By Ken Valenti

WESTPORT–Staples High School senior Oliver Vynerib, whose father is a builder, saw his share of homes demolished and carted away to landfills. So two years ago, he started HomeCycle CT to encourage builders to deconstruct homes that need removal, dismantling them to salvage reusable materials, rather than destroying them outright. 

“I figured I would create something that would make an impact,” Vynerib said. “I saw all of the materials that were being wasted, and I thought there must have been some way to have some of it saved.”

For that effort, the Town of Westport recently granted Vynerib the Westport Green Building Award for Achievement in Sustainable Design. The award, given specifically for the deconstruction of two homes at 159 Easton Road and 4 Sycamore Drive, is a collaboration between the Town of Westport and Sustainable Westport. It recognizes those who make “significant contributions to sustainability, benefitting the town and its residents and progressing us towards our future as a Net Zero community,” Sustainable Westport’s website says.

“I think what Oliver is doing is fantastic,” said First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, who presented him with the Green Builder award. “While the builders are aware of the process of deconstruction, I think Oliver has a great opportunity and platform to educate the greater community. His efforts show all of us that the next generation cares and is ready to take leadership on sustainability issues.”

Vynerib plans to continue the initiative by spreading the word about deconstruction. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 he will present at 180 Saugatuck Ave., Westport, to builders and other who want to learn more about the process and the benefits to be reaped from it. Those interested can register here.

Dismantling can salvage up to 20% of a house, Vynerib said. To deconstruct the homes, Vynerib connected the builder with Second Chance, a Baltimore non-profit that takes apart houses, removes the materials and sells them at its retail center. The revenue generated helps fund the organization’s job training and other workforce development programs.

Vynerib has donated furniture and other items to Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to sell at its ReStore.

“The ReStore is fueled by generous donations of furniture, appliances, and building materials and proceeds from the sale of these donations help us build more affordable homes in Coastal Fairfield County,” said Josue Jorge, director of communications for the organization. “Oliver is a great example of how each of us can play a role in addressing the affordable housing crisis and in positively impacting the lives of others.”

In a deconstruction project, the builder hires the deconstruction crew – in this case, from Second Chance – and the process takes longer than demolishing the entire home. But the tax break received more than covers the added cost, Vynerib said. With the two Westport homes, $400,000 worth material was salvaged that would have been thrown away, and the effort will bring the builder a $160,000 tax break, Vynerib said.

“It just made sense,” he said. “When people who are builders see what they get out of it and what it does, it’s a no brainer.”

For more information or to get involved, reach Vynerib at olivervynerib@gmail.com or 203-919-0202.

Ken Valenti

^{_{A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.}}