HIGH PERFORMANCE CASE STUDIES: 300-level
SESSION 5
DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 – 11:00am – Metro 4A
ABSTRACT:
Design, construction, and verification methods used by innovators in New York City’s affordable housing community to evolve the high performance envelope.
MODERATOR:
Luke Falk, Associate Project Manager, Multifamily Performance Program, NYSERDA
SPEAKERS:
Les Bluestone, Blue Sea Development Company
William Stein, Principal, Dattner Architects
Maureen Mahle, Steven Winter Associates
Chris Benedict, Architect
DESCRIPTION:
The connection between affordable housing and energy efficiency is simple to understand: long-term affordability through low operating costs is just as important as manageable first costs. High performance envelopes have been at the forefront of energy efficiency in single family homes for decades, but urban residential construction projects have lagged behind. This session presents the design, construction, and verification methods used by innovators in New York City’s affordable housing community to evolve the high performance envelope.
Affordable housing developer Les Bluestone committed to building sustainable and energy efficient homes when he co-founded Blue Sea Development Company in 1999, and has completed a number of successful projects since then. . Les will describe how the process of continual improvement led to the 2010 LEED
Platinum rating for the Gen. Colin Powell Apartments in the Bronx, The building will provide a 43% reduction in energy costs,an unprecedented feat for a New York City affordable housing project.
Affordable housing designer William Stein directs Dattner Architects’ residential practice. His work in affordable housing includes landmark projects like Via Verde in the South Bronx, Habitat for Humanity’s Atlantic Avenue apartments, and Courtland Corners. Bill will draw from these examples to present evolved building envelope design strategies that minimize the thermal bridging so common in urban construction, while effectively managing moisture and limiting air movement.
Sustainable housing consultant Maureen Mahle works with a variety of affordable housing clients in Steven Winter Associates, Inc.’s capacity as a LEED for Homes Provider. She will describe how energy analysis, insulation and air sealing inspections, performance testing, and other diagnostics have helped project teams evaluate and improve envelope performance. The particular challenges presented by steel and masonry construction will be addressed, and test results from landmark New York City affordable housing projects will be presented.
The session will be moderated by Luke Falk of the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), an agency that has led the nation in the development of ENERGY STAR performance standards for multifamily housing. 48,000 units of New York City’s affordable housing are currently pursuing certification and the incentives through the Multifamily Performance Program. Luke will introduce the topic of Evolution of the Envelope by commenting on the high performance envelope measures used by projects seeking 20% or greater energy cost savings.
