Concept of Building Passive Houses That Use Little to No Energy to Be Discussed on “Greenwich Matters” Radio Program – To Listen Live go to http://www.wgch.com/desktop.php

Visionary Builders Salvatore Zarrella and Luis Imery to Join Sustainability Advocates Mark Betz and Rob Kennedy along with host Sam Romeo on WGCH 1490 Thurs., January 5 at 6:00pm Greenwich, CT December 30, 2016  – Imagine a home that provides year-round comfort without the need for heating and air conditioning systems or even fireplaces.  A thoughtfully designed and purposefully constructed dwelling built to use up to 90% less energy than existing structures. While it may sound like high-tech fiction, Passive Housing is a reality that is already coming to fruition in Fairfield County and many other areas.

Described as the highest standard of energy efficient building, Passive Housing requires virtually no energy use for heating or cooling. While the first Passive Homes were built in Germany and Austria a quarter century ago, the concept is quickly gaining awareness and recognition in the United States.  Among the key components to building a passive house are:

  • Air tight construction
  • Robust exterior insulation on all sides
  • Efficient  whole-house heat recovery ventilation system
  • Construction designed to eliminate thermal bridges
  • High efficiency windows
  • Proper orientation of the structure to maximize natural heating and cooling advantages

Dr. Wolfgang Feist built the first passive housing project in Darmstadt, Austria in 1991 and the organization he helped found, the Passive House Institute (PHI), is now celebrating its 25th year of progress. By dramatically reducing unnecessary heat losses through walls, roofs and windows, they have developed and perfected a series of processes that make heating systems completely irrelevant.

Salvatore Zarrella, founder of Construction Management Group in New Canaan, Connecticut, will join Mark Betz, founder and CEO of the Norwalk firm, GreenView Building Products, along with GreenView’s Sales Director Rob Kennedy, and Sam Romeo, chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority on the Greenwich Matters radio program. The interview can be heard at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 5th. Visit www.greenviewbuildingproducts.com and click on the WGCH logo.

Zarrella brings an impressive array of attributes to the table in support of his passionate advocacy of Passive Housing. He is a skilled hands-on builder, millworker and finish carpenter, marble and stone granite fabricator and mechanical design specialist. His model for craftsmanship is based on the European “Old World” time-tested methods. This knowledge enables him to organize technical aspects of a project that requires trade insights to ensure that jobs will proceed smoothly and be completed in a timely fashion.

In addition, the program will feature Net Zero Home builder and green consultant Luis Imery of the Georgia-based Imery Group, who specializes in constructions and renovations that are healthy, durable, energy efficient and comfortable.  He will also be joined by his client Tom Mills, a video blogger who is documenting the construction of his Green Home with a series of YouTube productions. The first one is now online at https://youtu.be/Q5uFYPFg0W8. Like many of Imery’s projects, Mills’ Green Shortz home will be certified by highly trained 3rd party inspectors using specific sustainable certification programs. The goal is to obtain Earth Craft House and LEED for Homes certification and Zero Energy Ready home approval from the US Department of Energy.

The program is the latest in a biweekly series of proven strategies and in-depth examinations of the economic and social benefits of building with an eye on its long-term effects on the environment.  “Passive Housing is an exciting advancement in residential and commercial construction that is poised for explosive growth over the next decade. We want to make people aware of the potential for enormous savings,” said Betz. “We’re pleased to host a discussion with a quality-oriented firm that is well versed in Passive House construction and capable of being a full partner throughout the entire process from design to final build.”

About Greenview Building Products: GreenView is a distributor of sustainable building products and services for architects, contractors, developers, building owners and property managers. www.greenviewbuildingproducts.com

About Construction Management Group: Construction Management Group, LLC is a full service building firm specializing in residential and commercial projects with an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, CMG is highly focused on controlling costs, adhering to specified time schedules, best in class workmanship and attention to detail in order to deliver the highest quality construction http://cmgbuilder.com

About Imery Group:   At Imery Group we beliefs that everyone should have the opportunity to own the healthiest, most durable, energy efficient and comfortable home that one can afford. http://www.imerygroup.com/