Continues Commitment in Green Building with Purchase of Offsets That Support
Family Farm Agricultural Methane Project
BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
Hamptons Luxury Homes (PINK SHEETS: HLXH) today announced that it has offset
100% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the company and all of its
subsidiaries, including Telemark, Inc. The announcement was made by Frank
Dalene, Vice President and CFO of Hamptons Luxury Homes.
"We strongly believe that becoming carbon neutral is extremely important for our
business and is a step in improving our environment," said Dalene, who has been
a leader in the green building movement in the Hamptons, where his firm is
located. Dalene is the co-founder of the Hamptons Green Alliance
(www.hamptonsgreenalliance.org) and the developer of a unique methodology, The
International Carbon Equivalent Mechanism Attributed to Neutrality (ICEMAN) that
can calculate and index the carbon neutrality associated with the production of
materials products and buildings by the application of sciences established as a
result of the Kyoto Protocol, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and other similar
efforts.
Eric Taub, Managing Partner of Verus Carbon Neutral, a firm that conducts the
audits and then provides carbon offsets to its clients, said: "Hamptons Luxury
Homes is a true environmental leader. Not only have they offset their entire
carbon footprint, but they have been able to manage their carbon emissions to
levels below that of average businesses of their size and scope."
Hamptons Luxury Homes retained Verus to conduct an audit of its business and to
calculate the Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) footprint of the company and its
subsidiaries. Based on the information that the company provided to Verus Carbon
Neutral, the annual CO2e footprint for Hamptons Luxury Homes is 156 metric tons.
Forty-seven percent of the emissions came from energy usage, which was 73 metric
tons. The electricity contribution of 31 metric tons was below the average for a
building the size of Hamptons` corporate headquarters, however, the heating oil
footprint was slightly greater than average at 42 metric tons.
Transportation, at 72 metric tons, was 46 percent of the total Carbon Emissions
created. This reflects the demands of Hamptons Luxury Homes` business and is
considered a standard level given the need for larger vehicles in the sector.
The Verus report noted that Hamptons Luxury Homes has managed to keep its travel
footprint low and that waste is a very reasonable nine metric tones for a
business of Hamptons Luxury Homes` size.
Hamptons Luxury Homes then purchased 156 metric tons of CO2e offsets, through
Verus, from the Chicago Climate Exchange, in effect offsetting 100% of their
carbon dioxide emissions and becoming carbon neutral. "We elected to do this
through the purchase of offsets from an agricultural methane project," said
Dalene. "This project uses methane to produce electricity, which supports an
approximately 1,000-head dairy farm. Excess electricity is sold to the local
utility."
Dalene said that methane (CH4) has 21 times the impact than that of CO2 as a
greenhouse gas. "We wanted to have the greatest impact by selecting an offset
project which reduced one of the worst greenhouse gases and this was a very
effective way to do it," he said.
"It is very important that our company leads by example and becomes carbon
neutral," said Dalene, "Totally offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions directly
and scientifically defines our company as being green." Hamptons Luxury Homes
continues to be at the forefront of green building in the New York area. Its
subsidiary, Telemark, Inc. is one of the founding companies of the Hamptons
Green Alliance.
Verus Carbon Neutral (www.verus-co2.com) enables businesses to become carbon
neutral. Verus audits organizations to determine the carbon footprint, provides
a simple way to reduce or completely offset the resulting CO2 emissions, and
supplies companies with a tangible way to communicate this commitment to the
environment. The audit takes roughly five days to calculate and then the carbon
footprint is translated into a dollar value, which becomes the total amount of
the offset. Verus Carbon Neutral then purchases omission-reducing projects
directly from the Chicago Climate Exchange. Typical investments include
renewable energy, such as wind farms and biomass energy. Other investments may
include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or
agricultural byproducts, destruction of landfill methane, or reforestation.
Essentially, offsets allow companies to contribute to the future of the planet
while investing in one`s own business at the same time.
Hamptons Luxury Homes:
Hamptons Luxury Homes, Inc. (www.hlxhomes.com) is a regional construction
services company that builds and maintains custom homes, luxury vacation homes
and ultra-luxury estate homes throughout the eastern end of Long Island, New
York, with its principal offices located in Bridgehampton, New York. The
Company`s wholly owned subsidiary, Telemark Inc. is a nationally recognized and
award winning ultra-luxury homebuilder. The Company maintains an industry
leading reputation for construction of luxury vacation homes from foundation to
completion, with values ranging up to $60 million. Hamptons Luxury Homes
combines ultra-high quality materials with superb old-world craftsmanship to
create the ultimate in luxury homes with outstanding aesthetic appeal. Already a
recognized and well-established entity in the exclusive environs of the Hamptons
on Long Island, the company intends to expand into similar luxury markets in the
United States. The Company's other wholly-owned subsidiaries include: Telemark
Service and Maintenance, Inc., which provide ongoing property management,
maintenance and service; Bridgehampton Millwork, Inc which manufactures and
installs custom millwork, custom cabinetry, custom built-ins and furniture..
Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc.
Beverly Jedynak
312-943-1123
bjedynak@janispr.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
