PHILADELPHIA, July 31, 2020 -- Alter Eco, LLC , a high performance residential and commercial builder based in Paoli, Pennsylvania, has announced they have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as a 2020 Housing Innovation Award winner in the attached single-family category for their “Bridgeport Zero Energy Ready Home Twins” project. As a committed DOE partner who provides certified Zero Energy Ready Homes, Alter Eco is in the top one percent of builders in the country meeting the extraordinary levels of excellence in energy and performance specified in the national program requirements.
“Housing Innovation Award winners such as Alter Eco are leading a major housing industry transformation to zero energy ready homes. This level of performance is the home of the future because it improves the way Americans live by substantially reducing or eliminating utility bills, ensuring engineered comfort way beyond traditional homes, protecting health with a comprehensive package of indoor air quality measures, and helping maximize the largest investment of a lifetime,” said Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office.
The Bridgeport twins were designed and built to exceed building code minimums with more insulation and low air leakage. These homes achieved a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Score of 39 or below. The homes will use an average of 45 percent less energy than a code-built home. This is a savings of 11,300 kWh a year. With the current electric rate of 13 cents per kilowatt hour, this translates into $1469 dollars annual savings or $122 per month. Over ten years of ownership this results savings of almost $15,000.[1]
Joseph Lombardi, Alter Eco’s co-founder and partner said, “As a new company, we are honored to have received this incredible national recognition for Alter Eco’s very first project. We have made a 100% commitment to build to the ZERH requirements for all of our projects because we believe this is the right way to build for homebuyers and for the world.”
The Bridgeport Properties Zero Energy Ready Homes coalesced from a collaboration between developer, Bridgeport Properties, architectural firm, Architetra and builder, Alter Eco. The partnership enabled the innovative design and construction required for homes that meet and exceed the stringent technical requirements of the DOE’s ZERH Program, while supporting Alter Eco’s vision for a new paradigm in homebuilding; to deliver exceptional value that combines high-performance features, ultra-energy efficiency and stylish design at a competitive construction price compared to a standard code-built home. The project also supports Bridgeport’s growth and revitalization efforts.
Spacious, light, and bright, Bridgeport Properties townhomes fulfill some of homebuyers’ top desires and include an open floor plan, 4 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths each, space-saving roof decks for outdoor entertaining, designer kitchens, luxury master baths, and garages. They are thoughtfully designed by Architetra for curb appeal with attractive front elevation designs that fit in seamlessly with the historic vernacular aesthetic, but with a modern twist.
The renewable-energy ready homes are built with industry-leading building technologies. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) roofs and Superior Walls are the basis of a tight, highly insulated building envelope that makes the homes ultra-energy efficient.
Based on an independent third-party professional energy rating company’s audit reports, the four twin homes far exceed the ZERH program requirements which also includes ENERGY STAR certification. Smartly designed rooms feature ENERGY-STAR certified appliances, windows, and doors, and ENERGY-STAR qualified light-emitting diode (LED) lighting throughout.
The homs are also Indoor airPlus qualified and include additional features to help protect against potential health risks such as moisture, mold, pests, combustion gases, and garage pollutants. Bridgeport Properties also employs locally and responsibly sourced materials and finishes with no or ultra-low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, flooring, and carpet. They provide a more comfortable living environment with a whole house advanced HVAC system with improved duct and fresh air ventilation designed for energy-efficient new homes.
About Alter Eco
Alter Eco is a full-service design and build firm that provides architectural, construction management, and sustainable consulting services. Our approach is to seamlessly incorporate leading-edge building science to create cost effective, high performance homes and small commercial buildings in any style. Experts in green building, our capabilities are well-rounded and include experience building to the ZERH program requirements set forth by the Department of Energy, Passive House Standards as certified through the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification standards. For more information; contact Alter Eco’s co-founder, Joseph M Lombardi, AIA, LEED AP by phone 610.389.1175 or email: jlombardi@alterecobuild.com.
[1]Disclaimer: The energy consumption is estimated with full home occupancy and typical weather. The actual energy usage will vary based on the number of occupants, their behavior and actual weather. Individual homeowners’ annual energy consumption will be different.
