Breinigsville Builder Sees a Green Future

Ruhmel Contracting in Breinigsville sees a future of construction when homes are so energy efficient that owners would receive a monthly rebate check from utilities such as PPL or Met Ed?

“We’re prepping houses for alternative energy when people are ready for it,” said Reid Ruhmel. Ruhmel is certified Green professional and certified Green analyst for Ruhmel Contracting of Breinigsville.

“At some point, we’re going to be creating more power than we’re using and selling some back to our local utility, Met Ed,’’ he said.

As part of that future, Ruhmel Contracting is currently building a custom subdivision called Katem Court, also in Breinigsville, with eight lots about 1½ acres in size. Green is on their mind.

Developed by Kate Tercia, cost for a lot is about $99,000, and the total price of a home would run between $350,000 and $550,000.

“This is something you can operate for $80 a month,’’ Ruhmel said. And homeowners can also get federal tax credits for energy efficiency.

One of the properties has sold as of mid-September.

It’s part of a project for the 40-year-old residential construction business, which includes a new 8,000 square foot model home and design studio in Breinigsville that cost $1.2 million.

The family-run company will showcase all he latest green building options – being powered by a windmill and solar panels. Other features include geo-thermal (from the ground) heating, rainwater reclamation, LED (light emitting diode) alternative lighting, recycled finish products and a high-performance insulation system.

Ruhmel said the company, headed by his father and president Hersh Ruhmel and chief financial officer Robin Ruhmel, Hersh‘s wife, plans to be in the forefront of Green home building in the Lehigh Valley.

“It’s our aspiration to build the first Green development in the Lehigh Valley,” said Ruhmel, the Green analyst. “Every house in there is going to be Energy Star rated.’’

An Energy Star home is an Environmental Protection Agency program helping businesses and individuals protest the environment through superior energy efficiency.

A Green home is not as difficult to build as it sounds.

Start with heating and cooling. They are hooked up to a geothermal system, which uses the land beneath the home for hot and cold.

“Geothermal is ground source heat,” Ruhmel said. “Geothermal heat comes from the earth’s core, and keeps the soil at about 55 degrees just below the surface.’’

Follow the geothermal system up with good insulation, rain water reclamation and alternative lighting, and you’re close to getting that check from your favorite utility.

The windmill and solar panels are just icing on the cake. And tax breaks on many of the items are supplied by Uncle Sam. For example, there’s a 30 percent tax credit on a geo-thermal unit, Ruhmel said.

“Energy conservation is really taking hold, just look at hybrid cars of every make on the road. It’s becoming commonplace, as people realize the technology is not bizarre. It’s proven. It’s going to work.‘’