Event Description

For this green building tour, NESEA returns to the Hudson Valley for a tour of Zero Place, an award-winning mixed-use building, poised to bring the town of New Paltz 6 commercial and 46 residential units. 

This four-story, 63,280 square foot building has been constructed with insulated concrete form (ICF) walls. The rooftop PV array is designed to offset 100% of the onsite energy demand from the residential apartments and associated common areas, to achieve a net-zero performance target for the building's residents and owner. Under the building, the 15 geothermal wells act as a heat sink or "thermal battery" for the ground-water loop running through the building, with separate heat pump units for all residential, common area, and retail units. 100% of the domestic hot water for the building is provided by the integrated geothermal system, specifically designed for ultra-efficient performance.

The building is also served by energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems and automated demand-controllers to enhance ventilation when it’s needed most. The rooftop PV array will run in 4 bands across the south wall, and cover the flat portions of the roof, excluding the rooftop terrace.

This project was recognized as a Round One Winner in NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence Award competition. The Buildings of Excellence Competition, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), was launched in March 2019 and has awarded over $31 million to over three dozen exemplary new construction projects. Click here to learn more about Buildings of Excellence.