Building Green in Lansdale

The Turbo Lofts not only honor history and redevelop downtown land; Moulton Builders Inc has also employed extensive green building techniques that make Turbo Lofts energy efficient. and then some. Future residents can take pride in the fact that they are doing something good for the planet. But, they won't feel any sacrifice in their luxurious home-at Turbo Lofts, they will be living large on a small carbon footprint.

Moulton Builders Inc is pleased to share some of the investments that have made the Turbo Lofts a superior green building:

1. Energy Efficiency: This is where Turbo Lofts shines. Residents should enjoy low heating and cooling costs thanks to the many energy efficient features at Turbo Lofts.

   Windows are wood framed and use low-e glass. The building's thermal envelope has a high R-value and an incredibly low infiltration rate. Energy efficient lighting fixtures were used throughout the common space and individual units.

   The most dramatic energy saving feature is the heating and cooling system. Moulton Builders Inc elected to install a geothermal heating system at Turbo Lofts. This is a well-established natural means of heating and cooling in which water is circulated through a series of closed loop wells alongside the building. The water takes heat from the stable ground temperature of about 55 degrees and circulates it throughout the building. In the heating season, each home's water furnace extracts the heat from the circulated water and supplies individually controlled heating. During the cooling season, the process is reversed and energy efficient, individually controlled cooling is supplied. The system does not use foreign oil. It does not use natural gas. The only energy used is electricity to run the pumps, compressors and fans. The heat itself is delivered free of charge from the earth.

2. Water Efficiency: Turbo Lofts uses low flow fixtures & toilets. The plumbing distribution system reduces water use, and speeds the delivery of hot water to fixtures.

3. Indoor Environmental Quality: Thanks to the lack of oil or gas for heating and cooling, there are no carbon monoxide sources or hydrocarbon combustion devices.

4. Resource Efficiency: "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse" is the familiar credo of resource conservation. Moulton Builders Inc. reduced consumption of material at the Turbo Lofts by using advanced framing techniques and a wide open design that emphasizes usable space over compartmentalization. Durable finishes reduce the need for maintenance and replacement over years of use. During building refurbishment, almost all materials that were not reusable were recycled. The steel studs of the demising walls are made from recycled steel. And, of course, the building itself is reused, rescued from its former neglected life.

5. Site Selection: Green sites are ones that allow residents to reduce their driving and avoid suburban sprawl. The Turbo Lofts' location is pedestrian friendly and has an urban orientation, enhancing the lifestyle of Turbo Lofts residents. Leave the car in the garage and go a quarter mile to the supermarket. Pass by numerous shops and restaurants as you go through charming Lansdale to the train station a half mile away. Enjoy the show at the Lansale Center for Performing Arts. And travel easily by train into the exciting city of Philadelphia and enjoy all the culture, history, and fun that America's 6th largest city has to offer.

6. Homeowner Education: Maintaining "the greenness" of a building requires homeowner participation. The homeowner's manual provides information to help residents take full advantage of the sustainable features of the Turbo Lofts. In addition, each pre-settlement walk-through is attended by a company representative to provide information about lighting, water conservation, recycling and the proper operation of the heating system including balancing the air ducts for optimal heating and cooling.

7. Innovation: The green conversion of Turbo Lofts required many innovations. Unique floor mount, rear-discharge, water saving toilets were used. A cleverly disguised chase was used on either side of the bridge (in certain units) to conceal wiring and plumbing connections to both sides of the unit. As an option, a triangular shaped bookcase uses the wasted space under the stairs. A notable innovation is the ultra-thin laminated decking used in the flooring system for the upper level. This engineered lumber, only four inches thick, is green because it utilizes shorter wooden pieces glued together reducing the for need longer pieces harvested from mature trees. The decking provides a beautiful wooden ceiling for the lower level.