Local Builder Embraces Energy Efficiency

When it comes to making homes energy efficient, Bridgehampton-based SDC Construction, Inc. owner Stanley Dalene said he has his finger on the pulse of what will save homeowners headaches. And even more important, plenty of money.

For more than 25 years, Mr. Dalene has built custom homes on the East End, with particular emphasis on historical ren-

ovation and custom interior woodworking. But a little more than two years ago, his focus on building shifted slightly to energy efficiency in order to meet the demands of local legislation.

In October 2008, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, who was a Town Councilwoman at that time, helped place into effect a legislative mandate which required that all residential buildings meet New York State Energy Star guidelines. Energy concerns were something Mr. Dalene was familiar with at that point, he said, adding that in addition to working as an engineer and home builder, he also oversaw the creation of the nation’s last nuclear power plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“Once the mandate was passed, I did my research and became an Energy Star rater. I was trained thoroughly and eventually also became certified through the National Builders Institute for a green program they had also placed into effect,” he said during an interview at a client’s house in Southampton last week. “From there, I realized as a builder, this was a field I would be smart to pursue.”

He noted that when building or renovating a home, complying with Energy Star regulations serves to benefit the homeowner in the long run, though not everyone is in possession of all of the facts.

“What is unfortunate is that many people just don’t know. They just are not aware of the amount of money they stand to save over the course of time,” he said. “Making these sorts of improvements aren’t only about being green, it’s about making investments that you will definitely see a return on.”

During a walk-through of one SDC Construction-renovated home on Old Sag Harbor Road in Southampton, Mr. Dalene pointed out several key Energy Star elements that have been put into place. Among the energy-efficient upgrades he discussed were open-cell and closed-cell foam insulation, energy-efficient appliances, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and specialized equipment to maximize the efficiency of plumbing, heating and cooling systems in the home.

Energy conservation efforts didn’t stop inside the house. Of particular note was the tubing system beneath the stone patio surrounding the backyard swimming pool, which stores heat from a geothermal source and keeps the pool water heated year-round. Additionally, that same geothermal-heated water is ionized through a filtration system in the basement which removes the need for chemical pool treatments—and that, Mr. Dalene said, is “pretty green.”

According to data that SDC Construction has compiled, in the average home, air ducts risk 20- to 30-percent leakage if not sufficiently pressurized. As a result, Mr. Dalene’s team will pay close attention to sealing all ducts and utilizing expanding foam to seal holes and cracks in the home’s envelope, or the layer between the wall and insulation. He reported that sealing the home properly is of tantamount importance when striving for genuine energy efficiency.

“Depending on the build of the house, a tight or unusually angled or shaped corner of a wall, especially if it is on a side of the home which absorbs a lot of sunlight, is basically like a magnifying glass for moisture,” he said. “If the house isn’t sealed tightly, really tightly, water seeps in and the moisture collects there. And then you have a pocket of mold just waiting for you.”

Insulation is also key in obtaining the maximum amount of energy efficiency, according to Mr. Dalene. There are two types of insulation his company uses: open-cell foam and closed-cell foam. Open-cell foam is made of tiny cells in the material which are not completely closed off. The cells are broken, and as air circulates it fills all of the open space within the material. In contrast, closed-cell foam cells are tightly packed together and are filled with a gas that helps the foam rise and expand, making air remain compacted for greater insulation.

Mr. Dalene is also a proponent of keeping up with the latest innovations in technology, specifically, automation. Recalling a visit to a hotel in Las Vegas some time ago, Mr. Dalene reported that he was impressed by the highly-effective use of automated programs. For instance, when entering his room the air conditioning unit would turn on, lights would switch on, even the television would flip on with a scrolling message of “Welcome Mr. Dalene.”

“What tickled me about that was I realized that as soon as I left my hotel room, everything automatically shut off. I thought to myself, hey, I could do that in my homes!” he said.

Through the use of any iPhone or iPad, for example, Mr. Dalene can set homeowners up with an automated system that allows them to control the temperature of the home, appliances, lighting and more.

“No matter where you are, you control these things in your home, and if you’re in control, chances are you’ll be able to save money,” he said.

So far as cost is concerned, the fees for various Energy Star implementations vary greatly. Prices are based on the size and scope of a project, but SDC Construction will visit with homeowners, conduct an energy audit and in one to two weeks, a fully comprehensive report is generated, Mr. Dalene said. The report gives homeowners an idea of how much money they will spend and how much they will see in return over the lifetime of a house.

“You can literally save tens of thousands of dollars. Usually you will see a return of a few thousand dollars within a few years, depending on the circumstances,” he said. “But all a homeowner has to do is read the report, look at the numbers and it’s evident. We have a saying in this industry, ‘The Future is Now.’”

But even for those who aren’t all that interested in the latest technological improvements, there is an incentive that will move most East End homeowners to action, Mr. Dalene said. And that incentive is all about those Benjamin Franklins

“Even if you aren’t a green person, who doesn’t like saving money?” he asked.