BrightBuilt Barn: a Super Green, Prefab, LEED Platinum Net-Zero Building

We had an energy audit conducted towards the end of the 2010 to help us gauge current conditions at the house and to help us establish a baseline for improvements. The blower door test showed an ACHn (Natural Air Changes) of .41. Suffice it to say, there is some room for improvement! Here is our auditor, Diane Milliken of Horizon Residential Energy Services conducting the blower door test assisted by one of the people who lives at the house.

Robin Tannenbaum

Here is a pretty good article from the NY Times about simple steps people can take to tighten up their own houses. Note the $75 cost of an energy audit in Connecticut. I’m told that since it is a wealthier state (than Maine) the state subsidizes the audits. Here is Maine audits for 2,000-3,000 sf houses are typically between $400 – $600.

Robin Tannenbaum

Anyone who has ever been job hunting has heard the expression “Elevator Speech.” This is the 30 second description of what it is you do that you use to introduce yourself to people who may be of assistance to you. The goal is to be short, sweet and concise. At our kick off charette, we decided we needed the equivalent of an elevator speech to describe the BBR/CPI project to folks who aren’t familiar with it. We had some back and forth and here is what we came up with:

An innovative partnership between Community Partners, Inc. (CPI) and Kaplan Thompson Architects will save taxpayer dollars through the Deep Energy Retrofit of an existing CPI home. It will be a model for communities in cold climates to educate home-owners about effective home weatherization. What is a Deep Energy Retrofit? It is an effort to go far beyond other weatherization projects by taking a whole house approach which upgrades the building shell, windows, heating system and ventilation. Taken together these improvements can reduce the home’s energy consumption by 50% – 90%.

What do you think?

Robin Tannenbaum

We are starting work with Community Partners.  Last week, we held a Kick-Off Charette with some of the key CPI folks who will be involved in the project.  The goal of that charette was to talk about how we will all define success for the project and to learn more about what we all want to get out of the experience.  Now we are working towards a technical charette in early January, where we will gather experts in various aspects of deep energy retrofits in one room and get down to some of the nuts and bolts of the projects.  We continue to want input from the interested general public – what are YOUR ideas for keeping folks like you involved in the process as we move forward?

Robin Tannenbaum

It’s Official!  Congratulations to the winner of the BrightBuilt Retrofit Award — Community Partners, Inc. in Biddeford, ME.   Click here to read more about Community Partners and to learn how to follow the progress on their building.  Tremendous congratulations are also due to the recipients of the People’s Choice Award – Farm & Wilderness in Plymouth, VT who received a staggering number of on-line votes, enough to give them double the votes of the nearest entrant.  And congratulations to all of the shortlist candidates who all had terrific projects and impressive community support.

Robin Tannenbaum

BrightBuilt Retrofit is now offering a People’s Choice Award for the shortlist candidate who receives the most votes. If you haven’t cast your vote yet, it’s time!

Robin Tannenbaum

Time to VOTE! Our four shortlist finalsts are:  Community Partners, Inc. of Biddeford, ME, Farm & Wilderness Foundation of Plymouth, VT, Freeport Community Services of Freeport, ME, and Yestermorrow Design/Build School of Warren, VT.  Learn more about each of our four shortlist finalists here and cast your vote for your favorite.

Robin Tannenbaum

A special thanks to the Board of Advisors, a group of green architects, builders, sustainability consultants and non-profit experts who are weighing in on the strong pool of BrightBuilt Retrofit applications!  Learn more about the Advosirs: http://www.brightbuiltbarn.com/brightbuilt-retrofit/advisory-committee/

Robin Tannenbaum

The BrightBuilt Barn will be open for tours on Saturday, October 2 from 10 am – 4 pm.   The open house is part of a larger Green Building Open House organized around the country region that day by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association.  Two other Kaplan Thompson Houses will be open to the public that day, including one featured on the front of today’s Portland Press Herald.  Last year, over a hundred people visited the BrightBuilt Barn alone – please stop by!  You can check the NESEA website here for directions, or e-mail us at info@brightbuiltbarn if you need more information.

Robin Tannenbaum

For the BrightBuilt Retrofit, we talk about a Deep Energy Retrofit – generally understood to be a reduction of 50% or more in energy use.  This is great for those who can reach this far but for most homeowners and businesses, a less aggressive undertaking is more logistircally and financially realistic.  Weatherization is the name often given for a lighter energy efficinecy push – it may include such efforts as extensive air sealing, attic insulation, tightening windows and efficient lighting.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act devotes a good bit of energy and finances to weatherization of existing homes in the U.S. After spending quite a bit of time on the web, I’ve been seeing a host of different numbers, from $5 billion specifically dedicated to weatherization services for low income families to $80 billion total for weatherization related investments.  Several government sources refer to average homeowner savings of around $400/ month based on anticipated investments but I’d also like to see this number given in reduction of heating loads by insulating (kBty/sf/yr) and even in pounds of carbon saved.

Robin Tannenbaum