Design/Build Team

Geothermal and Radiant HVAC – Morrison Inc.Mike Armstrong has been our Morrison representative, who performed the computer modeling of the heating and cooling demands and duct work layout in greater detail than is typical for a home in our region. Morrison is providing a state of the art geothermal heating and cooling system, including under-floor radiant heat on the first floor, air exchangers on each floor and a computerized air exchange system.  These technologies constituted the largest source for our LEED points.  Special recognition must go to their ingenious use of space in placing all of this equipment in a house without a basement, a floorplan with few interior walls and solid SIP exterior walls.
Green Energy Construction & Consulting Solar Electric PV System – Green Energy Construction and ConsultingGreen Energy designed our 5.02 Kw photovoltaic solar system for the River Lodge to include micro inverters that individualize the energy generation potential of each of our 21 panels.  They handled the paperwork required by our local utility’s energy purchasing system and Pennsylvania’s energy grant program.  With this funding and 30% federal tax credits, we expect positive cash flow to amortize the system costs in approximately six years.
Murus Structural Insulating Panels Structural Insulated Panels – Murus Company Inc.Murus SIPs are manufactured in Mansfield, PA, and often shipped to New England and Western states where their energy efficient characteristics are most appreciated.  This modern construction technology is apparently underutilized in its home state and by the local residential building community.  Our expanded polystyrene SIPs virtually eliminate unwanted air infiltration and provide R-16 walls and R-30 roof insulation values without transferring heat through traditional wood wall studs.  The SIP panels are prefabricated at the factory and were installed quickly, including precise window and door openings and chases for electrical wiring.
Rosebud Concrete, LLC Polished Concrete Floor and Other Flatwork – Rosebud Concrete, LLCRosebud Concrete is an Amish family owned company in Lebanon County, PA, that constructed a one-of-a-kind reflective polished concrete floor for the entire first level, as well as conventional concrete flatwork for the crawlspace and garage floors. In the dyed brown concrete are embedded pebbles and larger river stones, glass and other decorative aggregate to create a stream bed running from our entrance to the living areas, and a maintenance free (heated) floor throughout. The main outdoor entrance will feature exposed (raised) pebbles in the concrete to complement the natural river setting.
Pennsy Supply Pennsy SupplyPennsy Supply, our vendor of colored concrete, used a liquid colorant (Rheocolor) to create the unique color of the decorative surfaces at River Lodge. A dark brown (pumpernickel) color was selected for the interior ground floor, to which was added small pebble river stones as the aggregate, and larger hand-placed river stones and a recycled clear glass to create a stream bed pathway. The stamped concrete driveway also has colors resembling the rocky bottom of the Susquehanna River at sunset. The colorant was added prior to the pouring process, as opposed to staining the surface of the concrete after hardening. Pennsy also provided colored concrete to Rosebud Concrete to create two 10′ X 8′ polished”mock-ups,” which enabled experimentation with stone/glass placements and color. These mock-ups were later cut and used to construct a large picnic table and outdoor bar top that can withstand water.
Electric Supplies and Fixtures – Fromm Electric Supply Corp. and Hubbardton ForgeOwner, Lou Fromm, and designer Ranae Borden, at Fromm Electric created a comprehensive design for lighting (indoor and out), switches and dimmers, as well as the wiring for the River Lodge.  Their enthusiasm for our project created excitement from the start, in part due to their experience with LEED.  Hubbardton Forge, one of the few lighting fixture companies manufacturing exclusively in the U.S., was chosen as our principal lighting supplier. Hand forged, Hubbardton fixtures complement the wood and stone details of the home and fit perfectly with its natural setting.
LEED Qualified Concrete and Aggregate – Kinsley Concrete CompanyThe River Lodge required many yards of concrete that incorporated combustion byproducts: 30% flyash (from coal powered electricity generation) and 20% slag (from ore smelting). This concrete was used in the footers, retaining and foundation walls, slab floors and other components supporting the house.  Kinsley’s drivers were professional and courteous and the product has been first rate…and worth more LEED points.
 JOHN H MEYERS & SON Flooring, Windows, Siding and Other Building Supplies – John H Meyers & SonBeautiful cork flooring on the second floor, cement board siding, deck material, and other environmentally preferred building materials, resulting in several LEED points, came from John H Meyers & Son, a large local supplier of quality housing construction products in Camp Hill, PA.  They have provided technical support and competitive pricing.  These products make a great impact wherever you look, inside and out.
R. F. Fager Company Cabinetry, Plumbing fixtures and Supplies – R. F. Fager CompanyJohn Stewart at R. F. Fager designed the layouts and cabinets for the River Lodge’s kitchen, bar and bathrooms. With his assistance we selected Omega cabinetry. We were satisfied that this company utilizes green manufacturing practices and offers wood selection choices from readily renewable forests. The Omega Cabinetry product has the Environmental Stewardship Certification and is made in the USA. Fager’s showroom in Lemoyne was instrumental in our fixture selection process and John’s professional guidance and computer illustrations were very helpful as we made our selections.
R & R Components Roof and Floor Trusses and Joists – R & R ComponentsThe “backbone” of the River Lodge is the truss system that connects and supports the SIP roof to the SIP walls. R & R Components custom manufactures trusses, joists and other structural components that make innovative design, such as our vaulted ceilings and open floor plan possible…exactly to the architectural design specifications.
Glen-Gery Brick Mortar and Bricks – Glen-Gery BrickWe were extremely fortunate to have reclaimed, historic stone to construct our exterior walls.  They deserved the best mortar, which came from Glen-Gery. We visited Glen-Gery’s Middletown showroom and its paver and brick exhibits. We also intend to investigate their pavers as a part of our landscape design.
Insulated concrete floor deck, wall fabric – Manning MaterialsLooking for innovative construction materials or systems? If so, Manning Materials has several. Nate Fair at Manning consulted with us during the planning stage to show us the benefits of structural insulated panels (SIPs) as well as to explain the Lite deck system. We placed Lite deck polystyrene planks on top of the foundation walls, added steel rebar and the radiant heat pipes, then then poured the concrete. We now have a radiant heated, concrete floor that is full insulated over the unconditioned crawl space.  This was a perfect solution for energy efficiency in a flood plain. Manning also provided a padded fabric wall cover to create ventilation between our wood SIP walls and the stone exterior.
Interior Stains, Primer and Paint – Sherwin-WilliamsThe manufacturer of coatings for plastics, metal and wood serving the residential and commercial industries was the company we turned to for our paints, stains and supplies for The River Lodge.  The Sherwin-Williams folks at our local store in Lemoyne were helpful in providing us with samples and color palettes, and helped us with selections pertaining to low and zero VOC paints to minimize the impact on air quality as well as deliver maximum performance.
Hauck Interactive, Inc. Website Design – Hauck Interactive, Inc.Rich Hauck has been assisting us with this website, to promote public awareness about the River Lodge and LEED for Homes, and a point toward our certification.  His technical expertise and keen photography skills are apparent throughout this website.
Hauck Interactive, Inc. Plumbing and Propane – Handyside Plumbing, Heating & Air ConditioningHandyside gave us friendly and responsive service with technical know-how that resulted in several LEED points. Insullated hot and cold water is delived through PEX pipes to a manablock manifold that labels and controls each fixture at a single location.  They also installed a trustworthy propane delivery system for our fireplaces, grill and kitchen.  There was never a complaint or upcharge.