Green Building

‘Green’ developer receives $2.5M state grant

Aug 28th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

STAMFORD — The developer of Metro Green Apartments, the city’s first “green” affordable housing project, has been awarded a $2.5 million state grant toward the second phase of its development. Jonathan Rose Companies opened the first phase of Metro Green last year with 50 affordable units at 84 Henry St. via ‘Green’ developer receives $2.5M
[continue reading...]



Work Begins Thursday to Make State Capitol Greener

Aug 25th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher
Work Begins Thursday to Make State Capitol Greener

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has announced that work will begin this Thursday morning on an initiative that will make the State Capitol a greener place.

The project aims to reduce stormwater runoff along Capitol Ave and Trinity Street while demonstrating to cities, towns, developers, and homeowners the value of green techniques. Several improvements will be made to the State Capitol grounds, including the installation of rain gardens, rain harvesting systems and new walkways designed to allow rainwater to filter into the ground instead of running off into the sewer system.



Lodgings target ‘green’ as the color of success

Aug 23rd, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher
Lodgings target ‘green’ as the color of success

Green lodging. It’s a relatively new term, but expect it to become more common as travelers increasingly seek to stay in a place that practices environmentally responsible policies, from saving water to recycling. In Connecticut, there are already 15 accommodations that participate in the Connecticut Green Lodging program, and several of them are located in
[continue reading...]



Premiere, Omni hotels get green label?

Aug 12th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

NEW HAVEN — Two New Haven hotels have made the state’s list of 15 eco-friendly places to lodge. Premiere Hotel and Suites and the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale both have the Connecticut Green Lodging certification, a program sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
[continue reading...]



Green Business Incubator Gets Funding | BuildingCTGreen

Aug 9th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) have announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved two appropriations bills with more than $1.95 million in funding for a number of projects across Connecticut. One of those projects is the The Green Urban Business Incubator (GUBI) in Bridgeport which will receive $150,000 to assist up to
[continue reading...]



Fairfield County builders seeing increase in number of ‘green’ projects

Aug 9th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

The association surveyed its approximately 400 members and had a response rate of 44 percent. Eighty-five percent of the respondents said they use green building practices in some capacity. Sixty percent of the builders surveyed said their clients request green products in their building or remodeling projects. via Fairfield County builders seeing increase in number
[continue reading...]



Event: Bird House Building with reclaimed lumber, Sat. 10-2, Hamden

Jul 15th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

Bird House Building with reclaimed lumber and reusable materials at Urban Miners, Sat, July 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 30 Manila Ave., Hamden, (203) 287-0852. Pre-cut kits and instruction available by Todd Wormell. All ages welcome! Pre-registration appreciated. $10 per structure. Tour the facility before or after your project is complete. Register by calling
[continue reading...]



Builders Vie for Title in the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge

Jul 15th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund is sponsoring the 2010-2011 Zero Energy Challenge competition for designers and builders of new homes in Connecticut. While the 2009-2010 Challenge is still going strong, the 2010-2011 Challenge will allow another group of high-achieving builders and homeowners to showcase their groundbreaking projects. “The response to the current Challenge has been
[continue reading...]



New firehouse will achieve environmental certification

Jun 29th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

EAST HARTFORD — Fire station No. 5, slated to begin construction in August, will make history by being the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified fire station in Connecticut. via New firehouse will achieve environmental certification | Journal Inquirer.



Work within existing footprints for LEED certification

Jun 17th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

All the towns’ players are abuzz about the concept of a “village common” as part of an overall master plan which among other things resuscitates a plan to remodel and expand Town Hall. The linchpin for a village common would be a crosstown move for the New Canaan Library from Main Street to Park Street.
[continue reading...]



Firms learn about deconstruction (video)

Jun 16th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

NEW HAVEN — To the passing eye, a dilapidated house at 183-185 Saltonstall Ave. in the Fair Haven neighborhood is nothing short of an eyesore. But to several public, private and nonprofit entities, it is a treasure, of sorts. The two-family house is owned by the nonprofit housing developer Mutual Housing Association Inc., and for
[continue reading...]



Center for Green Building’s 3rd Annual Sam’s Summer Solstice 5:30 p.m. June 17

Jun 13th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

The Center for Green Building is extremely excited to announce that our 3rd Annual Sam’s Summer Solstice will be held next Thursday, June 17, from 5:30 until 8 p.m. This event will feature numerous local environmental professionals who will provide free information about alternatives to make homes and lifestyles more green, healthy, and sustainable. In
[continue reading...]



USGBC’s open letter about health and the LEED rating system

Jun 11th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

The U.S. Green Building Council writes an open letter to the Environment and Human Health Inc., addressing the issues of human health and the LEED Rating System. On Monday I wrote about a new report by Environment and Human Health, Inc (EHHI) in which the organization suggests that the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating
[continue reading...]



CT, U.S. garage operators copying LEED

Jun 10th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

Connecticut's biggest parking operators and electric utility have teamed up to create a certification for “green” garages, similar to the LEED format for environmentally sustainable buildings. Indeed, the U.S. Green Parking Council was formally established a month ago because the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) won’t certify any of the thousands of existing
[continue reading...]



CT Group Gives LEED Failing Marks

Jun 7th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

The following is from Fast Company Magazine which looked at a recent study done by Connecticut based Environment and Human Health, Inc. The study questioned the true value of LEED® when it comes to Indoor air quality.



Can Hartford Developer Get Funding for LEED Platinum project?

Jun 4th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

Unless I’m missing something, the 11-story, 296,000-square-foot, LEED Platinum office/retail building proposed for Constitution Plaza is the most promising project on Hartford’s drawing board. It has all kinds of things going for it — technology, sustainability, jobs, smart growth, even a tie to local schools. What it may not have in its favor is timing.
[continue reading...]



Connecticut Green News from Building CT Green

May 28th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

News from Building CT Green: Propark Building World’s Greenest Parking Facility Hartford, Conn. – According to the Denver Business Journal, Hartford- based parking-lot operator Propark America is building an $18.6 million parking project near Denver International Airport that’s billed by its developer as the world’s greenest parking facility.



Council called on to update LEED

May 27th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

A North Haven environmental group is urging an organization that promotes environmentally friendly building standards around the country to make changes to the program it has for certifying buildings as “green.” Environment and Human Health is asking the U.S. Green Building Council to revamp its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program. via
[continue reading...]



Developers Compete In CT Zero Energy Challenge

May 22nd, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher

William Freeman was on a mission when he built an energy-efficient spec house on Heron Pond in Essex. He wanted to demonstrate that building green doesn't require sacrificing luxury or looks. The interior of the new energy efficient home built in Essex is completely lined with Agribalance soy-based open cell spray foam which turns the
[continue reading...]



Another milestone reached in CCSU Sustainability Initiative

May 5th, 2010 | By Christopher Zurcher
Another milestone reached in CCSU Sustainability Initiative

A new addition to this story that originally appeared on May 1:  Eastern Connecticut State University’s new Science Building was designed for LEED Silver Certification for its use of gray water to irrigate and its many other green features. In addition, a geothermal system provides heat and air conditioning to a 62,973-square-foot residence hall, the largest
[continue reading...]