On September 2nd, leaders in the advancement of sustainable design and high performance construction were honored at Viridiant’s Virtual Building Sustainability Conference & Awards.
Viridiant hosted two concurrent conference sessions and an inspiring keynote address from Belltower Pictures’ President, David Powers, on the upcoming documentary “Heard”. The featured sessions and speakers shared knowledge and inspired discussion, all in an effort to drive change in the protection of our living environments, both inside and out. Topics included:
- How Virginia is Achieving our Energy Goals
- How to Deliver High Performance Buildings
- Keynote: “Heard” sneak peek documentary by Belltower Pictures
Awards were presented to recognize the region’s leaders in high-performance construction with a focus on projects, programs, and initiatives that represent the future of sustainable building. Nominees and winners were honored in a variety of categories based on work completed in the last three years in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each winner receives a FSC-certified wooden award plaque from Rivanna Natural Designs, a local business offering planet-friendly alternatives to traditional trophies and plaques.
Award winners include:
Project or Development – Single Family
Atelier Q2 Architects – 3518 13th Street N., Arlington
The Joyce Residence is a certified ENERGY STAR home achieving a HERS score of 22 and received Arlington County’s silver level Green Home Choice Award. The project incorporated passive solar design including the home’s orientation and exterior solar shading to take advantage of natural light and solar gains during the winter to decrease the heating load and solar shading during the summer months to decrease cooling loads within the home. It utilizes central mini-split heat pumps, an Energy Star hot water heater and many locally sourced or recycled content materials. 24 solar panels are installed to produce 8kw power for electrical vehicle charging station and includes battery storage.
Project or Development – Multifamily
Virginia Supportive Housing – Church Street Station Studios
Church Street Station Studios by Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) is a 100% affordable, five story, 80 unit project designed and constructed to achieve EarthCraft Platinum Certification. To achieve the pinnacle level of the EarthCraft certification, Church Street incorporated advanced framing techniques, low to no VOC materials, energy efficient doors and windows, high efficiency water heaters, a VRF mini splits, resource efficient lighting, and WaterSense fixtures. The property includes a photovoltaic array to minimize the building’s dependence on non-renewable electricity generation, along with a solar thermal system for hot water generation. The compact, infill site connects to public green spaces and transit, minimizes parking, contains advanced stormwater control, and included native pollinator plant species within its landscaping. Virginia Supportive Housing’s commitment to sustainability not only improves the surrounding community while decreasing the carbon footprint of its developments, but also allows VSH to continue furthering their mission of providing transitional housing to the Commonwealth.
Builder or Developer
Peacock Holland Construction
Peacock Holland Construction (PHC) was founded in 2018 and is already a strong contributor to the inventory of green certified homes within the Commonwealth having certified 80 EarthCraft units during its short and obviously productive lifetime. PHC is currently in the process of renovating and constructing an additional 318 units. PHC collaborates with both Viridiant and design teams to implement high performance construction details and methods. PHC trains site staff in basic high-performance building theory, works closely with trade contractors to educate tradesmen on energy efficient means and methods, and educates residents to better understand their high-performance home. They’ve utilizes a team-based, integrated approach to optimize program delivery and has developed internal controls to manage and conserve construction schedules, materials and cost. PHC’s historical experience with the production of multi-family construction along with classic engineering knowledge ensures construction and delivery of energy efficient, practical, and resilient spaces.
Habitat for Humanity Affiliate
Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley
In recent years, Habitat Roanoke has maintained an average of 8 certified homes a year. 2019 was no exception. All certified homes in 2019 were clustered in the same collective community. Of those 8 certified homes, 5 addressed existing, vacant housing stock. One was torn down and rebuilt, while the other 4 underwent gut rehabilitation including all new insulation and energy using systems and were certified under the EarthCraft New Construction guidelines rather than renovation based on the extent of the work. By complementing the existing streetscape with new construction projects and preserving existing architectural styles with renovations, Habitat has received significant support and enthusiasm from neighbors and the surrounding community. Habitat Roanoke takes pride in knowing their families can afford to be comfortable in their own homes while also helping to ease the housing burden on partner families associated with high utility bills.
Top High-Performance EarthCraft Home
Shelter Alternatives – Single Family Home in Blacksburg
This single family home by Shelter Alternative in Blacksburg includes a tight building envelope and insulation combined with Energy Star appliances and solar to achieve a HERS 20. In addition to reducing the amount of energy needed to operate the home, there were some material choices that made good use of existing resources. Trees taken down for the homesite were repurposed into trim and countertops for the home. The siding is locally sourced Hemlock. The home was intentionally designed to incorporate warehousing and home offices for a home-based business and also includes a suite for an aging parent which will in turn provide future aging in place for the owners.
Visionary
Annette Osso
Ms. Annette Osso currently serves as the Managing Director of Resilient Virginia, established in 2014 with the mission of accelerating resiliency planning in communities across Virginia. Resilient Virginia evolved from Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN), originally formed in 1995, where Ms. Osso served as president for 18 years. As one of the earliest advocates and adopters of green building practices in the Commonwealth, she was the key part of a collaboration that brought the EarthCraft program to Virginia. Through her years of work, Ms. Osso built a strong network of public and private partners that together advanced energy efficiency, high performance building practices, wide-ranging education and outreach efforts, and spearheaded the Virginia Sustainable Future Conference and Workshop Series. As a result of Ms. Osso’s efforts, Virginia now operates one of the most successful regional green building programs in the country, is a top 10 state for LEED certifications, and hosts very active US Green Building Council Chapters in the Region. In 2014, Ms. Osso created the Resilient Virginia organization to further VSBN’s mission. She grew and expanded her vision well beyond sustainable building design and construction, to examine issues of sustainability at a macro level, addressing the many aspects of resiliency: community, health, transportation, emergency planning and preparedness, grid modernization, urban and rural issues, both coastal and inland, as well as the basics of energy, water, and food security. For 25 years, Annette Osso has advocated to advance a clean economy, sustainability, and resilience. Through her tireless efforts she has engaged a network of supporters, provided education to thousands, and advanced policies and programs to ensure a more sustainable future for Virginians.
Special thanks to our 2020 event sponsors!
