Groundbreaking

Litchfield County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. and the Home Builders Association of Northwest Connecticut have teamed up with T & M Building Co., Inc. for the construction of a new “Green” home on Tognalli Drive, Torrington, CT. The home is designed to showcase environmentally friendly construction. This project will be good for the environment, good for the home-builder and good for the family that purchases the home.

The groundbreaking for the “Green House” was held on November 1^st at the site at 96 Tognalli Drive in Torrington, CT. Torrington Building Official Brett Zuraitis was present and issued the building permit for the house. Afterwards a group of local dignitaries dug into the ground with their shovels (see attached list).

The “Green Committee” of Litchfield County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. was created in June of 2007 to promote and encourage the development of Green Building practices and to recognize the many ways REALTORS® can encourage sustainability through education, community involvement and friendly business practices. The committee is composed of REALTORS® and people from the community at large who are committed to the future of our environment. The makeup of this committee is important because this is the first time a committee was formed to include members other than REALTORS®. Included in the committee are members of the public and other businesses and local government officials. (Please see the attached list Green Committee members.)

The goal is to use the expertise of the committee to make the home environmentally friendly while also being aware of costs and marketability. The committee is taking into consideration the sitting of the home, indoor and outdoor water conservation, energy efficiency, use of environmentally friendly materials, reducing indoor air pollution, and creating materials to educate the future homeowner about operating and maintaining the homes “green” features. The home is being built in accordance with green guidelines developed by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center. For more information about these guidelines please visit www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines. The home is expected to be priced in the upper $300, 000.

The building process will be documented by Media Center students from Thomaston High School so that there will be detailed educational materials to help others learn from this project.

“We intend to prove that it is possible to build environmentally friendly homes that are economically feasible.” Says Andrea Becker-Abbott, chair of the Green Committee. “We are really excited to be part of this project that incorporates the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) green building techniques and philosophies. I am confident that as a result of this project, we will see many more “Green” homes being built in Litchfield County”, says NAHB Connecticut State Representative Greg Ugalde.

November 1, 2007

i. Andrea Becker-Abbott Litchfield County Board of Realtors Green Committee Chairperson

i. Gregory Ugalde National Association of Home Builders Connecticut State
Representative

ii. George Rafael Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government

7. Jay Valimont All American Heating high efficiency HVAC including direct vent furnace


L to R: Maryanne Sok	Green House Sign

Maryanne Sok	Golden Shovels

LCBR Banner	Dignitaries and Visitors for Groundbreaking Ceremony

Dignitaries and Visitors for Groundbreaking Ceremony	Dignitaries and Visitors for Groundbreaking Ceremony

Center: Steve Temkin, T & M Building, Co., Inc.	L to R: Gregory Ugalde, National Association of Home Builders Connecticut State Representative; Jeff Zeiner, WZBG; Andrea Becker-Abbott, Green Committee Chair

Norm Krayem, Connecticut Association of REALTORS® President	L to R: George Rafael, Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services; Jeff Zeiner, WZBG; Steve Temkin, T & M Building Co., Inc.; Henry Rozewski, Progress Lighting; Mike Colbath, Electrical Wholesalers

L to R: Senator Andrew Roraback; Jeff Zeiner, WZBG; George Rafael, Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services	Senator Andrew Roraback

Jeff Zeiner of WZBG interviewing Torrington City Mayor Ryan Bingham	L to R: George Rafael, Home Builders Association of ConnecticutDirector of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services; Jeff Zeiner, WZBG; Steve Temkin, T & M Building Co., Inc.; Henry Rozewski, Progress Lighting; Mike Colbath, Electrical Wholesalers

L toR Backrow: Gregory Ugalde, National Association of Home Builders Connecticut State Representative; George Rafael, Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services; Jeff Zeiner, WZBG L to R Front: Brett Zuraitis, Torrington Building Official; Steve Temkin, T & M Building Co., Inc.	Thomaston High School Media Students

L to R: Ryan Bingham, Torrington City Mayor; Senator Andrew Roraback; Gregory Ugalde, National Association of Home Builders Connecticut State Representative; George Rafael, Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services; Steve Temkin, T & M Builders Co., Inc.	Dignitaries and Visitors for Groundbreaking Ceremony


L to R: Dave Ehrhardt, Velux; Jeff Joyce, Sherwin-Williams; Gregory Ugalde, National Association of Home Builders Connecticut State Representative; George Rafael, Home Builders Association of Connecticut Director of Local Government Affairs & Membership Services; Senator Andrew Roraback; Mark Bruder, Rheem; Ryan Bingham, Torrington City Mayor; Robert Kennedy, Connecticut Association of REALTORS® Executive Vice President; Andrea Becker-Abbott, Green Committee Chair; Peter Marchand, Jr., Green Committee Member; Nancy Schroeder Perez, Green Committee Member; Mike Colbath, Electrical Wholesalers; Henry Rozewski, Progress Lighting; Norm Krayem, Connecticut Association of REALTORS® President Front Center: Steve Temkin, T & M Building Co., Inc.