by June Portnoy

On March 17th the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Architectural and Environmental Committee presented its 13th Annual Green Seminar at the Aldie Mansion (Heritage Conservancy) in Doylestown.  This year’s theme was “Building Green on A Budget: Successful, Sustainable Projects for Home & Business.”

“The goal of these seminars is to educate the community on sustainable building practices,” said Niki Weiss, master of ceremonies for the seminar.

Keynote presenters Nic Darling and Chad Ludeman, from award-winning sustainable developer Postgreen, presented “LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Standards) for Less: Green Building for the Rest of Us.”

“Our goal is building LEED homes at affordable prices,” said Nic.

Postgreen’s first attempt to build a LEED home for less than $100,000 in East Kensington was a success.  This home was given the LEED “platinum” designation, the highest level of LEED certification.  Postgreen’s first two homes sold for $250,000 and $265,000, respectively.  “We knew our homes couldn’t do everything for everyone so we focused primarily on energy efficiency and health components,” said Nic.  It fully insulated the ceilings, walls, windows, doors and roof, making them airtight.  This reduced the cost and size of the heating and cooling system.  It also used non-toxic materials and mechanical ventilation.  By using an ERV (energy recovery ventilator), it ensures homes are taking in fresh, high quality air.

Postgreen tries to identify transitional areas for its construction.  It focuses on land available in densely parts of Philadelphia.  “We prefer to build on previously developed land rather than use farmland,” said Nic.  “Reused homes that have been knocked down or vacated are ideal.”

Since Postgreen’s initial two homes, it has built six more in East Kensington.  These homes are three times as energy-efficient as existing row homes due to their insulation and the efficiency of their heating and cooling systems.  Postgreen’s long-term goal is to build 50 homes a year, using its model, all over the city.

Another of the evening’s presentations was “First Savings: Commercial Adaptive Re-Use Can be Done!”  It focused on First Savings’ environmental commitment to convert three old buildings previously unfit for use into its administrative office in Perkasie and its two branch offices in Poole’s Corner and Buckingham.  “The greenest building is one that is reused or recycled,” says Peter Brown, Director of Marketing and Sales of First Savings.  “Today everyone is more environmentally and socially responsible. We care about the environment and the social impact; not just the profits and losses, but how we use our environment.”

The undesirable Silkworks Stainless Building on 9th Street was transformed into First Saving’s new and beautiful main administrative office.  Instead of looking at cracked windows and the negative aspects of this building, they considered its structural integrity and functionable suitability.  It looked at the bare bones of the building like its wooden floors and steel frames.  “We looked at how the building would perform over a lifetime instead of the initial costs,” says Peter.

The key in transforming these old buildings was finding a flexible, capable team to work on the project.  “There’s a feeling of satisfaction of seeing buildings that should have been condemned, transformed into beautiful functional structures,” says Peter.

The final presentation of the night was on “Green Retrofitting a 200-Year-Old Home” given by Phil Getty of Boucher & James, Inc.  Ten years ago, Phil purchased a 200-year old-home in Solebury.  “It has the character and historical feel of an old home that I was looking for,” says Phil.  Phil began making home improvements to his house by insulating it properly.  He sealed leaks by caulking, applying blown in cellulose insulation and spray foam.  Wherever air could come in, so could bats, mice and stinkbugs.  By sealing out air, he also sealed out these creatures.  “The end result is that the house is now more comfortable, less drafty, warmer and has fewer critters,” said Phil.  Whenever possible, Phil employed local labor and resources.  “Our biggest challenge has been aesthetics,” said Phil.  “I wanted to keep the character of the 200-year-old house while enhancing it. Therefore, I had to think carefully before cutting into the original wood or drilling any holes.

His current challenge is looking for a new heating system.  Heat pumps rely on forced air and that would mean putting air ducts into 200-year-old stonewalls and cutting holes in the floor.  He would also like to use a geo-thermal pump to heat hot water for his existing radiators, but that would mean using a drilling rig, and there’s no way to pull a drilling rig past huge 200-year-old trees.

Regardless of the many challenges, “We love living in a house with history and knowing that what we’re doing is improving this house for future generations,” says Phil.

For more information about the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Architectural and Environmental Committee, contact Amanda Soler at 215- 348-3913.