67. Quote from Health Conscious Resident
“Living at Eco has been great for my
health. I'm able to be more active with
fewer asthma attacks. I feel like I can
breathe clean air and that I'm not being
suffocated.”
-Kimberly, resident since 2011
Notas del editor
Thank you…
Today I am going to share one of our projects with you
Eco modern flats.
re-development of a 96 unit apartment project
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Before in 2010.
Same owner since it was built 40 years ago
It was in very poor condition both physically and financially.
We were attracted to the project because of its location
A walk score of 85 is good even for a major city, but its unbelievable in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Downtown Fayetteville to the East
University of Arkansas to the West
Like any good opportunity, it came with challenges.
But out of the challenges came a complete shift in the way I thought about real estate.
The biggest economic challenge was the fact it was costing a fortune to operate, mainly because of the energy costs.
The property was master metered, ownership carried the burden of paying all the utilities.
The apartments rented for just $470/mo, and the utilities used $100 of that income
Utilities - 28% of the gross income on the property.
NOI just 23%
We realized that the solution to the economic problem needed to come in the form of utility savings.
We knew we needed help from an energy efficiency expert
Sought out a consultant
That search led us to a consulting firm who introduced us to LEED rating system.
They recommended the LEED approach to inform our redesign strategy.
Here you can see No voc paint on the walls
Low VOC stained cabinets
Bees wax finish on concrete counters
We worked hard not to add harmful toxins to the air,
but we also work to keep good clean air in the units.
Instead of a traditional HVAC system with ducts that trap dust and debris, we used ductless mini splits with HEPA air filters.
Both the kitchen and bathroom have exhaust fans to draw out contaminated air and replace it with fresh.
Our management team uses natural cleaning products to make sure we maintain our healthy environment.
Here you can see that there is no carpet in the apartment to trap dust.
We polished the original concrete floors to give it a urban look that is very durable and clean
The next factor in Indoor Environmental Quality is Light.
The most important factor in light quality
providing plenty of NATURAL light.
Large operable windows to bring in plenty of natural light.
Make the apartments feel much better and larger than they are
Bedrooms also have large windows
Even the window coverings are low VOC green guard labeled roller shades.
Where artificial light was needed…
we worked to provide indirect lighting when feasible.
The centerpiece of our apartments is a multi-functional millwork piece
Provides up-lighting that illuminates the ceiling.
The original design had blank walls at the ends of the building.
We found a way to open those up by installing sliding patio doors
that not only provided new views,
but also provided much more natural light and air circulation.
We also re-created existing views
Many of the apartments were looking at bleak, bare landscaping.
Very uninviting courtyard area with tall fencing
So we completely re-thought the exterior spaces.
Adding extensive landscaping
Large and small gathering places
Green trellis to provide shade to the west side of the building in the summer
So indoor environment quality is one component of healthy living,
but a big part of the solution is getting people to go outside.
We spend too much time indoors, and that’s not healthy.
So we used active design to get people moving
We built an monumental staircase that draws people up to the roof-deck above
We designed outdoor amenities that encourage community interaction.
Part of being healthy is being happy,
we feel that people happier when the live in real community.
This is our pool courtyard
native landscaping with no toxic pesticides or fertilizers
The pool is salt water which has much less chorine than a traditional pool,
Much better for your body, and even the environment.
Green roof
Part of active design is programming
Ware developing programs to encourage physical activity and community-building.
Roof top yoga on Saturdays
Krav Maga
We believe people who choose to rent should have access to healthy food
So we took a previously unused space
And transformed it into a community garden with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs
The garden has become a real amenity to residents who enjoy cooking with fresh, organic ingredients.
You can also see here one of our two rainwater cisterns that collect the water used to irrigate all our landscaping.