Kid from SoHo builds the country’s first zero-energy development in upstate NY
Anthony Aebi just wanted to build structurally sound houses that would last. In the process, he ended up creating the first zero-energy, single-family housing development in North America.
Less than 80 miles from New York City, these already-historic houses use solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, triple-pane windows and an airtight structure of concrete blocks coated with Styrofoam to produce more energy than they consume.
Aptly called Green Acres, the development consists of five homes just outside New Paltz. Two more homes are under construction, with a total of 25 planned. In nearby Esopus, Aebi built two more net-zero energy homes at Riverview Estates. Eleven more are planned.
For the whole story:
NY Daily News By Karen Angel
Friday, April 8th 2011, 8:25 AM