Approval Process for Single Family Home

Oh my what’s going on here!
First things first. Since your new idea is a little bit not the regular design at the minimum the following is suggested.
1) A submission to the DOB you will need only a reviewable set which will unfortunately deal more with the zoning issues before they will start with code and your suggested radical stuff which will basically therefore be a waste of resources on your part because this is the way the system works.
2) DOB plan examiners are very ignorant (ignorant is bliss) in energy and green issues and all they will look for is the passage of the software – pun intended – in your case it will be rescheck. You will have some issues with the plan examiner not being able to relate to what you want with all your not so common efficiency and green issues but you will win at the end in general espcially if your architect will be able to do what is called the tabulation analysis.
3) A new building filing involves a lot of time (exception if the professionakl self certifies – not recomended in current DOB environment) and all issues that you want to do will com rather prior to approval then at the beginning stage. In addition, you may have issues with the DEP for which you will have to deal seperately with your mechanical engineer.
4) If there are any code issues that you wish to clarify beforehand a CCD-1 should be filed as soon as preliminary designs are drawn up since it may take a while to get an ok especially if the Boro office will deny it which is a strong possibility and as stated by Jock.
5) You may try to explore the homeowner’s night where you will be able to see a plan examiner on Tuesday evenings butI doubt it that it will really be helpful as it may only be a verbal discussion with a non binding resolution anyway so it will be a waste of time in your case.
You can email me at brooklynexpediter@gmail.com for any specific issues that you ave about Brooklynthe greatest boro in NYC!!

Hi Kristofferson,

My name is Ryan, I am an architect in Brooklyn. I trained at Oregon – my instructors were many of the peers of Michael Reynold’s generation in passive building design and climate-responsive construction, and I am quite familiar with his work, and the larger body of passive heating/cooling techniques of which it is a part.

It sounds like you are interested in adapting this body of construction knowledge to our city and I deeply share that interest. It also sounds like you have hit upon something that not so many people understand: NYC’s climate offers excellent potential for passive solar heating (about the same as Salt Lake or Boulder). Plus, our density and infrastructure offer the ability to live without reliance upon automobile transport, which is a serious flaw in the isolated rural earthships – no doubt why you are also interested to bring these buildings to NYC.

You are getting some good information here, if a little fragmented. NYC, as we all know, is a world unto itself, and executing any building, let alone one this unusual, is a “unique” challenge. I will confirm that aspects of those houses, the greywater recycling as one example, are currently not legal in NYC. I believe Gennaro has some experience with greywater – you might speak to him on that topic.

Unless your lot is Landmarked or has outstanding violations, the DOB is the approval you will have to get. You have two pathways to “discuss” your plans with the DOB: submit for a preconsideration prior to permit application, or just submit for permit, have the plans examined, see what the comments are, and go from there until they’re approved. Aside from an NY stamp, I think your design team will need some expert local help with our lovely “environment.”

I trust you have analyzed your site’s solar access? For passive solar heating, our greatest blessing is also our curse: the city was not planned to guarantee the kind of solar access necessary to fully heat a building this way, and sites vary tremendously. Access to the sun is the biggest challenge to passive solar in NYC, and considerable modification will be necessary to adapt this kind of system to, say, a narrow, deep, proportionally tall townhouse lot… challenges you are no doubt expecting… exciting stuff!

I hope you find this helpful, and would enjoy comparing notes about sustainable building.

Ryan Enschede, Brooklyn.

Ringo you make no sense what so ever you say that living in a structure that was already built and was built to be wasteful i.e. made of paper that leaks heat, and continually wastes energy is more green than building a self sufficient home that uses no energy, produces food, releases no wastewater to the city and is made entirely of recycled materials?

Please explain? How can wasting energy continually be more green than producing your own energy, food, water with a zero discharge?

I don’t find anything wrong with going green per se, but there is nothing greener than moving into a home that you like that is already there.

You can build out of earthshit (.net — I gotta register that) and it would still be less green than moving into a pre-existing structure.

we are building the first major urban execution of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7726T9RQUW4&feature=channel