Proponents of the green movement have long touted the cost savings of energy-efficient products and practices, but results are sometimes difficult to quantify.
A shining example of the dividends energy consciousness can pay was recently delivered—in the form of an electric bill—to the Harding Township home of Katherine and Matt Sheeleigh.
“The bill from June 25 through July 25—that’s appliances, lighting, plugs, air conditioning, everything—in a month that saw average temperatures of 76 degrees, was $69.85,” says Matt Porraro, who, with his brother Greg, owns PAI Associates of North Branch, which designed and built the 6,800-square-foot home. “For a house of this size the monthly energy cost would be somewhere in the $600 to $1,000 range,” he says, adding, “there is no single bullet; every system makes a difference, each upgrade contributes” to the bottom line.
The Sheeleigh residence was built using energy-saving and sustainable products—including geothermal heating and air conditioning, energy-efficient windows, and recycled building materials. The project is poised to earn gold certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the internationally recognized organization that provides third-party verification for green building projects.
The Sheeleighs’ home will be showcased in the Harding Land Trust House Tour in June 2011, the proceeds of which will help maintain open spaces in Harding Township.
Meanwhile, the homeowners have PAI Associates at work on a 1,000-square-foot guest cottage—a net-zero energy building that will use solar panels and an innovative European product called Altherma to heat and cool the structure.