The Carriage House at Twin Maples will be an entirely green design space. Our goal is to use this area of the Show House to demonstrate that historic preservation can be accomplished using sustainable building practices and alternative energy. There are many measures that owners of older homes can undertake to tighten up the drafts, add energy efficient appliances, and even add solar and geothermal energy systems to go “green”.   All of these items will be in display in an exhibot on the lower level of the estate house. 

The designers who will work in the Carriage House space, which features a lower tack room and a two bedroom apartment upstairs, will be required to exclusively use materials and elements that are renewable, recycled or reused. Green paint, wall covering, furnishings, reclaimed wood cabinetry and stone are some of the elements that will be used. In addition, the kitchen will feature Energy Star appliances and residential recycling systems. 

We are working with PSEG (parent of PSE&G) and Summit’s Green Alliance to plan several demonstrations of green residential living at the Show House. These include environmentally friendly cellulose insulation, composting, green cleaning products and more. We have also asked JCP&L to become involved. 

With PSEG’s assistance, we have had  two solar arrays donated to Twin Maples through Vanguard Energy Partners.  In addition to the PV Cell array and the solar thermal system, we hope to demonstrate solar tile systems and a geothermal water furnace. Preservation Architect, Marc Alan Hewitt of Bernardsville, is kindly donating his time to this project to help ensure that the solar systems used will not impact Twin Maples status on the National and New Jersey Registries of Historic Places.