Southampton - A home in the Hamptons is the dream of every successful Manhattan entrepreneur, hot hand stock broker, A-list restaurateur, newly partnered attorney and successful artist, among others. We build them big and, well, less big, but still big. Finally, we are starting to build smart, as in green smart, and one of the premiere eco-friendly building management firms on the East End is Dubrow Greenbuilding of Southampton.

Installation of solar panels can turn a LIPA bill into a LIPA reimbursement. (Dubrow)

I sat down with second generation builder Justin Dubrow to get a handle on what kind of eco-friendly construction was taking place on the East End and if it is a trend that will indeed continue.

According to Dubrow it is a trend that is here to stay, but that some clients do need a little prodding, "We do any kind of construction management, whatever the client wants, but we push them towards green. We try and educate them about the new technologies. A lot of people out there are still under the impression that it is going to be more expensive to go green. Once they learn that there are a lot of things that you can do that will not cost anymore money they are more open to it."

So there is a green awareness on the part of the consumer? "There is definitely awareness out there, but there is also a lot of misinformation," Dubrow admitted. "There is a lot of 'green washing' going around. Everybody is calling their product green, some are green, but some are not necessarily green at all. However, to answer your question, yes, many consumers are interested in going green, they know all about it and they are all for it."

Installing bamboo flooring - green because it is sustainably grown, glued down with special low-VOC glue and has a low-VOC water based finish.

Depending on the extent of green construction one might want, the cost can normally be more expensive upfront with, in most but not all cases, an eventual recoup in the long run, "It is hard to generalize and say most cases, a lot of things do cost more that you get back in the long run. There are a lot of products that you are paying more for because they are the newest technologies on the market that are green. So some things cost more and you will get it back, something you are paying more for because they are the newest of the new and may not pay you back but are the right green things to do and some things cost nothing that simply requires having the knowledge and knowing how to build intelligently."

Dubrow admits that the affluence of the East End facilitates both eco-friendly construction and remodeling, "We are doing a small renovation right now in Remsenberg and originally they weren't planning on any green things. They were going to use regular fiberglass backed insulation in the walls, but they decided to upgrade to soy based foam insulation which offers much better insulation value and it has recycled content in it. There was a little bit of an up-charge for it, but again because of the area we live in they had the money to make the difference. Of course, you always get that money back in energy savings."

A Dubrow tradesman spraying a closed cell soy based foam insulation.

Recently Dubrow was contracted by New World Homes to manage all the on site construction and finishing work of the Hamptons first LEED certified "green" modular home in the Hamptons on Hunting Avenue in East Hampton. "This home was 55 percent more energy efficient than a traditional home of equal size. We expect to receive a LEED gold rating, which is pretty high. So I would say that it is the greenest home we have built so far," Dubrow noted when I asked him to identify their greenest construction project.

Dubrow Greenbuilding is a building management firm so they sub-contract work out to local plumbers, electricians and other trade professionals. I asked Dubrow if all their subcontractors where eco-educated, "All of our plumbers, electricians and carpenters started off in the conventional methods, but now the are learning the new technologies and learning how to do things better and greener."

I asked Dubrow to narrow down the top three actions he would recommend to a potential client to make their construction project greener, "Number one is to meet with an architect that understands green building. There is a huge amount that goes into the design of the house. For example taking advantage of passive solar, like designing an overhang that blocks the summer sun to keep your house cool, but allows sunlight in when the sun is lower in the winter to help warm your house. Design is number one and a lot of that is not going to change the price of construction. Secondly, invest in solar panels. They are an upfront cost, but you immediately see the payback in your LIPA bill. The third thing you can do is use low or zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints, finishes and sealants. It really doesn't cost anymore to use such products and the labor is exactly the same as applying conventional products. It not a monetary payback, but it is a significant health payback. Your indoor air quality is much better."

Precast concrete foundations are eco-friendly and economical.

Installing the New World Home modular inspired Dubrow to consider a Hamptons specific designed home that would be both green and affordable, yet take into consideration some of the characteristics expected by an East End clientele, "It inspired me to design a house that would come in more affordable and be just as green, if not greener than the modular. Because it will be site built, it will be customizable with the kind of upscale Hamptons amenities that a modular can not offer. We are looking to bring it in at $200 a square foot, which is even a little less than the modular in East Hampton. I am working with an architectural firm and we are in the concept phase."

Yes, green is the future of home construction in the East End and across the country. As Dubrow noted, the day will come when it is not even a point of conversation, "We will get to the point one day when no one refers to it as "green" building, they will just call it building and it will all be green." Let's hope he is right and that day is soon.

For information on Dubrow Greenbuilding go to www.dubrowenterprises.com.