When you think about the houses of the Hamptons on New York's Long Island, "green" or "sustainable" are likely not the first ideas that spring to mind. But one newly formed local organization aims to help the area's high-end homeowners green their luxurious houses by providing educational tools and information about green materials, systems, best practices, and DIY ideas.
The Hamptons Green Alliance (HGA) was established in January 2008 by Bridgehampton, N.Y.-based Hamptons Luxury Homes and its general contracting division Telemark, along with five other local contractors and businesses that have long been committed to green building practices. On Nov. 18, the organization officially celebrated its debut with an event attended by more than 100 people, where the event's sponsor, Citibank, delivered an informational session on financing green home building.
It's not that big, expensive homes on the island can't be green; it's more that homeowners become paralyzed by indecision. Hamptons homeowners, like others around the United States, find it difficult to decide among the many possible green construction methods, materials, and building certification programs. "They have the money to spend for green elements, however, the information out there is so confusing that they're not pulling the trigger [on projects]. What we have undertaken is to sift through all the information for them so they can make decisions to go green," says HGA's founder, Frank Dalene.
The HGA and its partners are helping to educate Hamptons homeowners about the benefits and drawbacks of green building materials and systems, as well as to distinguish among the many green building programs available. Through www.hamptonsgreenalliance.org, the organization offers information on such subjects as improving an existing home's footprint, the basics of alternative energies, green insulation options, selecting the best HVAC system, and sustainable landscaping. The HGA also has launched an online forum for its members, partners, and local homeowners to exchange ideas and information. A series of educational talks is planned for the coming year, as well as a new Green Hampton Expo, June 6-7, 2009, on the campus of Stony Brook Southampton.
As part of its mission to provide educational resources and host events for homeowners, the HGA collaborates with other local groups, including Clean Air NY, Renewable Energy Long Island, and LI Green.
Through the HGA, Hamptons contractors and builders are setting an example for educating a client base about ways to go green. And because education is as necessary in other regions as it is in the Hamptons, Dalene predicts expansion beyond the HGA's local focus through multiple collaborations with organizations around the country. "We hope to spread the word," he says. "It's not just about us [locally]. It's about developing a model for sustainable and green building, and sharing that information."
