ANTHONY J. MUSSO
ARCHITECT,
LEED Accredited Professional
ARCHITECT,
LEED Accredited Professional
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| 181 MAIN STREET, COLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK 11724 Phone 631 367 8626 - Fax 631 367 4276 - AJMARCHITECT@aol.com |
Energy Star
Energy Star was established by the Environmental Protection Agency to set a standard for improving
the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings. The program and the participants are
voluntary. Anthony J. Musso, Architect has been a Energy Star Partner for more than two years and is
one of the few Long Island architects to participate in the program. Energy Star residential buildings
are rated for the degree of performance by the HERS rating system. The more efficient the building
the higher the HERS rating. The lowest rating to receive an Energy Star Certificate is 85, the highest
rating is 100. All buildings eligible for a Certificate require a review of the plans by a certified HERS
rater before construction and testing during the construction.
NAHB
The National Association of Home Builders. This association provides national green building
standards and criteria for rating the environmental impact of design and construction practices to
achieve conformance with specified performance levels for all green residential buildings. The
standards apply to single dwelling units, multi-unit buildings, and mixed-use developments of both
new and renovated construction.
U S Green Building Council
The USGBC provides leadership in energy and environmental design ( LEED) for homes. It is a
voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes,
including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom design, stand-alone single family
homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban low-rise apartments, urban high-rise apartments and
condominiums and lofts in historic areas. Anthony J. Musso, Architect is an member of the Long
Island chapter of the USGBC. LEED encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green
building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally
understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third party certification program
and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high
performance green buildings.
High Performance Building
These buildings will save 30-50 percent of the utility cost over a conventionally built building. This is
achieved by incorporating super-insulation in the floor, walls and roof creating a tight thermal exterior
envelope. In new construction this is accomplished with SIP construction. In rehab buildings, the
insulation is blown or sprayed into the floor, walls and roof with the addition of rigid insulation applied
to the exterior foundation walls and exterior walls. The mechanical systems are high efficient units
and may include geothermal HVAC equipment. These units provide both heating/cooling and domestic
hot water. A high performance building may include solar PV or solar thermal to offset some of the
electric and hot water energy needs. The buildings incorporate Energy Star appliances and equipment
and most of the lighting used is compact fluorescence lamps.
Near-Zero Energy Building
Similar to the high performance building, the envelope is super-insulated creating a tight thermal
exterior barrier. A near-zero energy building will save 60-90 percent of the utility cost over the
conventional building. The mechanical systems are high efficiency units or geothermal HVAC units.
Solar PV is sized to provide a net zero electrical energy for the building annually. Additional solar
thermal may be installed to provide hot water for heating or domestic hot water. The appliances and
equipment are Energy Star rated. The major portion of the lighting is compact fluorescent.
Zero Carbon Buildings
The design and systems incorporated in the zero-carbon building provides electricity is an equivalent
to 20% or more energy used in the building for a minimum of 25 years. This additional energy
generated offsets the embedded energy that was required to build the structure. All the same
systems, materials and equipment used in the zero-energy building are incorporated into the zero-
carbon building except that the increase in site generation of electricity to export the additional 20%
energy to the grid.
Comfort
A comfortable indoor environment is created by a constant balance of air temperature, humidity and
healthy air quality. The indoor environment is controlled and maintained by the result of an energy
efficient thermal barrier building envelope and a highly efficient mechanical system utilizing
controlled fresh air.
Durability
In the design of a sustainable building the concerns of air, moisture, and thermal flow are the design
points. In a sustainable building the materials are placed in a sequence to reduce the effects of
moisture, mildew, and excessive thermal exposure. These materials will have a longer life when they
are not in a stressed or deterioration arrangement.
Quality Construction
The quality of construction starts with the a sustainable design. The building is a “living structure”. It
is affected by the environmental conditions. The building is constantly moving, expanding and
contracting. Surfaces fluctuate from warm to cold and wet and dry. A durably sustainable design
anticipates these dynamic conditions in the assembly of the materials and allows the structures to
function naturally.
Low Energy Utility Cost
The virtue of a building as a tight, well insulated structure, requires less energy to operate. The
heating and cooling systems are sized smaller and operate more efficiently. The lighting used is
compact fluorescent lamps, the equipment is Energy Star rated. With all these systems operating
together, the building uses less energy results in lower energy cost.
Passive Sustainability
A building that is passively sustainable has all the qualities and systems designed into the structure
for the building to operate for a period of time when the utility power or the fossil fuel supplies are
interrupted. The occupants of the building can maintain a quality of living while the external sources of
power are not available. The environmental conditions outside can be severe, while the interior
maintains a healthy, comfortable environment.
SIP
The term SIP is a generic term for structural insulated panels. SIP construction has been in existence
since the early 1930’s. Specifically, the panels used for the cottage construction are manufactured by
ThermaSteel Corp., Radford, VA. The panels are a composite structure of modified expanded
polystyrene (EPS), bonded to a light-gauge, galvanized steel frame. The panels are produced in a
single step to provide a light-weight, energy efficient, load bearing construction system. The panels
can be installed vertically as bearing walls or horizontally as floors and roofs. The panels are
manufactured in 3 1/2”, 5 1/2” and 7 1/2” thicknesses with R-values of 19, 30 and 40 as total
assemblies. The system is prefabricated at the manufacturing plant and shipped in four foot wide
panels to be placed into the structure. The panels are assembled on site by screwing the panels
together and then setting them on a steel channel tracking and screwed in place. The exterior can be
finished in any conventional siding material, including stone, brick or stucco. The interior can be
finished with wall board or wood. www.thermasteelcorp.com
Recycled Roofing Material
Roofing of the cottage was a recycled rubber and plastic roof resembling slate. The material is
manufactured by EcoStar and is a slate looking product made from recycled tire rubber and recycled
thermoplastic olefin. The materials are heat-formed with a binder. The system is lightweight and
recyclable with a Class A fire-resistance. The tiles come in a variety of colors from black to stone red.
www.ecostar.carlisle.com
Certified Decking
The wood deck is 1”x4” IPE teak hardwood. It is a high density wood that is extremely durable, free of
toxic preservatives, naturally fire resistant and can be maintenance free. The wood is insect and
decay resistant. The IPE decking is produced and supplied from Forest Stewardship Council suppliers.
PVC High Performance Windows
The windows and doors are custom PVC units with 1” insulated Low “E” glazing. The units can
withstand hurricane forces and have impact glazing. The units are constructed with superior weather-
stripping and high performance glazing. They exceed the New York State Energy requirements. The
windows are low maintenance , durable, and the components are recyclable. The units are
manufactured by MQ Windows, Montreal, Canada, distributed by North Shore Door and Windows, Co.
Comfort Air Quality System
The cottage air quality is maintained by the fresh air supplied by the operation of the Broan Ultra Silent
Ventilation Fan and the Broan SmartSense Intelligent Control. Air is exhausted from the space
intermittently by the operation of the fan to provide specified air changes per hour. Fresh air is
supplied through various one way louvers located in the walls. The exhaust air removes the stale and
contaminated air and the supply of fresh air providing the quality air for the building. www.broan.com
Stand-Alone Electric System
The components of a stand-alone PV system are PV panels, inverter, charge controller and batteries
without any outside utility electrical power. The system will operate lights, fan and a low wattage utility
outlet in the cottage. This is only a sampling of a real house system, and this system can be expanded
to provide more power for a longer period of time. www.energybychoice.com
Energy Star was established by the Environmental Protection Agency to set a standard for improving
the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings. The program and the participants are
voluntary. Anthony J. Musso, Architect has been a Energy Star Partner for more than two years and is
one of the few Long Island architects to participate in the program. Energy Star residential buildings
are rated for the degree of performance by the HERS rating system. The more efficient the building
the higher the HERS rating. The lowest rating to receive an Energy Star Certificate is 85, the highest
rating is 100. All buildings eligible for a Certificate require a review of the plans by a certified HERS
rater before construction and testing during the construction.
NAHB
The National Association of Home Builders. This association provides national green building
standards and criteria for rating the environmental impact of design and construction practices to
achieve conformance with specified performance levels for all green residential buildings. The
standards apply to single dwelling units, multi-unit buildings, and mixed-use developments of both
new and renovated construction.
U S Green Building Council
The USGBC provides leadership in energy and environmental design ( LEED) for homes. It is a
voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes,
including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom design, stand-alone single family
homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban low-rise apartments, urban high-rise apartments and
condominiums and lofts in historic areas. Anthony J. Musso, Architect is an member of the Long
Island chapter of the USGBC. LEED encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green
building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally
understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third party certification program
and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high
performance green buildings.
High Performance Building
These buildings will save 30-50 percent of the utility cost over a conventionally built building. This is
achieved by incorporating super-insulation in the floor, walls and roof creating a tight thermal exterior
envelope. In new construction this is accomplished with SIP construction. In rehab buildings, the
insulation is blown or sprayed into the floor, walls and roof with the addition of rigid insulation applied
to the exterior foundation walls and exterior walls. The mechanical systems are high efficient units
and may include geothermal HVAC equipment. These units provide both heating/cooling and domestic
hot water. A high performance building may include solar PV or solar thermal to offset some of the
electric and hot water energy needs. The buildings incorporate Energy Star appliances and equipment
and most of the lighting used is compact fluorescence lamps.
Near-Zero Energy Building
Similar to the high performance building, the envelope is super-insulated creating a tight thermal
exterior barrier. A near-zero energy building will save 60-90 percent of the utility cost over the
conventional building. The mechanical systems are high efficiency units or geothermal HVAC units.
Solar PV is sized to provide a net zero electrical energy for the building annually. Additional solar
thermal may be installed to provide hot water for heating or domestic hot water. The appliances and
equipment are Energy Star rated. The major portion of the lighting is compact fluorescent.
Zero Carbon Buildings
The design and systems incorporated in the zero-carbon building provides electricity is an equivalent
to 20% or more energy used in the building for a minimum of 25 years. This additional energy
generated offsets the embedded energy that was required to build the structure. All the same
systems, materials and equipment used in the zero-energy building are incorporated into the zero-
carbon building except that the increase in site generation of electricity to export the additional 20%
energy to the grid.
Comfort
A comfortable indoor environment is created by a constant balance of air temperature, humidity and
healthy air quality. The indoor environment is controlled and maintained by the result of an energy
efficient thermal barrier building envelope and a highly efficient mechanical system utilizing
controlled fresh air.
Durability
In the design of a sustainable building the concerns of air, moisture, and thermal flow are the design
points. In a sustainable building the materials are placed in a sequence to reduce the effects of
moisture, mildew, and excessive thermal exposure. These materials will have a longer life when they
are not in a stressed or deterioration arrangement.
Quality Construction
The quality of construction starts with the a sustainable design. The building is a “living structure”. It
is affected by the environmental conditions. The building is constantly moving, expanding and
contracting. Surfaces fluctuate from warm to cold and wet and dry. A durably sustainable design
anticipates these dynamic conditions in the assembly of the materials and allows the structures to
function naturally.
Low Energy Utility Cost
The virtue of a building as a tight, well insulated structure, requires less energy to operate. The
heating and cooling systems are sized smaller and operate more efficiently. The lighting used is
compact fluorescent lamps, the equipment is Energy Star rated. With all these systems operating
together, the building uses less energy results in lower energy cost.
Passive Sustainability
A building that is passively sustainable has all the qualities and systems designed into the structure
for the building to operate for a period of time when the utility power or the fossil fuel supplies are
interrupted. The occupants of the building can maintain a quality of living while the external sources of
power are not available. The environmental conditions outside can be severe, while the interior
maintains a healthy, comfortable environment.
SIP
The term SIP is a generic term for structural insulated panels. SIP construction has been in existence
since the early 1930’s. Specifically, the panels used for the cottage construction are manufactured by
ThermaSteel Corp., Radford, VA. The panels are a composite structure of modified expanded
polystyrene (EPS), bonded to a light-gauge, galvanized steel frame. The panels are produced in a
single step to provide a light-weight, energy efficient, load bearing construction system. The panels
can be installed vertically as bearing walls or horizontally as floors and roofs. The panels are
manufactured in 3 1/2”, 5 1/2” and 7 1/2” thicknesses with R-values of 19, 30 and 40 as total
assemblies. The system is prefabricated at the manufacturing plant and shipped in four foot wide
panels to be placed into the structure. The panels are assembled on site by screwing the panels
together and then setting them on a steel channel tracking and screwed in place. The exterior can be
finished in any conventional siding material, including stone, brick or stucco. The interior can be
finished with wall board or wood. www.thermasteelcorp.com
Recycled Roofing Material
Roofing of the cottage was a recycled rubber and plastic roof resembling slate. The material is
manufactured by EcoStar and is a slate looking product made from recycled tire rubber and recycled
thermoplastic olefin. The materials are heat-formed with a binder. The system is lightweight and
recyclable with a Class A fire-resistance. The tiles come in a variety of colors from black to stone red.
www.ecostar.carlisle.com
Certified Decking
The wood deck is 1”x4” IPE teak hardwood. It is a high density wood that is extremely durable, free of
toxic preservatives, naturally fire resistant and can be maintenance free. The wood is insect and
decay resistant. The IPE decking is produced and supplied from Forest Stewardship Council suppliers.
PVC High Performance Windows
The windows and doors are custom PVC units with 1” insulated Low “E” glazing. The units can
withstand hurricane forces and have impact glazing. The units are constructed with superior weather-
stripping and high performance glazing. They exceed the New York State Energy requirements. The
windows are low maintenance , durable, and the components are recyclable. The units are
manufactured by MQ Windows, Montreal, Canada, distributed by North Shore Door and Windows, Co.
Comfort Air Quality System
The cottage air quality is maintained by the fresh air supplied by the operation of the Broan Ultra Silent
Ventilation Fan and the Broan SmartSense Intelligent Control. Air is exhausted from the space
intermittently by the operation of the fan to provide specified air changes per hour. Fresh air is
supplied through various one way louvers located in the walls. The exhaust air removes the stale and
contaminated air and the supply of fresh air providing the quality air for the building. www.broan.com
Stand-Alone Electric System
The components of a stand-alone PV system are PV panels, inverter, charge controller and batteries
without any outside utility electrical power. The system will operate lights, fan and a low wattage utility
outlet in the cottage. This is only a sampling of a real house system, and this system can be expanded
to provide more power for a longer period of time. www.energybychoice.com
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