Defense Communities July August 2012

The Magazine of MiliTary housing, lodging & lifesTyles

DefensecommunitiesJULY/AUGUST 2012 www.phma.com

Repurposing appliances for nonprofits Page 24

Getting the most from your landscape Page 34

Striving for net-zero at West Point Page 38

GREEN SPECIAL ISSUE

Green

Green practices promote happier, healthier lives in military communities

Living

CONTENTS

2 Defense Communities

8 Platinum Is the New Army Green Fort Campbell’s zero-energy homes pave the way for future military building. By Dan Vastyans

12 Go Green, Save Green Reducing stormwater runoff is made easy and affordable with a bioretention area. By Jennifer Lennox

16 Fit for Fitness Both fitness and fun can be found at Fort Huachuca’s new community playground. By Jack Klobucar

20 A Renewable Investment The fate of renewable energy on military bases is in the hands of private sector investors. By Robert E. Tritt

24 Turning White Goods Green Discarded appliances find new use with nonprofits in one Alaskan community. By Betsey Woolley

28 Give the Dogs Their Day Green waste removal products and dog parks help make communities more four-legged friendly. By Nora VandenBerghe

32 The Push to Conserve A Navy public-private venture housing initiative seeks to cut energy costs and increase awareness. By Bill Pearson and Brian Collins

34 Lay of the Land Your lawn looks great, but are you getting the landscape return you deserve? By Pete Moscufo, RLA, ASLA

38 Striving for Zero A recent historic renovation project at West Point brings energy efficiency and learning. By David R. Cloutier and Richard Wagner

GREENSPECIAL ISSUE

July | August 2012 3

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Defense Communities magazine is designed to keep those who operate and manage the whole spectrum of military housing and facilities maintenance informed on the industry’s latest technology, prod-ucts, and services. It provides a forum for members to share les-sons learned, news and events, and training opportunities and updates.

The Magazine of MiliTary housing, lodging & lifesTyles

DefensecommunitiesDefensecommunitiesJuly/August 2012 u Volume 23, Number 4 u www.phma.com

42 Navy Housing Turns Up the HEAT An easy-to-use online tool sim-plifies the housing application process for sailors. By Mike Bowlin

43 The Winning Touch The First Lady recognizes the Our Family for Families First Foundation for aiding military families. By Maria A. Montalvo

45 Piping Up Innovative technology provides pipe system rehabilitation with-out the inconvenience. By Amanda Strouse

47 Five Tips for Living Fully The key to living a full life is good perspective. By Mark Towers

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DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Message

PHMA President Del Eulberg celebrates how we care for our nation’s heroes.

6 A New Way Home Moving to a new duty sta-tion is made simple with a state-of-the-art Air Force housing website. By Alicia George

48 Military Marketplace The go-to source for prod-ucts and services designed for the military housing and lodging industry.

50 PHMA Corporate Sustaining Members

56 Advertising Index

ABOUT THE COVER Two new zero-energy homes at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, help to create a strong, sustain-able family and community. Read the full story “Platinum Is the New Army Green” on page 8.

FEATURES


No, the U.S. military hasn’t abandoned its oh-so-familiar drab olive green. These days however, the words silver, gold, and platinum have forcefully worked their way into Army vocabulary and color scheme.

It’s all about “saving green”—funds that are now sensibly invested in projects and technology that use energy frugally. Government buyers are guided by ever-more-stringent mandates to invest responsibly.

A large military housing project at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is a valuable example of tax dollar stewardship.

After two years in design and construction, two zero-energy homes are occupied by Army families. LEED Platinum is being pursued for the homes in the military housing development

GREENSPECIAL ISSUE

Slated for LEED Platinum certification, two zero- energy homes at Fort

Campbell, Kentucky, serve as a test project for future

military buildingBy Dan Vastyan

Platinum is the New Army Green

Sergeant First Class Sean Aguilar, US Army, and his wife, Chastity, cook break-fast for their children, Coby and Chelsea.


that now serves as part of a test project for future military building.

“The zero-energy homes are being compared to two adjacent baseline homes, all equipped with identical mon-itoring systems,” explained Patrick Tahaney, Campbell Crossing Development Manager. “Over the next four sea-sons we’ll be gathering data from these homes, informa-tion we’ll use when we enter Phase 2 of the project.”

Partnered with the DoD, Actus Lend Lease—a com-munity development organization specializing in large, complex housing projects—is using these two homes as a prototype for future military housing neighborhoods.

“Together we hope to build a model for zero energy to be used broadly by the construction industry, and for DoD housing projects,” continued Tahaney. Rather than being completely self-sustaining, the homes are net-zero. Through the use of photovoltaic solar arrays, each house produces as much energy as it consumes over an annual period.

Ground-source efficiencyGeothermal and low-impact have become synonymous, and the two homes in Campbell Crossing’s Woodlands development are no exception. Each house is equipped with a ClimateMaster Tranquility 27 water-to-air geother-mal heat pump. Due to the area’s unstable limestone bed-rock, a considerable amount of research and consideration went into designing the geoexchange field.

“With southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee’s propensity for sink holes and cave-ins, we generally don’t do many vertical loop installations,” said Daryl Pater, owner of Mainstream Heating and Cooling, in Clarksville, Tennessee. “We drilled seven test wells ranging from 200 to 300 feet at Campbell’s Crossing. We wanted to assess both stability of the earth and conductivity values.” The tests were done by Jackson & Sons Geothermal. Miller Drilling Company in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, drilled the final wells before installation.

The tests began two years before ground was broken for the green homes. The seven test wells successfully muted all concerns about ground stability and temperature. The last two wells were piped and filled with bentonite grout to run conductivity tests. The results, combined with an estimated heat load, showed that 375-foot, 6-inch bore holes would serve each home optimally.

One of the grouted test wells was close enough to the construction site of the homes that it was used as part of the exchange field. “We drilled an additional 100 feet well near the 300 footer,” explained Pater. “System fluid runs from the home, through the deep well, then through the shallow well, and back to the heat pump. We just drilled the shorter well so we weren’t wasting the test well.” For the second home, one 375-foot well was drilled.

Mainstream Heating and Cooling specializes in green HVAC. From pond loops to direct exchange systems, the company tackles a variety of different projects involving geothermal equipment. “We do a good volume of geo-thermal work, but in this area, the demand just isn’t high

enough to make it our sole activity,” said Pater. “For all our water-sourced projects, we prefer ClimateMaster. We think they make the best product.”

The new Army greenA 12-panel, 7.4-kW photovoltaic solar array rests on the South-facing roof of each home. During the day, the pan-els produce enough energy to power the geothermal unit and appliances. With coordination from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), all solar power generated goes directly to the grid. This allows the homes to be TVA Green Power Providers. A separate, three-panel solar array pro-vides domestic hot water to the home.

The high-performance thermal envelope of the build-ings consists of 2×6 stud walls, filled with open-cell spray foam insulation, half-inch particle board, and one-inch rigid Styrofoam board. The rigid insulation board was installed from the roofline to three feet below the first floor slab. The outside was then Typar house-wrapped, and covered in vinyl siding.

“This project is the first known zero-energy duplex in the country,” said Jeff Morrow, senior project engineer for Actus Lend Lease. “It presented a lot of unique challenges to design and build a zero-energy home to match our regular homes in terms of appearance and function. These homes have the same lot size and floor plan as our typical four-bedroom, 2.5 bath home.”

“We had to modify the roof framing to increase the amount of rear south-facing roof for the solar panels,” explained Morrow. “The roofing materials changed from shingle to standing seam metal panels. By mounting the solar panels to the standing seams of the metal roof, the number of roof penetrations dropped from 300 to four. From the street, it blends right in with the rest of the neigh-

Chastity Aguilar and her two children, Chelsea and Coby, spend some time at the playground. In the background, solar panels atop one of the zero-energy homes allude to the sustainable systems within.


borhood. The systems on the roof, the materials behind the walls and in the ground are what make the difference.”

A change on the front lines“These houses are the Army’s first zero-energy homes; they represent the Army’s and Actus Lend Lease’s commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and good stewardship of our natural resources,” said COL Perry Clark, Garrison Commander. “The Army can no longer be casual about energy consumption. We’re in the middle of a shift from a culture of mission-focused consumption to one that includes sustainability as a means to increase our defense capability.”

The annual energy savings per home is expected to be more than $1,000 a year. If these savings were projected for each of the 4,457 homes at Campbell Crossing, long-term benefits would include an annual savings of up to $4.6 million.

Actus Lend Lease screened the housing list at Fort Campbell to find four families with normal, consistent energy consumption habits. Two of these families moved into the zero-energy homes, and two more families moved into nearby standard homes outfitted with extensive ener-

gy monitoring equipment. To determine the true efficiency of the zero-energy homes, the power consumption of the households is being monitored and compared.

In addition, a 27 percent cut in total water consump-tion and an estimated 7,300 gallons of hot water are also expected to be saved annually by each zero-energy home. All of the bathrooms in the homes are centralized to allow for shorter piping runs, reducing the heat loss in the hot water piping. The master and upstairs bathrooms are posi-tioned back to back, with the downstairs powder room located directly underneath.

“Actus Lend Lease is committed to providing soldiers and their families with quality homes that are not only comfortable, but are environmentally sustainable. This innovative initiative once again demonstrates our commitment to do just that,” said Marc Sierra, Actus Lend Lease Managing Director. “As we moni-tor the success of the zero-energy homes at Campbell Crossing we’ll continue to work closely with the DoD to identify future opportunities for homes like these.” n

Dan Vastyan is an Account Manager at Common Grounds Uncommon Communications, LLC. Reach him at cground2@ ptd.net.

Clark Realty Capital is a fully integrated national real estate company offering a broad base of services including capital markets, development, construction, property manage-ment, and investment management. Our development expertise spans award-winning residential, office, retail, and mixed-use projects with a total development value of over $6.5 billion.

The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are leveraging Clark Realty Capital’s ingenuity and assured performance at 12 military installations throughout the United States. Upon completion of our current military portfolio, Clark will have built or renovated over 34,000 homes with a develop-ment value in excess of $4.9 billion.

Clark Realty Capital is an affiliate of the Clark Construction Group, the nation’s oldest and largest privately-held general building contractor in the nation.

For more information, visit www.clarkrealtycapital.com.

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An impound lot and the surrounding aging warehous-es are transformed into a 71-acre park using ecologi-cally friendly materials and a handful of employees. An unused portion of a parking lot is cordoned off

and converted to a “green island” to reduce the flow and veloc-ity of stormwater. A depression behind a housing development is installed with a “bioswale” to reduce and slow runoff during storms.

All of these are examples of a new design and ecological trend to build bioretention areas using natural resources— plants, rocks, soil, and mulch—to reduce stormwater run-off and also make the area more beautiful.

Bio WHAT?Bioretention areas, bioswales, and rain gardens might sound intimidating and high-tech, but they’re not.

“All of those terms really mean you’re using natural

materials such as plants, soil, and rocks to help retain and clean the water running off your roofs, gutters, and parking lots,” said Blane Pshigoda, The Davey Tree Expert Company’s Division Manager of Government Projects.

Furthermore, Pshigoda said, the installation of these areas can be environmentally friendly because they use natural resources to reduce storm water runoff. “They’re really the next step in making your property more ecologi-cally friendly,” he said.

Adding a bioretention area not only has environmental benefits, but it may also have a financial benefit. Some state and municipal governments also believe in the viabil-ity and positive capabilities of these features, and are will-ing to give tax credits to organizations to implement them.

Catching the extra rainWhether you’re talking about bioswales or rain gar-

Reduce stormwater runoff—and save money— by incorporating a bioretention area

By Jennifer Lennox

GREENSPECIAL ISSUE

Go Green, Save Green


dens, you’re essentially talking about stormwater runoff management, said Shawn Fitzgerald, Davey’s commercial landscape expert. “Both of these have the goals of reduc-ing erosion and pollution and slowing water down,” Fitzgerald said. “They’re just different techniques based on what’s available.”

Once they’re established, rain gardens can require less maintenance than turf grass. “Rain gardens can capture runoff from impervious areas such as roofs and drive-ways,” said Fitzgerald. “They also allow runoff to seep slowly into the ground and recharge the aquifer.”

The plants, mulch, and soil in a rain garden combine the natural, physical, biological, and chemical processes to remove pollutants from runoff. The deep, dense roots of native plants help increase the filtration.

Bioswales are very similar to rain gardens; they simply also incorporate rocks and gravel into the mix. “Research

has shown that water moves 10 times faster over hard surfaces than in a meadow,” said Fitzgerald. “So bioswales can be great in areas where stormwater tends to rush quick-ly through, such as over hard surfaces or depressions in the ground,” he said. “They’re very effective and work like mini-stop signs. They stop the water, allowing the ground and plants to absorb the water multiple times before it reaches the storm drain.”

If the site happens to be in an arid part of the country, rain gardens can still be used to collect and absorb water slowly into the ground. “In many areas of the southwest, they barely have any water all year round,” said Fitzgerald. “But then they have torrential rains for a few days or weeks that completely erode the landscapes when they hit.”

In these areas, rain gardens can be used to slow the ero-sion and water damage from the storms as the plant mate-rial acts as a natural barrier and absorbs some of the force.

Follow these straightforward and practi-cal tips to achieve a more beautiful and sustainable landscape.

1 Proper Plant Selection—Using native plants and others that are ideal for your landscape conditions will save money and help the environ-ment as they grow and thrive locally. They will also require less supplemen-tal irrigation, pesticide treatment, and fertilizer than non-native plants.

2 Lawn Space—Consider convert-ing high-maintenance turf areas that are nonessential to curb appeal to low-maintenance landscapes. Planting perennials, installing mulch, or establishing no-mow regions will save money and resources, including water and fertilizers.

3 Perennial Color Displays—Perennial plantings can offer the same visual impact as annual flower plantings with less cost and mainte-nance. The investment in perennial plantings often pays off in just a few seasons, and the flowers return every year—bigger and brighter. Perennials can also act as a personal nursery as you can divide them to beautify other areas throughout your property.

4 Proper Mulching—Using effec-tive amounts of mulch can retain soil moisture and reduce irrigation amounts. Gravel as mulch lowers soil temperature, inhibits weeds, and requires less frequent replenishment.

5 Energy-Efficient Landscaping—Use of evergreen trees on the western and northwestern exposures of your property will cut down on expo-sure to winter’s penetrating winds. Deciduous trees on southern and eastern exposures buffer summer’s intense sunlight but allow winter rays to warm your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a well-planned landscape can reduce cooling costs by up to 50 percent and heating expenses by up to 40 percent.

6 Soil Testing—Have soil pH tested so the most appropriate plants and turf are selected for your landscape. Soil rich in organic matter retains more moisture and nutrients and reduces compaction. Encourage soil organic matter buildup by using organic mulches, recycled leaves, and clip-pings.

7 Check the Irrigation System—Auditing your irrigation system is

the first step in making sure you get the best return on the investment. An effective irrigation system can substantially reduce water use, and usage of drip irrigation in lieu of spray heads cuts down on the amount of water lost to runoff and evaporation.

8 Water Conservation—Low-flow water devices have been shown to save water and money. Rain gardens can slow the runoff of rainwater, help eliminate overload on stormwater systems, and reduce erosion.

9 Green Maintenance Practices—Where possible, revert to “old-school” methods of maintenance. For example, pruning shrubs instead of mechanical shearing is better for air quality and the plants themselves, and it allows the pruner to create a more natural shape. Also, recycling grass clippings, leaves, shearing, and other lawn debris will trim the expense for transporting materials to an off-site location.

10 Contact an Expert—Learn more about ways to make your property more environmentally friendly by contacting an expert such as Davey Tree.

10 Steps to Green Your Property


Location, location, locationKey to the project’s success, of course, is placing the bioretention area in a spot of maximum effectiveness. “Pick your spot carefully,” said Fitzgerald. “Because we’re talking mostly about stormwater runoff, pick a high-traffic area that will really feel the benefits of the project.”

In particular, Fitzgerald suggested locating bioretention areas in parking lots (perhaps at a church or school area) that have a lot of car or bus traffic. “These are areas that already have a lot of ‘rainbow runoff’ from chemicals left by cars,” he said. “Putting a bioswale or rain garden in these areas will give you the biggest bang for your buck.”

Installing for successWhen it comes to actually install-ing the bioretention area, be sure

to call on the professionals. “To do this project right, you need to first evaluate the area, test the soils, and then do a simulated runoff test,” said Fitzgerald. “You don’t want to just plop down some plants and call the

project done.”To ensure the project is completed

correctly, Fitzgerald suggested choos-ing a licensed, certified contractor who has had experience with biore-tention areas. “Go with an expert,” he advised.

Even after the project is finished, Fitzgerald preached that frequent monitoring is key to its long-term success. “This is not a ‘one-and-done’ sort of project,” he continued. “You have to check in on it occasionally to make sure that everything is still func-tioning properly.”

Finish the jobOnce the job nears completion, Fitzgerald recommends taking time to celebrate the moment. “This is a big deal, and installing one of these areas means that you are taking the time to really care for your environment,” he said.

“Plan a ceremony, get children involved, and invite reporters,” he encouraged. “Tell your community about the project. Who knows— maybe you will inspire others to take on a similar project.” n

Jennifer Lennox is a Project Manager, Corporate Communications, at The Davey Tree Expert Company. Reach her at [email protected]. Blane Pshigoda can be reached at [email protected].

What is a bioretention area? It’s a categorical term that describes both rain gardens and bioswales.

What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a garden that catches stormwater runoff from any impervious surface. It slows the water to recharge the groundwater and allows the water-tolerant plants to absorb water and pollution.

What is a bioswale? A bioswale slows runoff by sending the water through native plantings and gravel and rock barriers to increase infiltra-tion.

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A d v e r t i s i n g i n d e x

Company, Contact Phone Web Site Page

Balfour Beatty Communities, Kathy Grim 610/355-8206 www.bbcgrp.com 1

Coit Worldwide, Shawn Aghababian 800/367-2648 www.coit.com 10

Davey Commercial Grounds, George Gaumer 800/447-1667 x 225 www.davey.com 17

GSA www.gsa.gov 5

Home Depot, Lyn Alvarado 813/806-3170 www.homedepot.com 21

HPFI (High Point Furniture Industries), Mike Wissman 800-447-3462 www.hpfi.com 40

Kenyon, Suzanne Owens 860/664-4906 www.kenyonappliances.com 14

Landscape Structures, Megan Andrada 888/438-6574 www.playlsi.com 33

Microfridge Inc., Benjamin Otte 508/660-9200 www.microfridge.com 7

MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Dave Gran 540/446-4676 www.MilitaryByOwner.com 18

Picerne Military Housing, Bill Mulvey 401/228-2800 www.picernemilitaryhousing.com C2

S & Y Trading Company, Yohanan Berlinerblaw 800/309 3393 www.sandytrading.com 41

Safeplay Systems, Eric Torrey 770/591-7000 www.safeplaysystems.com 26

Salsbury Industries, Ricardo Alva 323/846-6700 www.mailboxes.com 30

The Mohawk Group, 877/275-6642 www.mohawkflooring.com/multifamily 35

The Refinishing Touch, Mario Insenga 770/642-4169 www.therefinishingtouch.com 29

Trinity Furniture, Jorge Lagueruela 336/472-6660 www.trinityfurniture.com 46

University Loft Company, James Jannetides 317/631-5433 www.universityloft.com C4

Valley Forge Fabrics, Jason Gans 954/971-1776 www.valleyforge.com 37

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Customer Service 800/644-8083 www.wellsfargo.com 39

Yardi, Spencer Stewart 800/866-1144 www.yardi.com C3

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Defense Communities July August 2012