Green Building in Western Massachusetts

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This video is raw unedited footage showing off my new 3002F IR NO CONTACT THERMOMETER ($300 THERMOMETER). This Spot lens exceeded the maximum temperature. This gun

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How the turbine works: Rotatable shutters mounted on a circular disk automatically open when directed into the wind, irregardless of the wind’s direction. Pairs of upper and

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Improved engine support. Addition of refractory glass cover improves heat retention. Recorded around midday, 10 February 2008 at 51.8 deg. N latitude. Solar elevation about 23 deg. above horizon. Final clip shows water heating.

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This Video of the Earth Sheltered Home in Huntington was made in about ten minutes. I made it for free because they are a brand new company still beta testing. If you’re interested in making one for yourself it’s really easy. Just visit Animoto by clicking here and get all the details

This is the introduction to a great digital book by Greg Katz. If your interested in seeing the rest of the free report simply leave your email address in the box to the right of this article and I will send you the link.

Massachusetts is a leading state in the rapidly
growing green building movement. Buildings
consume 70% of the nation’s electricity and a
large part of the materials, water and waste used
and generated in our economy. Buildings have
traditionally been viewed as a relatively static
sector of the economy experiencing relatively
little change in technology or resource
consumption patterns. To date there has been a
widespread perception that green buildings—
though more attractive from an environmental
and health perspective—are substantially more
costly than conventional design and may not be
justified from a cost benefits perspective. This
perception has been the single largest obstacle to
the more widespread adoption of green design.
This paper reviews a major recent report on the
issue of green building costs benefits, “The Costs
and Benefits of Green Buildings,” Kats1 et al.,
October 2003 2 (the Report). Led by Capital E,
the Report was prepared in partnership with the
US Green Building Council and California’s
Sustainable Building Task Force for 40+ California
state agencies

What are green buildings?
“Green” or “sustainable” buildings use key
resources like energy, water, materials, and land
more efficiently than buildings that are just built
to code. With more natural light and better air
quality, green buildings typically contribute to
improved employee and student health, comfort,
and productivity. The United States Green
Building Council (USGBC), a national non-profit
membership organization, developed the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) SystemTM to provide a guideline and rating
system for green buildings.
It is generally recognized that buildings consume
a large portion of water, wood, energy, and other
resources used in the economy. For example, US
buildings alone are responsible for more CO2.
emissions than those of any other entire country
in the world except China.3 If building green is
cost effective, a broad shift to green construction
offers a potentially promising way to help address
a range of challenges facing Massachusetts,
including:
■ Address growing costs of transmission and
distribution congestion. The growth of
Time of Use rates (TOU) by Massachusetts
utilities, and the creation of congestion
pricing in the form of locational marginal
pricing 4 allows building owners to capture
some of the benefits associated with lower
overall and lower peak energy use in green
buildings
Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits
Greg Kats

The Stonebrook Group has recently completed a project in Western Mass utilizing reclaimed northern pine. Harder than most pine species, Antique Northern Yellow Pine is milled from old growth lumber that is reclaimed from old buildings and given new life. Knots, nail holes, and worm holes are part of the old world charm that enhances it’s orange-brown warmth. This beauty can only come from 200 year old wood. Northern Yellow Pine was harvested for early American colonial buildings and no longer grows in this hemisphere.

This Stonebrook Woodworking Project in Wilbraham Massachusetts used reclaimed lumber from the attic of the 1780’s farm house. The wood was re-sawn and installed in what was once the carriage shed to the home. The original floor of 500 to 1500 lb. granite slabs was still in place beneath multiple layers of wood. Firring strips were laid directly on top of the granite as “joists” (for lack of a better word) and the flooring was nailed directly to them. All things considered, 200 plus years of layer upon layer was surprisingly intact.

Stonebrook Woodworking

(413) 204-1536

As you can see antique northern yellow pine is wonderfully warm and rich. Reclaimed lumber has become extremely desirable as the green movement has become a large part of mainstream society. The rarity of Northern Yellow Pine makes it valuable. Cost of this type of antique pine flooring averages $15 per square ft. prior to the re-sawing process. If you own an old northern home, chances are you have a small fortune in your attic or shed.

If you have any questions.

Contact The Stonebrook Group (413) 204-1536

e-mail Stonebrookgroup@gmail.com

The Garage will mirror the main entrance when complete

The rock wall ties the front and side entrance together as well as acting as a retaining wall for tons of geothermal insulation.

The hay is implemental in minimizing erosion until natural vegetation and gardens are planted

The Front of the house after a big rain. The water staining will be eliminated with a coat of masonry sealer and a coat of paint.

The Southwestern exposure is ideal for natural solar heat

The Open Ended Dome is now entirely covered with Earth

The view from the back of the home

The spectacular Foothills in Huntington Mass

This is Leo Boucher, the hardest working man on the planet!

The home is now subterranean and as a result requires very little supplemental heat.The natural process is called passive annual heat storage(PAHS) The home heats the earth around it in the warmer months and acts as a heater when the weather turns cold. The tons upon tons of earth also act as an insulator to help the home maintain an average temperature of 55 degrees year round. With the implementation of other alternative power generators such as solar and wind power, this home will eventually become a zero or near zero energy habitat. The Stonebrook Group will be using the solar and wind power generators and geothermal heat pumps on projects in the near future and as a result many home owners will experience the advantages of going green, such as:

• Tax credits
• Tax incentives
• Considerable saving on home heating and electricity
• A significantly healthier interior environment
• Reduction of their personal carbon footprint
• Grant initiatives

And so much more.

The Stonebrook Group in association with Stonebrook Woodworking in Monson Mass, has begun to manufacture all the built-in units. The wood being used is a product of local sustainable harvesting practices which means that for every tree harvested, at least one tree is planted in it’s place. Sustainability is the key to maintaining our only planet. Plant a tree today! It really feels good.

The exterior stucco finishes are being done by John Pezzetta of Pezzetta Stone. John will also be installing the interior finish with a process called gunite. This application is usually reserved for pools, however John will be implementing the process as we move closer to the finish.

You can view more of Johns work at

http://pezzettastone.com

or you can contact Pezzetta Stone at

Phone: (413) 204-5506

e-mail: pezzettastone@comcast.net

Any question regarding this project in Huntington Massachusetts can be directed to

stonebrookgroup@gmail.com

or you can reach us at

(413) 204-1536

The project in Huntington Massachusetts is progressing nicely. Our next step will include a gunite application of the interior dome followed by the built in’s and cabinets. The custom built-in’s will include a large desk, an entertainment center, two armoires, matching bedroom inserts, hall cabinets, custom tongue and groove doors, and much much more.

Bamboo flooring will carry throughout the living space with marble and ceramic tile in the entry and bathrooms respectively.

The exterior stucco walls will be completed soon as well as the garage and stone work.

There will be a lot of photos and updates before Thanksgiving

Any questions can be directed to

  The Stonebrook Group

e-mail    stonebrookgroup@gmail.com

                                               Phone    (413) 204-1536

these pictures represent

the beginning of the finish

In no particular order

Staging is in place to apply stucco finish

second stage of a three coat process

entry way

View of main entrance from the loft

Master Bedroom

second floor

Future Kitchen

Anyone interested in viewing this project

first hand is welcome by appointment.

contact: Brian Riddle

at

stonebrookgroup@gmail.com

or call (413)204-1536

This is a truly Green Home located in Huntington Massachusetts at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Huntington is a beautiful drive from just about anywhere and only twenty minutes off the Mass Pike in Westfield. If your interested in Green Building it is well worth the trip as this home represents the first of it’s kind in Western Mass. Check back regularly to see how the project progresses or sign up for our free newsletter here