CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Pine Plains and Milan, Dutchess County, New York

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1 CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Pine Plains and Milan, Dutchess County, New York APPENDIX 15.1 ENERGY CONSERVATION AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE CONSIDERATIONS IN FACILITIES January 11, 2008 Prepared for: 1133 Taconic, LLC 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY & Landmark Land Company, Inc Crain Highway Upper Marlboro, MD Prepared by: 427 Main Street, Suite 201 Beacon, NY (845)

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3 CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Towns of Pine Plains and Milan, Dutchess County, New York ENERGY CONSERVATION AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE CONSIDERATIONS IN FACILITIES PREPARED FOR 1133 TACONIC, LLC 1155 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, NEW YORK and LANDMARK LAND COMPANY, INC CRAIN HIGHWAY UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND PREPARED BY MATTHEW D. RUDIKOFF ASSOCIATES, INC. BEACON BUILDING 427 MAIN STREET SUITE 201 BEACON, NEW YORK TEL (845) FAX (845) OCTOBER 2006 / REVISED JANUARY 8, 2007

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5 TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDIX 15.1 ENERGY CONSERVATION AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE CONSIDERATIONS IN FACILITIES INTRODUCTION... 1 ENERGY USE AND CONSERVATION IN FACILTIES... 2 Building Siting and Orientation... 2 Building Design and Energy Efficiency... 2 High Performance Envelope... 2 Heating, Cooling and Ventilation... 3 Sophisticated Controls... 3 Lighting and Appliances...3 Distributed Generation and Combined Heat and Power... 3 Renewables... 3 MATERIAL SELECTION... 4 INFRASTRUCTURE... 5 Wastewater Management... 5 HOME BUILDING... 5 Energy Star (U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)... 6 Partnership for Advancing Technology & Housing (HUD)... 6 Building America Program (U.S. Department of Energy)... 7 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)... 7 National Association of Home Builders Model Green Guidelines... 7 SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES... 8 Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page i

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7 CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT TOWNS OF PINE PLAINS AND MILAN DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK ENERGY CONSERVATION AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE CONSIDERATIONS IN FACILITIES INTRODUCTION The project sponsor is among the world s foremost green developer and it is their stated intent that the proposed action be constructed as a model sustainable project for its type and size. Survey research is increasingly showing that green development is a market preference for prospective home buyers due to enhanced air quality, energy savings and a growing awareness of its environmental benefits. Below is the identification of energy conservation and other sustainable considerations that are being explored to implement the project sponsor s goals of environmentally responsible and sustainable development. These measures will be applied to the project at the appropriate times in the design and construction of the ultimate site buildings, facilities and residences. One goal of the project sponsor is to construct the proposed Golf Clubhouse and Homeowners Association buildings to attain a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. The project sponsor will also require that all individual residences within the planned community be constructed to meet energy efficient design standards and incorporate sustainable site planning measures. Other goals for all buildings to be constructed by the project sponsor include energy and water efficiency, use of low emitting materials that are durable, locally produced, renewable and/or sustainably harvested and/or contain high recycled content. For the residential construction, the project sponsor intends to establish a mandatory target or energy saving objective for both the project sponsor built structures and individual homes working with one or more of the following programs: ENERGY STAR, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), Building America Program (DOE) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ) and/or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model Green Building Guidelines. These programs achieve between 30% and 70% energy usage reduction as compared with a traditional development. Mandatory requirements for builders will establish a minimum level of energy efficiency and sustainable practices for all homes built on the site. An extensive educational effort will be undertaken by the project sponsor to influence the individual buyers to build and operate their homes in a highly energy efficient and sustainable manner. Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 1 of 8

8 The energy saving and other sustainable features of the proposed action are discussed separately from the main body of Chapter 15 due to the uncertainty associated with exactly which measures will ultimately be incorporated into the various proposed land use components and structures. These determinations will be made based upon ongoing research, energy and other cost benefit analyses, project density and land use approvals, marketing and price point considerations, and final project delivery decisions. The majority of these decisions are intended to be made prior to project land use approvals and entitlements but cannot be made prior to schematic design and design development. ENERGY USE AND CONSERVATION IN FACILTIES Ultimate decisions related to specific energy conservation measures will be dependent on detailed analysis of the best technologies, cost effectiveness, design and market availability and will be made by the project sponsor in later phases of development, and future community residents. As indicated above, the project sponsor has established the goal of a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating for the main buildings it will construct. The following strategies will be utilized whenever practical and promoted to home buyers or required of home builders. Building Siting and Orientation Proper building siting and orientation is the first step in reducing energy use. Except when influenced by site constraints, buildings will be oriented towards true-south, with the long axis running east to west, presenting as much surface area to the sun as possible. The majority of building window glazing will be south-facing whenever possible with proper shading devices. This will allow winter sun (located lower in the sky) to penetrate the building while shielding the building from summer sun (located higher in the sky). Eaves, overhangs, awnings, and/or natural shading elements such at trees which shed their leaves during the autumn and bloom during the spring will be used as much as possible to regulate solar gain. Window glazing will be designed with natural daylighting in mind. The more a building can be lit naturally, the less it will need to rely on artificial lighting. Building Design and Energy Efficiency Use of sophisticated energy modeling and analysis to optimize the energy efficiency of the buildings and structures built by the project sponsor. High Performance Envelope Use of advanced construction methods and materials such as Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs), Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs), advanced framing, engineered wood, pre-fabricated modules, well-insulated roofing assemblies, high albedo roofing, and Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 2 of 8

9 other innovative ways to save energy and resources. High performance glazing, solar shading and good design will maximize daylighting while minimizing solar heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Heating, Cooling and Ventilation Inclusion of building systems designed to maximize the use of natural ventilation supplemented with highly efficient mechanical ventilation, heating and cooling. Systems currently being actively investigated include geothermal or ground source heat pumps, radiant heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilators and microturbines or other clean and efficient combined heat and power systems. Sophisticated Controls Use of daylight dimming, occupancy sensors and other sophisticated control systems to minimize energy use while maintaining comfort. Lighting and Appliances Use of ENERGY STAR rated products, such as lighting and appliances or the most efficient equipment that meets the project sponsor s design criteria. Distributed Generation and Combined Heat and Power Distributed Generation (DG) is an option being considered (refer to Chapter 13, Site Utilities and Infrastructure) to individually serve the common areas (Golf Club, Homeowners Association Club, etc). The DG technologies currently under consideration include reciprocating engines and microturbines but others may be evaluated as the project proceeds further in design. With the use of these technologies, on-site combined heat and power (CHP) may be a viable option to produce both electricity and thermal energy efficiently. By utilizing the waste heat and improving overall cycle efficiency, these systems thermal efficiencies can reach 70% to 90%. Renewables The project sponsor is broadly investigating renewable energy systems such as wind, photovoltaic (PV) electricity, solar thermal hot water heating and ground source heating and cooling coupled with radiant floors. Without further research and analysis, it is simply too early to make definitive decisions. Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 3 of 8

10 Geothermal Heating & Cooling The application of geothermal heating/cooling, also known as ground source heat pumps, has been called "the most energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive of all space conditioning systems," by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The system's basic concept takes advantage of the earth's constant temperature, approximately 55 degrees, to heat and cool a building. By tapping this steady flow of heat from the earth in the winter, and displacing heat into the earth in the summer, a geothermal heat pump can save homeowners 40 to 70 percent in heating costs and 30 to 50 percent in cooling costs compared to conventional systems. Geothermal loops can provide heating for hot water in summer, at no additional energy consumption, and can aid in hot water heating in winter, again reducing the need for additional energy a tankless 1 water heater can be installed to heat hot water when the heat pump isn t running, or the hot water demand exceeds that provided by the ground source heat from the heat pump. When combined with photovoltaic (solar electric) panels for electric production each building could potentially provide the majority of its own energy needs. Photovoltaics (Solar Electric) PV systems may be installed onto community and multi-unit residential buildings as well as single-family homes with the support of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) incentives. The project sponsor is also investigating the use of PV-powered parking and common area lights and the use of PVpower for other remote electrical needs such as pumps. Using solar panels will decrease the use of fossil-fuel based electricity and energy intensive electrical infrastructure. Solar Hot Water Heaters Solar thermal technology may also be used to heat the swimming pools and spas in addition to more typical residential and commercial hot water needs and radiant flooring. A solar collector and storage tank are part of a very simple system that uses electric pumps, valves, and controllers to circulate fluids through the collectors that capture the sun s energy to heat water in both summer and winter. A well designed system could potentially heat the homes all winter using little or no fossil fuels. MATERIAL SELECTION Environmentally responsible materials will be utilized wherever practicable (e.g., high percentages of recycled content, rapidly renewable, sustainably harvested and low emitting materials). 1 Tankless water heaters heat water only as needed. A conventional hot water system supplies hot water from a preheated storage tank. Energy is used to heat and re-heat a tank of standing water 24-7, whether or not anyone is in the house. Tankless heaters can be used as back up heaters for geothermal hot water heating or solar thermal hot water heating, or by themselves as the primary household hot water heater. Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 4 of 8

11 The project sponsor will give special consideration to regionally manufactured and/or locally procured materials in an effort to minimize the use of transportation energy. The project sponsor is continuing to evaluate the abandoned and decaying farm buildings of the project site for salvaging opportunities. A manufacturer in Poughkeepsie has also been identified that makes solar roofing shingles, which could possibly be utilized on site buildings. Discussions with the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency have been initiated to explore how the proposed action might utilize local recycled or salvaged material. INFRASTRUCTURE Wastewater Management By treating wastewater on-site, the proposed action will limit the energy required for pumping and conveying wastewater over longer distances. The project sponsor has explored a combination of both decentralized and centralized waste treatment strategies including membrane bioreactor systems, composting toilets and the latest generation of Living Machine systems. The proposed action is currently proposing a conventional wastewater collection, treatment and disposal system (Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR). The proposed approach uses a robust technology that adapts quickly to seasonal varying flows associated with a second home occupancy community. This includes a rapid ramp-up period every spring as wastewater loads begin to rise dramatically. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) will incorporate an energy efficient design, including high efficiency pump motors, variable speed drives on pumps for lower energy consumption during low flow periods, smaller half-size tanks for more efficient operation during low flow periods, heat recovery on building ventilation units, and energy efficient design and materials in the heated spaces for optimal insulation. Beyond energy consumption, additional environmental benefits include a compact WWTP footprint for minimal ecological and visual impact. HOME BUILDING Energy conservation and other greening considerations will either be a required feature of project homes or will be offered as options to home purchasers. Prior to construction, builder requirements and guidelines will be developed and one or more demonstration homes will be built to illustrate technologies that are viable options for the homes such as geothermal, photovoltaic systems, solar thermal, structural insulated panels and other green materials and options. Information about the energy saving measures, materials and mechanical systems choices, costs, efficiencies and other environmental benefits will be provided to homebuyers. The project sponsor is currently investigating a partnership with one or more of the following building programs described further below, which assist private sector partners to greatly exceed energy code requirements: ENERGY STAR Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 5 of 8

12 Building America Program Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design National Association of Home Builders Green Home Building Guideline Energy Star (U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Energy Star is a nationally recognized, voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, homes and buildings to consumers and business owners across the United States. Any single-family or multi-family residential home (three stories or less) can qualify to be an Energy Star labeled home. An Energy Star home is at least 30% more energy efficient in its heating, cooling and water heating than a comparable home. This increased level of energy efficiency can be met using standard technologies and manufacturing practices by successfully integrating three key home components: An energy efficient building envelope (effective insulation, tight construction, advanced windows) Energy efficient air distribution (air-tight, well-insulated ducts) Energy efficient equipment (space heating, space cooling and hot water heating) A home earns the Energy ENERGY STAR Label only after the home s energy efficiency is verified by an independent third-party such as an accredited home energy rater using the Home Energy Ratings Systems (HERS). Partnership for Advancing Technology & Housing (HUD) The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is a public-private initiative that seeks to speed the creation and widespread use of advanced technologies to radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing. The program offers technical assistance to individual builders and remodelers who are willing to evaluate specific, promising, innovative technologies in their buildings. PATH projects aim to be 40% more energy efficient than standard homes. PATH provides the latest information on innovative building materials, processes, and systems and showcases innovative housing projects that can serve as models for builders and homeowners across the country. PATH's website provides the latest information on housing with links to industry technical resources and news of housing technology advances made by private- and public sector partners. With the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center ToolBase Online, PATH also offers in-depth descriptions of more than 132 innovative materials, products, and systems. PATH also promotes and spotlights case histories or field applications of new housing technologies. Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 6 of 8

13 Building America Program (U.S. Department of Energy) Building America is a private/public partnership that conducts research to find energy-efficient solutions for new and existing housing that can be implemented during the production process. It is a voluntary program comprised of builders and suppliers committed to green building ideals. It is cost-share driven, and focuses on reducing home energy use. The goal is to achieve homes that use 40-70% less energy. By using a systems engineering approach to home building, Building America unites segments of the building industry that traditionally work independently of one another. Currently, there are five Building America teams who have worked with over 507 different industry partners. the project sponsor has already begun preliminary discussions with two of them. As part of a team, the following technical assistance is available: Builder training New materials research New methods of installation Specific engineering Cost sharing studies All the Building America technical information and research is available online. Additionally, the website provides information about current projects in each region. The project sponsor is already in the process of conducting an extensive review of this material. Systems engineering research focuses on: Producing homes that use 40% to 70% less energy Integrating onsite power systems leading to "zero-energy" homes that will produce as much energy as they use Helping home builders reduce construction time and waste Improving builder productivity Implementing innovative energy-and material-saving technologies Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) A significant goal of the proposed action is to develop a model energy efficient and sustainable master planned community. The project sponsor has set a goal of LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for the main project site buildings. In addition to the guidelines of LEED for New Construction, there are two new guidelines that might be relevant for the proposed action, LEED for Homes and LEED for New Developments. Members of the project team are tracking the development of both standards. National Association of Home Builders Model Green Guidelines The NAHB, a trade association established in 1942, provides information on how to use sustainable design to build homes that use renewable materials prudently to conserve energy and environmental resources. NAHB has created a set of voluntary Model Green Home Building Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 7 of 8

14 Guidelines which are designed to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream marketplace. By developing these national guidelines, NAHB intends to help facilitate the adoption of green home building practices and the formation of local community programs. The NAHB Research Center worked together in an open, public process with over 60 Stakeholder Group members from the home building industry to create its guidelines. The guidelines contain six primary sections: Lot Preparation and Design Resource Efficiency Energy Efficiency Water Efficiency/Conservation Occupancy Comfort Indoor Environmental Quality The voluntary guidelines are intended to help systematize the green design and construction process and assist builders toward incorporating more green building features into homes. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES The project sponsor will adhere to best management practices intended to reduce and appropriately dispose of or reuse construction waste. Attention will be paid to facilitating on-site recycling and educating project contractors. The project sponsor will complete protect-wide and individual site specific plans for erosion and sedimentation control and construction activity pollution prevention during the subdivision, site plan and building permit review processes to minimize potential construction impacts on surrounding lands, water bodies and neighbors. The project sponsor will develop a Construction Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan to prevent residual problems with indoor air quality in the completed buildings and provide additional protection for workers on the project site. The project sponsor will give special consideration to regionally manufactured and/or locally procured materials in an effort to minimize the use of energy for transportation. Mining sand from a permitted gravel quarry on the property will be conducted to reduce off-site construction traffic. The proposed action anticipates operating a portable temporary batch plant to make concrete on site utilizing as much on-site or local material as possible, thereby reducing related transportation energy and pollution. The project sponsor is continuing to evaluate the abandoned and decaying farm buildings on the project site for salvaging opportunities. Discussions with the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency have been initiated to explore how the proposed action might utilize local recycled or salvaged material. Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / October 2006 / Revised January 8, 2007 Page 8 of 8

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