Energy Conservation with Passive House Concepts

Passive House may be summarized as a building that meets a high degree of energy efficiency with a focus on utilizing building materials and design techniques that minimize the use of mechanical HVAC systems. Employing super insulation concepts with high R value walls and windows are just two strategies that enable these buildings to meet stringent energy efficiency goals. There are now reportedly 13 Passive Houses in the US, while Europe remains at the forefront with approximately 25,000. Fortunately, there are architects, engineers and contractors who are diligently working to increase the use of this concept right here in NYC. Please join GreenHomeNYC at our October Forum as we take an in-depth look at various passive buildings and what makes them function at optimal levels. Date: Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Please note: We will start promptly at 6pm! Doors open at 5:30.) Invited Speakers: Chris Benedict, RA; Paul Cartrucci, RA; Ken Levenson, RA and a founding board member of the National Passive House Alliance and NY Passive House; and Jordan Goldman a mechanical engineer at Zero Energy Design Location:The GE Monogram Design Center, Architects & Designers Bldg., 150 East 58th Street, 10^th Fl., New York, NY This forum is free and open to the general public. Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.CECs are pending for architects. Please RSVP. Speaker Bios: Chris Benedict, R.A. is a leader in healthy, durable, multifamily buildings in New York City. Awarded Environmental Professional of the Year by the International Association of Energy Engineers in 1999 for her work, her buildings out-perform all other multi-family buildings in the New York area and have measured results. Chris thinks outside the “green box”. Her buildings feature innovative exterior wall and roof systems that exploit thermal mass to save energy and improve comfort. She invented a new type of ventilation system that will change NYC code. Chris incorporates affordable rain water management and mold proofing, provides passive solar heating with room by room temperature controls, assures good indoor air quality with fresh air management and incorporates extensive soundproofing. Her buildings use 85% less energy for heat and hot water than a typical building and 50% less electricity than a typical building. All of which is done for the same price as typical construction. She is a licensed architect in the states of New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at the Cooper Union in New York City. Ken Levenson graduated from Pratt Institute in 1989, and has been a registered architect in New York State since 1993. He is a Certified Passive House Designer, a founding board member of the National Passive House Alliance and of New York Passive House. Ken currently has three Passive House projects under construction in New York City and is also the COO of Four Seven Five, a high performance building supply company dedicated to helping Americans realize the potential of low energy/high comfort construction. Jordan Goldman is a specialist in energy modeling, mechanical engineering, and manages the HVAC design practice for ZeroEnergy Design. He is fluent in building envelope strategies and energy efficient construction systems, building science design principles, as well as mechanical system design, specification, and sizing for enhanced energy performance. Additionally, he is experienced in sizing and specifying renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics and solar hot water.   Jordan has been recognized by the EPA for his achievement in systems design for green buildings and has been featured on NPR. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant, a LEED Accredited Professional, a Verifier for NAHB’s National Green Building Standard, and a HERS Rater. Jordan studied Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, where he received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering. Paul Castrucci is a registered architect with over twenty years of experience.  He has completed projects throughout New York City and New York State, from high-end residences and arts facilities to expedient, cost-effective renovations for community groups and public agencies. His entire body of work reflects a personal commitment to sustainability in design and construction.  The materials and building systems he employs are selected for their low environmental impact and maximum energy efficiency. Paul’s work also reflects a strong sense of social responsibility; the design of each of his projects reflects the culture in which it is situated. He is also an accomplished curator, sculptor and blacksmith, and previously served as the director and curator of the Lower East Side art spaces A & P and Bullet. Paul holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from New York Institute of Technology.