green home design

Firm helps recommend new standards for zero energy home and building construction in Massachusetts.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) -- ZeroEnergy Design, an architectural design and mechanical engineering firm, was part of the Residential Workgroup of Governor Duval Patrick’s Zero Energy Net Energy Buildings Task Force (ZNEB).  Governor Patrick’s main charge to the task force was to put the private sector commercial and residential building sectors on a path toward (1) broad marketability of zero net energy buildings by 2020 and (2) universal adoption of zero net energy practices for new construction by 2030.

A zero net energy building is one that is optimally efficient and, over the course of a year, generates energy onsite, using clean renewable resources, in a quantity equal to or greater than the total amount of energy consumed onsite.

At the recent New England Sustainable Energy Association’s Building Energy ’09 Convention, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles announced the release of the ZNEB report to address the Governor’s charge. The report represents a list of the task force’s findings and recommendations concerning energy performance standards, energy tracking, financial and regulatory barriers, and education and workforce development.

Ten recommendations were made for the residential sector of Massachusetts, including developing a Massachusetts Home Energy Rating System, measuring and providing annual energy use data in all homes by 2012, and requiring home energy ratings in conjunction with specific transactions, inspections, or renovations. At the core of the recommendations was establishing energy performance standards for new homes and major renovations based on the HERS Index, and over time raising the minimum performance requirements until reaching zero.  Currently, the Governor’s Office is reviewing the report for implementation.

“After months of in-depth deliberation, the task force developed recommendations that provide a clear pathway to achieve dramatic reductions in both energy consumption and carbon emissions for homes and buildings across Massachusetts” said Emile Chin-Dickey, a Principal at ZeroEnergy Design.  “We are proud to be part of the Governor’s initiative to improve the energy performance of all future construction in Massachusetts.”

Zero Energy Net Energy Buildings Task Force Report

http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/eea/press/publications/zneb_taskforce_report.pdf

About ZeroEnergy Design:

ZeroEnergy Design, an architectural design and mechanical engineering firm, helps individuals, builders, and developers to achieve increased energy performance for homes and buildings throughout the United States. The firm designs new high performance residences for individuals, and provides energy modeling and cost analysis services for commercial and residential clients with a design already in hand. The unique collaboration between in-house architectural designers, mechanical engineers, and financial analysts drives a competitive advantage and enables the firm to deliver fully integrated design services. http://www.ZeroEnergy.com.

A net zero energy home in Truro, Massachusetts, will be open to the public as part of the NESEA Green Buildings Open House. The private residence is designed to produce as much energy as it uses each year.

Zero Energy Home 

Truro, MA (PRWEB) -- ZeroEnergy Design, an architectural design and mechanical engineering firm, will be showcasing their newly completed net zero energy home as part of both the 2008 Green Buildings Open House held annually by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) and the National Solar Energy Tour held annually by the American Solar Energy Association (ASEA) as sponsored by the US Department Of Energy.

The modern Cape Cod residence utilizes a combination of attributes to achieve net zero energy performance. First, energy requirements of the home are reduced by passive means, including attributes like staggered stud walls with foam insulation. Then the active systems throughout the house are selected for energy efficiency, such as the geothermal system which provides all of the heating and cooling. Lastly, renewable energy systems are sized to off-set the annual energy consumption as predicted by detailed energy modeling software. The end result is a grid tied home that utilizes net metering to spin its electric meter backwards and produces as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes.

With a sleek modern aesthetic created by ZeroEnergy Design, the oceanfront residence was constructed by Silvia & Silvia, custom builders, in collaboration with Light Th!s, a lighting design firm, NexAmp, renewable energy system experts, Heimarck & Foglia, landscape architects, GridPoint, an energy management appliance manufacturer, and utilizes panels from Evergreen Solar, a photovoltaic manufacturer.

The residence, located on Corn Hill in Truro, will be open to the public on Saturday October 4th from 10AM until 4PM. More information including directions can be found on the NESEA Green Buildings Open House listings website at www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse/.

About ZeroEnergy Design: ZeroEnergy Design is a professional services firm providing Custom Home Design and Energy Design services for new green homes. The unique collaboration between in-house architectural designers, mechanical engineers, and financial analysts drives a competitive advantage and enables the firm to deliver fully integrated design and engineering for high performance homes. http://www.ZeroEnergy.com

Oh, yes.
A year ago, we were discussing how to enhance our casa ti's passive solar functionality during the summer to help keep the sunbeams from heating up the house. Our green Virginia architect, David Day, suggested a seasonal canopy. He and his wife used camouflage netting on their own porch: it billowed gently in the wind, yet, with the holes throughout, let in little beams of light here and there while still providing shade. The effect was fabulous: The light colors (white and a light, light blue) interspersed in the netting combined with bits of sunbeam made you feel like you were in an organic, moving, magical woods.

But there was just one drawback: Cammo is made of polyurethane. And I don't care what their industry sez: It just don't feel right.

I giggle as I begin my quest and type into the search bar: organic camouflage netting.
I bet that's one Google doesn't see often! ; )

A result pops up: "Natural, Organic products 8x10 Pro Series Ultra-lite Camouflage"
What? This can't be real.
It wasn't.

But I did find EcoVeil!

"EcoVeil™ is a non-PVC screen cloth, with healthful properties. Constructed in the same manner as ThermoVeil®, a core of TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) fiber filaments with a TPO coating, EcoVeil™ has similar characteristics to ThermoVeil®, plus the added benefit of being very environmentally friendly.

• The first "Cradle to Cradle™" shade cloth
• Is more than PVC free
• Can be reclaimed and recycled
• Is durable and washable
• Is anti-microbial
• Is flame retardant
• Optimized and under continuous improvement by MBDC, a product and process design firm founded by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart
• Selected by Environmental Building News as one of the Top-10 Green Building Products of 2004"

Although I wish I could find something with the more interesting texture/color properties of the aforementioned camouflage, I feel better about choosing the EcoVeil.

Can't wait to seek shelter under the shade in my very own casa ti!
I picture slow afternoons, lazily sprawled in a comfortable chair, just lookin' at the view.
...With a frosty mint julep in my hand. ; )

Firm offers service nationally that recommends materials and systems for builders to construct zero energy homes.

San Francisco is in the midst of its "Architecture and the City" festival, the fourth annual month-long architectural event showcasing buildings, tours, films, workshops, etc. http://www.aiasf.org/Programs/Public_Programs/Architecture_and_the_City.... And yes, there's plenty of green building activities including tours of commercial green buildings, lectures on solar power for home owners, LEED seminars etc.

I attended a reception by the Green Home Center whose mission is to "help homeowners make green living a healthy and beautiful way of life." http://www.thegreenhomecenter.net/index.php?page=About. What makes this place especially unique is that it is located on a busy commercial street with lots of foot traffic. It opened in April 2007 and sits alongside all the restaurants and the coffee shops, making green home design materials accessible and visible to any pedestrian walking by - from kitchen counter-tops made from recycled glass and concrete to solar energy panels.

San Francisco's Department of the Environment is very much involved with the festival, sponsoring many of the green programs offered. And each year the festival seems to have more and more emphasis on everything green which supports Mayor Newsom's desire to make San Francisco the greenest city in America.