Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/597330
s e a w a t e r a s t h e p r i m a r y e l e m e n t s o f t he A qu ion bat t er y, it i s re c ycl a ble a nd cradle-to-cradle certified. " The bat ter y conta ins no lead, acid or toxic chemicals," Don adds. Waste Not According to Don, one of the single largest s u s t a i n a ble d i men sion s of t he bu i ld i n g process is construction waste reduction. " T r a d it ion a l ly, clea n i n g up a job sit e properly is often the most overlooked and unintentionally damaging phase of home- building. Normally, a contractor sends seven to ten 30-yard dumpsters from the job site to a landfill with debris. For our house, we sent only two and, equally significant, they were transported to a LEED facility which r e c y c l e d 8 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l s . T h a t t r a n s l a t e s t o o u r c o n s t r u c t i o n wa ste tota ling less t ha n t he volume of a single dumpster." Don stressed that not everyone may strive to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels with the same dedication as he and Amy have demonstrated, but there are practical reasons for most people to at least consider the value that energy independence and resiliency bring to a home, especially given the undeni- able impact and uncer tainty that climate change represents. " We never prod people t o con sider or pu rsue net-zero per for ma nce, but when people w it ness t he si mpl icit y of it , t hey become engaged. The cost reductions and savings are substantial. No fewer than five v isitors have incor porated some for m of energy-e¥cient performance into the design of other new homes based on ideas they took from this house. In the end, achieving net- zero was far less di¥cult than we expected. I think our decisions not to accept standard design and construction practices and to ask a lot of questions were enlightening. The design process was streamlined due to the fact that we worked with a rchitect Steve Baczek, who is also committed to e¥ciency and values building performance." Me r i d i a n A s s o c i a t e s , In c . i s l o c a t e d a t 5 0 0 C u m m i n g s C e n t e r , S u i t e 5 9 5 0 , B e v e rly , Ma s s a ch u s e t t s . Fo r a d d it i o n a l information , call 978-299 - 04 47, ext. 201, or visit meridianassoc.com . ■ COVER FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB YAGID, FINE HOMEBUILDING MAGAZINE, COPYRIGHT 2015, THE TAUNTON PRESS, INC. PHOTOGRAPHER © DAVID FELL PHOTOGRAPHY | Greater Boston Builder+Architect BOSTON.BUILDERARCHITECT.COM.BUILDERARCHITECT.COM