Condo residents have historically had little control over the kind of environmental footprint their home leaves on the earth. With important decisions like heating, water and insulation decisions made for them, it hasn’t been easy for a condo dweller to go green.
But as the environmental movement reaches a crescendo, a number of developers are offering environmentally-friendly solutions that run the gamut from the simple to the sophisticated. Among them are the following:
Specialized projects that feature discreet wind mills, solar power panels and hybrid generators. The results are condo communities that can sustain themselves during power shortages or failures.
Sustainable building and design features, including grasses and succulents planted on condo roofs to provide extra insulation and help clean the air, alternative power generation, geothermal heating systems, deep lake water-cooling systems, water-saving plumbing, high-efficiency lighting, increased use of natural light, extensive recycling and waste diversion facilities and hot water heated on demand.
Green incentives such as car-sharing memberships and individual utility metering that allows condo owners to monitor their water and electricity use and take advantage of off-peak discounts.
Irritant-free finishings such as laminates, paints and textiles, are now available on some projects. Other earth-friendly options include recycled aluminum sinks, natural cork flooring, formaldehyde-free cabinetry and Vetrazzo countertops, which are made with a mix of concrete and recycled glass and energy efficient appliances.
Recycling facilities within the building that are as easy to access as other waste disposal.
Projects that:
Redesign the way the building “breathes” to deliver fresh, filtered air directly to individual dwellings and zoned common areas.
Install advanced low-flow fixtures like dual flush toilets, front-load washers, showerheads and aerated faucets that can reduce potable water consumption.
Construct buildings with double-glazed, gas-filled, air-tight windows and thermally-insulated walls.
Surprisingly, it appears that green buildings can cost as little as one to four per cent more than conventional buildings. Once built, they cost less to run, for both management and residents, and buyers can expect better resale values.
Check out the many developments that are catering to a green crowd – the environmentally-friendly possibilities are broadening every day.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am and is filed under On the Inside.
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