An Eco-Smart Project on Spruce Mountain
Rockland, Maine
BrightBuilt Barn: An Introduction
Constructed by a group of visionaries, the BrightBuilt Barn is a Net-Zero, super green pre-fabricated studio that draws on all that is known to reveal the unknown.
Establishing a level of sustainability and flexibility that reaches beyond conventional residential construction, BrightBuilt Barn, demonstrates an alternative method of building.
While this Rockland, Maine, building has a small program - to serve as a studio or two-bedroom unit - it has large intentions. With innovation applied to every detail, BrightBuiltBarn is raising awarenss about energy use, sustainability, new building applications, and open source collaboration.
What sets BrightBuilt Barn apart from the rest?
Net-Zero: This building will generate more electricity over the course of a year than it uses.
Super Insulation: Continuous R-40 envelope (floors, wall, ceiling). This mid-coast Maine building requires NO FURNACE.
Continuous Online Energy & Building Performance Monitoring: Reflecting what is going on inside, a large energy meter on the front façade will simultaneously show current levels of energy use and consumption. LED lighting along the lower edges of the building are programmed to run in colors depending on the level of energy production currently experienced in the barn. When at its most efficient and producing the most energy, it will glow green, not unlike a mood ring. The energy use information will be continuously monitored online, via the BrightBuilt Barn’s blog.
Solar Thermal Systems: What better source of heat?
LEED Platinum: The BrightBuilt Barn is on track to receive a LEED Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Pre-Fabrication: 90% of the building is pre-fabricated at Bensonwood Woodworking, a timber frame company known for energy efficient panelization process.
Participant in Cascadia Living Building Challenge: Going beyond the benchmarks of LEED, to prove that buildings can be self-sufficient.
Open Source Collaboration: Team members have used web based communication systems to send and exchange information.
Some more specifics
The building is a 700 sf single level, with a loft for storage. While currently designed with two open studios on either end and an office in between with moveable partition walls, this footprint can be easily reconfigured to serve as a one-bedroom house.
Since it is built on 4' modules, additional modules can be added on to the form in either direction, growing a future iteration and thereby accommodating other programs.
Wall, roof and floor panels are on the site pre-fabricated, and will be hoisted into place atop of foundation prepared by Alan Gibson, a mid-coast Maine green builder. Once the form has been erected and gasketed together, the site builder will finish off areas such as the exterior siding, interior partitions and kitchen amenities, and coordinate the installation of the solar mechanicals.
The site “Barn-Raising” portion of assembly is scheduled to begin in mid April, 2008. Check the blog for updates!