewater Treatment Plant

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) for the city of Norwalk recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its $37 million - Phase 1 Upgrade to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. When fully completed, the Norwalk WPCF will be a leader in the State of Connecticut's goal of improving the quality of Long Island Sound through the substantial reduction in the discharge of harmful nutrients and improved water quality.

Mayor Richard Moccia opened the ceremony, stating, "This facility is the first phase of a multi-year project to upgrade our wastewater treatment plant."

"This is an increase in our pretreatment capacity of over 3 times what we currently have available and significantly improves our ability to treat wastewater during wet weather events" said Darren Oustafine, WPCA Chairman. "Although our plant runs exceptionally and well below permit limits, we - as a board and in partnership with our city staff - are continually seeking ways to improve this treatment plant's operation."

Collectively referred to as the plant's "headworks", this phase includes main lift pumping and grit and screens removal to treat a peak flow of up to 90 million gallons per day. The new facility will also provide improved treatment for the extraneous flow the plant receives during wet weather events. A major highlight of the project will be the construction of a 25-foot+ deep structure supported by hundreds of concrete piles in complex soil conditions. The project also includes a number of "green" initiatives including premium efficiency motors, high efficiency fluorescent lighting, a building structure that will meet or exceed the current insulation requirements set forth by the Connecticut State Building Code, and an innovative "Solarwall" that will use solar energy to reduce the building's heating requirements.

This upgrade is being financed through the State of Connecticut's Clean Water Fund. The city of Norwalk will receive over $14 million in grants and almost $22 million in low-interest loans for its construction.

Recent LEED® Registered Buildings

According to the U.S. Green Building Council's Web site, recent LEED® registered projects in Connecticut include the CBNA Building in downtown Bridgeport, which has also been certified along with Yale's Stoeckel Hall which houses the Yale Office of Facilties. SpencerStuart recently registered its offices at 281 Tresser Blvd in Stamford in the LEED Commercial Interiors program.

JB Moving Services Completes Solar PV System

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) announced this month that a 46.2-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system has been completed and is successfully operating at the Stamford, Conn., headquarters of JB Moving Services Inc. (JB Moving). The solar array, mounted on the roof of the company's storage facility, consists of 220 solar panels and is expected to supply approximately 55 percent of the facility's required electricity. The installation was supported with a grant from CCEF's On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program.

JB Moving, with offices in Stamford, Conn., and New Rochelle, N.Y., is a full-service provider of residential and commercial relocations. Since 1986, the company has provided relocation services for fine homes and office environments. Additionally, the company offers climate-controlled space for long- and short-term storage of household or commercial furniture.

The financing for the solar array was structured using an equipment lease agreement. This type of agreement enabled JB Moving to add solar PV to its infrastructure without incurring any upfront cost for the installation of the system. Under the terms of the 10-year agreement between JB Moving and Technology Credit Corp. of San Jose, Calif., Technology Credit Corp. will own the system and rent it to JB Moving. A grant of $177,966 from CCEF defrayed almost half of the total project cost. Mercury Solar Systems of New Rochelle, N.Y., installed the system.

Tunxis $11 million expansion

The expansion at Tunxis Community College is moving ahead with the design phase for a new classroom building on Route 6. DuBose Associates Architects, has been given the go-ahead to proceed with designing the building.

The new, $11 million building will be a 33,000-square-foot, three-story structure. The first floor will contain a dozen classrooms. The second floor will have 11 or 12 classrooms, possibly including one or two technology classrooms. The third floor is slated for office space.The school hopes to achieve LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The school is also working with Carrier Corp., to develop a master energy use plan for the entire campus.

Watkinson School Unveils First In New England Energy-Neutral Classroom Building

By Katie Novak

On Saturday, October 24th Watkinson School unveiled the much-anticipated energy-neutral, sustainable, and first-of-its-kind building in New England: The Center for Science and Global Citizenship designed by San Francisco's Project FROG. Members of Watkinson’s Science Department gave demonstrations of the “smart” building, describing the building’s form and function.

John Bracker, Watkinson’s head of school, announced, “The Center for Science and Global Citizenship represents an important step in our efforts to challenge the traditional orthodoxy of how a building comes together, the role it can play in teaching about sustainability and the curriculum material at hand. Just imagine what’s possible when a building is as smart and dynamic as the students and faculty who live in it” Every aspect of this new Center for Science and Global Citizenship is a teaching tool. Project FROG has set the industry standard for smart buildings – buildings that exceed strict criteria for energy performance, technology performance, user performance and the crucial nexus between them. To be truly “smart,” smart buildings must also be flexible, adaptable, affordable and quick to deploy – all while minimizing the building’s impact on the environment. All of these facts, along with the design elements of the building — such as geothermal power, solar panels, recycled redwood siding, photovoltaic panels, and advanced sensors — will provide extraordinary teaching and learning opportunities for members of Watkinson’s community.

Watkinson now has the classrooms of the future, incorporating the ideal learning environment into the greenest, most sustainable commercial building solution available. The three, 1,280 square foot smart classrooms feature 75 percent energy-demand reduction, abundant natural light and glare control, superior air quality, fungible user technology, microclimate customization and advanced climate controls in an easy to configure package. Constructed of renewable recyclable materials, the Center for Science and Global Citizenship generates more energy within its footprint than is required to operate its systems. To support the linked but diverse curricula of science and global studies, the three classrooms are adaptable to lecture, seminars, and lab-style instruction. Complete with intelligent technology systems and spaces that encourage collaboration, this is a space designed for growing ideas, an incubator for the future. Watkinson plans to host community events for students in the area to tour the building and attend workshops in the new space. Additionally, SPHERE, Watkinson's free summer camp for Hartford children, will utilize the building in their academic programs this summer.

Katie is Associate Director of Admissions & Communications at Watkinson School

Connecticut Green Building Update

October 26, 2009

Avon Old Farms School recently unveiled the largest solar installation at a private school in New England. The 205kW solar electric system was installed by Connecticut-based Alteris Renewables, recently ranked the fastest growing renewable energy company in the Northeast. As the third party owner of the solar panels, EOS Ventures financed the system enabling Avon to go solar without the usual large upfront capital investment. Additional financial support from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) was secured for this project.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council's Web site, recent LEED® certified projects include Kohl’s Department Store in Waterbury, Conn., Citi Global Wealth Management offices in, Stamford, Conn., The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Conn., and two buildings at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., both at the Gold Level.

The Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven officially opened this past week (October 20) and is among the most expensive buildings ever built in New England. At 14 stories tall, the cost was $467 million. The structure is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program.

Governor M. Jodi Rell has announced a $1.8M construction contract to build the new campus of Gateway Community College in downtown New Haven. The project, located on Church Street in the heart of downtown at the sites of the former Macy’s and Malley’s department stores, is expected to gain approval when the state Bond Commission meets later this month. The new campus hopes to be the state's first certified LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) public building at the Gold level.

NuCompass Mobility Services, based in Pleasanton, Calif., has opened an office at 40 Danbury Road, moving its East Coast operations and nearly 30 employees from Glover Avenue in Norwalk. The Wilton complex is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program and hopes to achieve a Gold ranking.

CCEF Launches New Solar Thermal Program

October 17, Hartford, Conn. - Governor M. Jodi Rell has announced the state is dedicating $4 million in federal stimulus funds to help homeowners and businesses pay for the installation of solar-powered hot water heating systems, an investment that will lower utility bills and promote the use of alternative fuels.

“I am proud of Connecticut’s leadership in promoting and using greener, cleaner technology,” Governor Rell said. “This incentive will help hundreds of families and businesses make the switch to renewable energy by saving them money on installation costs and ultimately their hot water bills. It would also be a much-needed boost in business for those who sell and install these systems.”

The incentive program will be administered by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). CCEF officials say there is enough funding available to support installations of 600 residential solar heating systems and about 120 non-residential systems. The systems can supply up to 80 percent of a customer’s annual hot water needs.

“We are excited to be launching this brand new solar initiative,” CCEF President Lise Dondy said. “The Solar Thermal Incentive Program will be CCEF’s third solar initiative and will dovetail nicely with our existing solar lease and rebate programs. Connecticut residents will now have several incentive options to choose from to help them ‘go solar.’”

For more information about the Solar Thermal Incentive Program, visit the CCEF's web site, call (860)563-0015 or e-mail solarthermal@ctcleanenergy.com.

401 Merritt Corporate Park Gets LEED® Certification

September 24, Norwalk, Conn. - Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk has achieved LEED® EB certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for one of the six buildings within the 1.4 million square foot Class-A office park, announced Albert D. Phelps (ADP), managing and leasing agent for the complex.

By achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification, 401 Merritt 7 is the first existing commercial office building in the state of Connecticut to become LEED certified under the USGBC’s existing building rating system, and joins a select group of sustainable and innovative buildings nationwide. The LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance, environmentally sound, green buildings. Building 401 qualified for LEED Green Building certification at the Silver level.

Through a collaborative effort between ADP and ING Clarion Partners, an investment advisor to the property owner, Merritt 7 has made a firm commitment toward environmental stewardship, and has taken numerous actions over a several year period to make the complex more sustainable and energy efficient.

"401 Merritt 7’s energy-efficient and sustainable redesign and upgrades exemplifies what we hope become the standard for commercial assets in the region and across the nation," said Keith A. Crosby, LEED AP, Vice President Construction, ADP Service Corp. "By showcasing the building's innovative HVAC systems as well as water and lighting conservation initiatives, 401 Merritt 7 is helping illustrate to area businesses the benefits of high-performance buildings." ADP Service Corporation spearheaded the LEED Certification process on behalf of the property.

401 Merritt 7 achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

LEED Certification of 401 Merritt 7 was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

· Energy Star rating of 97%
· 100% Green Power Purchased
· Water use reduction through conversion to low flow toilets and waterless urinals
· Waste Reduction & Integrated Occupant Recycling program resulting in a 89% recycling rate
· Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Program
· Green Site and Building Exterior Management Program
· Comprehensive maintenance team training program
· Best practices equipment preventative maintenance program
· Car Pooling & Telecommuting policy
· Alternative fuel vehicle preferred parking
· Indoor Air Quality Program
· Construction, demolition and renovation waste management program
· Indoor chemical and pollutant source control program
· Low mercury containing light bulb policy
· Green Cleaning Policy
· Integrated pest management program
· Low environmental impact cleaning equipment policy
· Sustainable cleaning products and materials policy
· Increased outside air introduction policy
· On staff LEED Accredited Professional

“We are thrilled to receive this much sought-after and prestigious certification, especially since Merritt 7 has been operational for more than 25 years,” said JoAnn Brennan-McGrath, Director of Leasing for Merritt 7 Corporate Park. "Creating a LEED-certified work environment is responsible to the environment, good for business and most importantly, great for our tenant base, their employee morale and productivity,"

Merritt 7 Corporate Park tenant, Teresa S. Polley, President of the Financial Accounting Foundation commented on the LEED certification. “The Financial Accounting Foundation, an original tenant at 401 Merritt 7, congratulates AD Phelps for this prestigious award,” she said. “Our internal `green team’ has maintained a strategic approach of working in partnership with AD Phelps management in identifying environmental initiatives that can be implemented by a tenant, while AD Phelps takes responsibility for the larger, building-wide programs. This partnership has been a win-win which we intend to continue."

Merritt 7 has been widely recognized for its energy conservation efforts. The property received 2008 Green Building of the Year award by the Westchester/Fairfield County Chapter of NAIOP; the 2007 Office Building of the Year by the Southern Conn. Chapter of BOMA; the Southwest Connecticut Summer Energy Savers Award; was awarded EPA’s 2008 Green Power Purchasing Award; was ranked as one of 25 properties on the EPA’S Green Power Partnership list; and became the first office park in Conn. to earn the EPA’s ENERGY STAR rating.

Merritt 7 also received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council – Conn. chapter (NEEC-CT) and Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P); and was recognized by Conn. Governor M. Jodi Rell and Joseph F. Marie, commissioner, Conn. Department of Transportation, with an award for outstanding support of the “Tri-State Five Million Mile Rideshare Challenge.”

“This achievement underscores the success of our extensive capital improvement program which focused on maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing water consumption as well as our firm commitment to protecting the environment and contributing to the green building movement ,” said Margaret Egan, Senior Vice President of ING Clarion Partners LLC. “We’re honored to have the first office building in Connecticut to become LEED-EB certified.”

Merritt 7 Corporate Park is owned by Merritt 7 Venture L.L.C., a joint venture between New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS), and Fairfield Investors, Inc. ING Clarion Partners, LLC, a leading U.S. real estate investment manager, is an investment advisor to NYSTRS.

Source: Merritt 7 Corporate Park

Recent Green Building News

By buildingctgreen.com staff

August, 2009 - Several projects have recently registered with the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program. Those applying for Existing Buildings/Operation and Maintenance (LEED EB and O&M) catagory include, Diageo's North America offices at 801 Main Street in Norwalk, One State Street in Hartford and the Pickwick Plaza in Greenwich. New Construction (LEED-NC) projects include the new Price Chopper supermarket in Middletown and a new building at the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby. The PSEG Bridgeport Training Facility has registered for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI).

Several Hartford law firms have announced staff that have earned LEED® Professional Accreditation. Pepe & Hazard has announced that two attorneys, Gary O’Connor and Jean Perry Phillips, have earned the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED®) Accreditation. Shipman & Goodwin, with offices throughout Connecticut, has announced that Attorney Matt Ranelli, has passed the LEED® Professional Accreditation exam. According to Pepe and Hazard's press release, only three percent of those earning this designation nationally are in the legal profession and, as of this announcement, only 16 legal professionals in Connecticut have obtained it.

Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, CT and a world leader in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR), was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification for its Charlotte, NC Chiller Operation plant. This is one of eleven manufacturing facilities in the world to achieve LEED® status for existing buildings (LEED-EB) and one of the first two United Technologies Corp. factories (both Carrier sites) to achieve this status.

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced in July that the North Stonington-based Inn at Lower Farm, the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa and Cromwell Crowne Plaza are the first hotels to be certified for a new program that allows Connecticut hotels, motels and other lodging owners to market their businesses as green. Connecticut Green Lodging—Accommodating You and Our Environment is a program to encourage – and recognize – lodge owners who implement environmentally friendly practices, such as taking steps to conserve energy and water and using toxic free cleaning products.

Managing C & D Debris - A Green Building Mindset

By Sherill Baldwin

I attend a lot of Green Drinks events in Connecticut; not because I’m thirsty, but because it gives me an opportunity to meet a lot of green builders. I attend because I’m trying to increase the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition debris in Connecticut.

One such effort is the Materials Reuse Network/deconstruction (MRN) facilitated by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. MRN is a group of professionals interested in building materials reuse who want to increase deconstruction activities in Connecticut. More deconstruction will increase reuse and recovery efforts of construction, renovation and demolition materials and surplus/salvaged goods in Connecticut. The group meets mostly monthly and all interested in deconstruction are welcome, to join contact me at sherill.baldwin@ct.gov.

MRN consists of: deconstructors, builders, colleges, educators, consultants, demolition businesses, building contractors, environmental activists, and the 7 building materials reuse centers located in Connecticut. Learn more about how you can buy or donate/sell used building materials at Reuse Centers and Material Exchanges.

Like demolition, deconstruction involves dismantling a building. Unlike demolition, however, deconstruction’s focus is reuse of the materials. Buildings undergo a “construction in reverse” - requiring similar skills to building; an understanding and awareness of how a home is put together in order to take it apart. Deconstruction activities can occur before a standard demolition, in conjunction with demolition, or fully replace demolition. We have a small number of deconstruction professionals in CT – but we need more!

Current barriers do exist, however, and one of them is our mindsets. We need to look at buildings differently. We need to recognize they have value as resources, as well as recognize the energy embodied in all resources. And I’m talking more than the fireplace mantle or the bathtub. It includes cabinets, molding, flooring, plumbing or electrical fixtures, HVAC equipment, floor joists, rafters etc.

In Connecticut, it is estimated that we generate 1.8 million Tons of C & D debris annually. We don’t have the best data for what is recovered, but what we do know, is only an estimated 7% of C & D sent to volume reduction facilities (VRFs) is recycled (VRFs receive an estimated 1.09 million Tons of C & D material)*. The remaining materials are crushed, shredded or chipped (i.e. volume reduced) and shipped to Ohio or some other state that still has landfill space. We’re sending our problem to the Midwest.

But we can do better. Neighboring states are able to separate recyclables at the jobsite – for reuse and recycling. Intrigued? Great sites to learn more about recycling markets include NYS Recycling Markets Database and NERC’s Markets Resources for Recycling Industries (pdf).

In Connecticut, we’re working on a listing of facilities that will accept C & D debris for reuse and recycling and will hopefully be published on DEP’s website early Fall 2009. In the mean time, to learn more about different recycling markets or to be added to the Materials Recycling Network/deconstruction e-distribution list, please contact Sherill Baldwin or 860.424.3440.

About Sherill Baldwin: Sherill is an Environmental Analyst at CT DEP in the Source Reduction and Recycling Program in Hartford.

* State of Connecticut Solid Waste Management Plan: Amended December 2006