BPC was hired by a prominent Ridgefield developer to build two new homes and completely renovate two others on a small site in downtown Ridgefield using high performance, green strategies. Notice the tumbled concrete eco-pavers which were installed over 12 inches of crushed stone to soak up the storm water that collects in this area from the hillside above. All of the units were HERS rated for five stars and exceeded the criteria for the federal EPA Energy Star program. The developer was convinced that building green would help him to successfully market the homes. He was right. All four units were sold or leased by completion.

Unit A faces the street and is approximately 150 years old. BPC removed asbestos flooring and two layers of lead paint covered siding, as well as the interior plaster. After repairing the framing, BPC installed 2lb spray foam in both the stud wall and attic rafter cavities, which provides both air sealing and a high level of insulation. The mechanical systems were installed in the conditioned attic because the basement was not available - BPC never installs mechanical systems outside of the conditioned envelope. The home was purchased prior to completion, and the new owner requested numerous high-end finish details. The result is a 150 year old home with the performance characteristics of an exteremely well-built modern home.

Even though Unit A fronts on a busy downtown street, the side yard features extensive, native landscaping and a large Pennsylvania bluestone patio, which has transformed the space into a private and graceful courtyard, allowing the owner to host frequent summertime social functions.

Unit B was an old garage/workshop with an apartment above. It was completely gutted, and the interior layout updated. Like all of the units, it was insulated with 2lb spray foam which provides both air sealing and a high resistance (R-21) to heat loss in a relatively small 2x4 stud wall cavity. Because the building was a garage originally, there was no basement, and the attic rafters were insulated to permit the installation of all of the mechanical systems in the conditioned attic.

Units C and D are new construction. They are virtually identical to each other, with only minor roofline and siding differences. Because of a high water table, these units were built with insulated slab foundations, and the wall cavity/attic insulation plan was identical to that of the older units. The siding of each home was installed over a plastic building wrap that features a dimpled texture to drain water that inevitably gets behind all siding. This promotes the durability of both the siding and the paint. Both the clapboard and shingle siding was pre-finished eastern white cedar, and the trim was primarily a wood composite infused with naturally occurring borates, enabling the manufacturer to offer a 30 year warranty.

The flooring throughout each unit was American ash, an underutilized hardwood native to the northeast. In this case, the wood is all certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having been harvested from a forest that is managed for a sustainable yield of forest products while maintaining the natural forest ecosystem. The gas-fired fireplaces feature sealed combustion, which means the combustion air is drawn directly from outside, making these heating units both very safe and highly efficient. Due to the high levels of insulation in the homes, the smallest fireplace available was selected in order to prevent overheating.

The kitchen cabinet style was selected by the developer. BPC located a local mill shop that was filling to fabricate the cabinets using an engineered strawboard for the basic cabinet box that utilizes an agricultural waste product to create a high strength, moisture resistant panel product. The doors are eastern hard maple certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having been harvested from a forest that is managed for a sustainable yield while maintaining the natural forest ecosystem. The cabinet cost was comparable to the price from a much larger vendor who would have used conventional materials.

These units were expected to sell to active adults who might be away frequently. Gas-fired, sealed combustion, high efficiency tankless water heaters provide an excellent option for domestic hot water. The heaters operate only when there is a call for hot water which they provide within 30 seconds. Moreover, each is able to provide sufficient hot water to permit two showers to run at the same time with no time limit whatsoever. The water lines are made from cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) which, unlike copper, will not absorb heat, are not affected by hard water, and are highly resistant to damage from freezing. Notice the manifold which permits a direct home run water line to each fixture in the house, eliminating soldered joints in closed wall cavities.

In keeping with the high performance, green focus for this project, the gas-fired furnaces are the quietest and most efficient available. Each features a variable-speed blower; mastic sealed, sheet metal ducting; and a high efficiency air filter. Unlike most homes in the northeast, all of the ducts in these homes are located within the air-sealed, insulated exterior envelopes of the homes. Notice the rectangular box in the upper left-hand corner. This is an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) which operates continuously to provide fresh, outdoor air to the home while transferring the heat and moisture from the exhaust air to the fresh air in the winter, and from the fresh air to the exhaust air in the summer. People with allergies and asthma find great relief when they move into homes built this way.