Melaver Residence : A Sustainable Home
At first glance, this historic rowhouse overlooking one of James Oglethorpe's squares in Savannah's esteemed historic district looks not unlike its turn of the century neighbors. But behind its original brick shell is a wealth of technology and modern planning that is as forward thinking and environmentally conscious as its owner Martin Melaver (who is most recently known for constructing the country's first "green" LEED certified shopping center as well as the first LEED certified McDonald's). A new rear addition to this 1872 rowhouse will expand the house from 2,800 sq ft to 3,160. The Melaver's goal for the renovation of this home is to create a "living machine" that performs dramatically better than the average house by several different innovative approaches including making use of existing materials, using less power, generating power, and reusing water to name a few. The bulk of the home's existing materials will be recycled back into the new construction by reclaiming the old growth heart pine floors and milling it into cabinets and doors. All of the rain and gray water from the home will be collected in an underground cistern, which will then be filtered and reused for both irrigation and sewage conveyance. Photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the residence and carriage house will provide a back-up electrical system as well as feed power back into the main grid. The energy usage for lighting in the home will be 80% less than that of the average home primarily based on state-of-the-art LED lighting and fiber optic technology. Geo-thermal technology, which utilizes the temperature differential of the earth to create warm and cool air and water in the house, is being harnessed for the mechanical system and hot water heater system. The building shell is being supplemented by a new high performance exterior envelope inserted into the historic shell to help strengthen the efficiency of the mechanical system and deter the growth of harmful molds and allergens. The project will be submitted as a pilot project in the USGBC's LEED for Home program as a "Gold Certified" possible "Platinum" project. This home will maintain its prestigious facade within the historic fabric of Savannah's Calhoun Square but what happens behind this historic exterior will undoubtedly make a bit of history of its own.
contacts:
Melaver, inc
www.melaver.com
RainHarvest Company
Paul Morgan
Post Office Box 634
Snellville, GA 30078
770-652-0160
morg5007@bellsouth.net
http://www.rainharvestcompany.com/
ONEWORLD Sustainable Energy Corporation
Keith Freeman
Athens/Savannah/Jacksonville/Ft. Lauderdale
O: 912-898-9627
C: 912-596-1780
willkfree@comcast.net
http://www.oneworldsec.com/
Lighting Design Systems
Cyndee Sessoms
843-301-2050
lightingdesigns@gmail.com