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

Now that the word about BBR is out “on the street” our outreach effort is growing every day!  We’ve been lucky to be joined by Rachel Nixon, a resident of Rockland, Maine and an artist/yoga teacher/sailor (and more!) who has considerable experience working for and running non-profits in the State of Maine.

Rachel is spearheading our efforts to get the work out to NPOS across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.  We find that each contact she makes is not only enthusiastic but gives her a list of several other contacts to try as well.  Rachel will be chiming in on the blog in the coming weeks and months but for now – let’s help her about by sending her more ideas of non-profits in our target states who might benefit from a deep energy retrofit.

If you know of an organization that would be a  good fit, please either send them to this website or send us their name and contact information and we will reach out to them.

An important aspect of BBR is that we want to create a community of organizations that value sustainability and are interested in making their buildings more energy efficient.  Even if there is only one deep energy retrofit this year, we know that there is value in bringing together organizations that share these priorities and can support each other while they take small steps in this new direction.

Robin Tannenbaum

This week we are pleased to announce the official launch of BrightBuilt Retrofit (BBR) an open-source deep energy retrofit of an existing building owned by a non profit organization in the deep Northeast.  This project grew out of a series of discussions that occurred between Keith Collins and Kaplan Thompson Architects, among others, about the relative “ease” of creating a state of the art sustainable building when there is not existing infrastructure holding you back.

A tougher challenge, we recognzied, would be trying to make existing building as tight, green and energy efficient.  Enter the Deep Energy Retrofit (DER)- an attempt at 50% or more in energy savings by tackling an existing building with a combination of added insulation, tighter windows and more efficient mechanical systems.  We’ve been reading a lot about these yesterday and many of the projects that KTA is tackling these days falls under this category.  But just as with the barn, we wanted to tackle a project that would benefit not just the recipient of the work but also the larger community.  Therefore, we launched BBR with the goal os not just executing a DER but keeping the project and process open-source and educational so that all of YOU can be a part of it too.  Check out the new BBR section of this website and stay tuned for more!

Robin Tannenbaum

The BrightBuilt Barn Dream Team – Architect Phil Kaplan, Bensonwood engineer Hans Porschitz and barn owner Keith Collins will be giving a presentation at the BrightBuilt Barn at the 2010 NESEA Building Conference, March 9-11 in Boston. Check it out.

Robin Tannenbaum

BrightBuilt’s own Phil Kaplan now has his own Podcast where he discussed green building issues with friend and colleague Chris Briley – anothe Portland based green architect.  Click here for a link to the most recent podcast – a titilating discussion of air barriers!

Robin Tannenbaum

This article talks about a model I have heard about being used in Berkely.  A person borrows money to make energy improvements to their property and the loan is attached to their property mortgage, not the individual, so the cost of the loan gets passed on with the property.  If the property is sold before the loan is repaid, the loan goes on to the next owner.  This way, the up front costs of energy upgrades are not such a deterrent to people who may not stay in their homes long enough to see the payback.

Robin Tannenbaum

NESEA has extended the deadline for this award to January 31.  Information can still be found at:  http://www.nesea.org/inspirationawards/zeroenergy/

Robin Tannenbaum

NESEA is accepting entries for the 2009 Zero Net Energy Building Award. A $10,000 cash prize goes to the winning building which demonstrates net-zero energy usage while offering a high level of comfort, afforability and reliability.  (Hmmm…. sounds familiar….)

Entries due January 15.  Go for it!

Robin Tannenbaum