Student housing at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake received gold level certification from the National Association of Home Builders Research Center”™s Green Building Certification Program.
The certification means the EcoGreen Community Housing project designed and built at the school by The Ruby Group meets National Green Building and Energy Star standards as well as for energy efficiency and sustainable construction. Certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is expected to be completed in the near future. Â “We”™re honored to be among the first developers to receive this,” said Howie Berman, TRG principal who supervised the project.
The inspector who conducted the energy survey determined the three units have very favorable home energy ratings (HER) of 48, 48 and 49. This compares to an HER of 100 for buildings that meet state building codes and an HER of 85 required to receive Energy Star certification. The lower the HER score, the more energy efficient the building.
The student housing energy-efficient components include Energy Star-rated kitchen appliances, tankless water heaters, bamboo and other certified-sustainable wood products, zoned heating, components that do not require painting or staining, insulation and building “tightness” that met or exceeded code requirements and the recycling of debris generated from construction.  The contractor was recognized for minimizing erosion and protecting vegetation during the construction phase.
The on-campus building houses up to 48 students in three side-by-side, townhouse-style units, more like single-family homes than a dormitory. The residences feature eat-in kitchens, living rooms, multiple bathrooms, laundry and high-speed Internet access. The townhouses resemble traditional New England homes, with porches and exterior walls with clapboard siding and shingles. The building cost about $1.5 million to design and build using modular components prepared by Haven Custom Homes at a factory in Pennsylvania and were installed in three days during June.
The Bermans worked with Sullivan County Community College Dormitory Corp. to enter into a public-private partnership. The Ruby Group leased the land on campus and was responsible for everything from municipal approvals, financing and construction to long-term management of the housing facility. It contracted with Longley Jones Management Corp. to handle the property management. The arrangement meant the new housing was built at no cost to the college, “an alternative for colleges facing higher costs to accommodate students,” Pete Berman said.
