Environmental Responsibility
The OPEN_2 project carries a high level of environmental visibility. Bensonwood has always been a forerunner where matters of waste management and environmental impact are concerned. Partnering with MIT allows the integration of technology to further refine our ecological and environmental footprint.
Power Generation
While the home will be "on the grid," it will be designed to be a self-generating facility using sustainable environmental energy sources. Initial plans include the use of photovoltaic panels (PV panels) for electricity generation, and solar hot water panels for domestic hot water. Heat for the home will be primarily passive solar heat gain, with electrical baseboard for back-up. This is currently still under development.
The decision to be on the grid allows the home to function at a net-zero energy cost. During the summer months, the home will generate an excess of electricity, which it will be able to feed back through the grid to the electric company, creating a bank to draw from.
In the winter months, when on-site electric generation is lower and the need is higher, the home will draw power from the electric grid and its own bank. This storage and withdrawal system results in a net-zero energy use over the course of a year. See Net-Zero Energy for more information.
Design goals follow the objectives of Net-Zero energy cost as defined in the Living Building Challenge. On-site renewable energy generation will also provide ample opportunity for experiential curriculum.
Water Sources and Treatment
Water for the home will be drawn from an existing well located on the property. Water use in and around the home will be frugal and of low impact. As with many commercial and residential construction projects, the treatment and handling of stormwater runoff is expected to be handled on-site. To this end, Boyd Snowden has developed a stormwater collection system, consisting of a series of rain gardens designed to prevent streaming and washout. This system will also be used for graywater, promoting nutrient uptake and subsequently returning the water to the ground. The plan for the stormwater collection system has been developed and sent to the State Department of Environmental Services for approval.
On-site wastewater treatment was a goal, including the use of composting toilets. However, ledge was discovered several feet beneath the grade of the site. The use of composting toilets would necessitate extensive blasting, which would be cost prohibitive for the project budget and environmentally disruptive.
A study is underway to determine the best method of providing a nearby pump station for fire apparatus.
Indoor Air Quality
California Title 24 defines requirements for indoor/outdoor air exchanges. These requirements will be integrated into the design to eliminate sources of indoor air pollution. Additionally, toxic, high VOC materials will not be permitted into the indoor spaces.
Minimal Construction Waste
By their very nature, the Bensonwood construction methods model best practices in construction waste management. Advanced techniques in design and modeling give us the opportunity to select materials with a specific project in mind. Rather than bulk purchases of materials that "look like they'll work," our materials can be specifically matched to the application.
Prefabricating components in a controlled environment makes optimal use of materials, minimizing construction waste in both the shop and on site. In this way, Bensonwood maintains an economy of resources not achievable in traditional on site construction.