| There are as many definitions of “green” | | | | manufacturers that are members of the Unites |
| as there are shades of color. Wikipedia defines a | | | | States Green Building Council (USGBC) such as T.Clear |
| green building, also known as a sustainable building as | | | | Corp of Hamilton Ohio. Their ProTec® CSIP |
| “ a structure that is designed, built, renovated, | | | | building system provides less skilled labor, reduces |
| operated, or reused in an ecological and | | | | wall construction time to a matter days verses |
| resource-efficient manner.” | | | | months and is competitively afforadble when |
| Dade County Florida's Website reads that, | | | | compared to block or conventioanl construction |
| “Sustainable building practices go beyond energy | | | | techniques. The company literature states the panels |
| and water conservation to incorporate | | | | are “framing, sheathing, insulation and interior wall |
| environmentally sensitive site planning, resource | | | | surface all in one. This equates to building more |
| efficient building materials and superior indoor | | | | homes in les time with fewer associated costs and |
| environmental quality.” The website lists five key | | | | waste. |
| benefits of sustainable construction that seems to | | | | Enhanced Health and Productivity |
| concisely capture the “spirit” of the green | | | | Clean water, fresh air, low VOC and no off-gasing |
| building concept. | | | | products should be the benchmark for homes built |
| - Lower electric and water utility costs | | | | under the “green” design concept. Energy |
| - Environmentally effective use of building materials | | | | conservation and eco-friendly homes do not happen |
| - Enhanced health and productivity | | | | by accident, it takes planning and design guidelines to |
| - Long-term economic returns | | | | ensure homes provide comfort, style and are also |
| - Reduced environmental impact | | | | affordable. Choosing off the shelf products that are |
| The need to reduce costs associated with energy | | | | eco-friendly minimize costs and help descrease the |
| production and importing building materials, the | | | | time required to source specialized products that add |
| importance of conserving water and natural | | | | time and expense to the construction process. |
| resources and minimizing environmental impact are | | | | Despite the misconception, “green homes” |
| challenges that are even more paramount within our | | | | can be stylish, affordable and built on a reduced |
| island communities. Green initiatives provide excellent | | | | timeline. |
| benefits but carry a pricetag asociated with | | | | The Protec® Building System is currently used by |
| implementation. We've looked at the benefits and the | | | | HDC Development Corp within the Bahamas to build |
| challenges, but what are the affordable solutions? | | | | as it describes, “Net Zero Energy Homes”. |
| Lower Eletric and Water Utility costsThin-film solar | | | | Recently receing apporavel from The Bahamas |
| and Atmospheric Water Generation are two | | | | Ministry of Works, the Protec Building System® is |
| affordable technolgies that fit expectioannly well in | | | | meticuoslesy engineered to design loads of up to 150 |
| the Caribbean region. With the abundance of sunshine | | | | mile per winds. According to the information from the |
| we receive intermingled with overcast days, it is still | | | | company's website, these “Net Zero Energy |
| estimated that a solar radiation of 4-5 hours per day | | | | Homes” gerernate more energy than they |
| is typical for the region. Using lighweight thin-film solar, | | | | consume, have minimal environmental impact, resist |
| with a capacity of an estimated 5 watts/sq ft. a | | | | high winds and are very compatiable to developers |
| typical 1,200 sq ft home could easily support a roof | | | | seeking higher construction productivity rates. |
| laminted 3,000 Watt solar power system. A system | | | | Long-term Economic Returns |
| of this size would generate an estimated 12-15kWh | | | | Unfortunately, when green initiatives are initially |
| per day. By reducing electiical lighintg, cooling, and | | | | introduced into some regions for the first time, |
| appliance loads to less than 4k the solar system can | | | | typically there exists an entense amount of |
| also be recued in size. | | | | resistance as traditional stakeholders, with |
| How do we reduce our electrical load calculations? | | | | entrenched concepts and methods are challenged by |
| Design and retrofit with L.E.D. Lighting, A typical | | | | the new technology. However, for the greater good |
| home using high efficiency L.E.D. lighting would use | | | | of the entire Caribbean region, traditional |
| just under 250 Watts for the entire lighting circuit and | | | | beauracratis “red tape” needs to be pierced |
| provide equal or higher lumen output than convenienal | | | | so that a new generation may benefit from the |
| incandescent or CFL lighting systems. Heat pump | | | | advances in proven technology and ensure our |
| water heating technologies provide an estimates | | | | regions continued success in the renewable energy |
| 7,000 btu output and a max water temp of 135 while | | | | amd sustainable development sectors. |
| using less than 800 watts nominal. Air Conditioning | | | | Openminded acceptance of proven “green |
| units using proven ductless-split DC Inverter | | | | technologies” will bring investment, trainig, jobs |
| technologies provide remote controlled zoned cooling | | | | and prosperity to the Caribbean region. The region is |
| while using as little as 1,200 watts for a 11,000btu | | | | ideal to capture the full potential of clean solar and |
| system. Energy efficient appliances are readily | | | | wind power generation. Long-term economic growth |
| available and help to reduce overall electrical loads | | | | is the fruit that's harvested when we plant the seeds |
| A very natural solution for clean water production in | | | | of green initiavtes today. |
| the Caribbean has been around since the beginning of | | | | Reduced environmental impact |
| time. Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) systems | | | | Waste reduction, resource conservation and |
| use the natural humidity in the air to produce up to | | | | matinainting pure water inventories are important |
| 6gallons per day of pure filtered drinking water | | | | issues that face any region, but even more so here |
| without the need for any plumbing or realated | | | | in the Caribbean islands. As our population grow so |
| infrastructure. Dispensing 99.9% pure water, the | | | | does the need to pay more strict attention to the |
| AWG system can be operated directly from solar | | | | subject of waste management and recycling. |
| power or plugs into a standard household outlet. | | | | Education and acceptance of recycling is the key. |
| With a built in water heating element the units | | | | Conservation is an adopted lifestyle and the |
| dispense hot or cold water on demand without the | | | | population must see it as a benefit in order to |
| need for maintaining an inventory of bottled water. | | | | embrace it. Tangible incentives such as reductions in |
| Production costs are estimated between $0.06 -0.14 | | | | Waste Collection rates for househgolds that recycle, |
| per gallon of water. | | | | reduced utility rates for homes with Solar or wind |
| Environmentally Effective use of Building Materials | | | | Power Generation systems and reduced municipal |
| What's needed is a building system that can resist | | | | water rates for households with Atmospheric Water |
| high winds, is versatile, structural, provides a high level | | | | Generators would go a long way to helping the large |
| of insulation, minimim waste and is affordable. | | | | public adopt and embrace “going green”. |
| Concrete Structural Insulated Panels (CSIP) provide | | | | Lets hope the islands of the Caribbean region can by |
| an excellent alternative to conventional concrete | | | | careful and wise use of our startegic natural |
| block construction in the Caribbean. Proven and | | | | resources become the worldwide leader in the |
| accepted throughout the United States, CSIP's are | | | | adoption and implemntation of proven green |
| pre-designed, pre-cut, professionally engineered, | | | | technologies. It is clear we have the most to gain and |
| insulated, provide a strucural frame and exterior and | | | | success will equate to increased toursim, investment, |
| interior concrete fire resistant surfaces for finishing. | | | | training, jobs and prosperity for our region. |
| These lighweight concrete panels are produced by | | | | |