Sustainable Living: Condominium Edition
We know that making green choices can be difficult, particularly when the supporting infrastructure is lacking. Take condo or apartment living, for example. In Glen Ellyn, many multi-family housing units lack sustainable features such as recycling, native landscaping, dark sky lighting, etc. While residents may want to be greener, their options are dictated by their building’s limitations.
But we found an outlier! For this week’s newsletter, let’s meet a local leader in sustainable housing – The Legacy Condominiums on Pennsylvania Ave. You are going to be 'green' with sustainable envy when you hear their story!
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The Legacy is a luxury condominium development with 32 units arranged around a courtyard and is located in the 400 block of Pennsylvania. David Thomson, Legacy HOA Board President, reached out to us to showcase how Legacy has embraced sustainability over the past few years. We are impressed and thought we should share their story.
Their most recent move is making news: All units are now equipped with an electric vehicle charger, making it one of the only developments in the Chicagoland area to have dedicated EV chargers for each owner's private parking spaces!
According to David, the Legacy has other amazing green features as well. I will let him list them:
“Over the last few years, the development has significantly reduced the amount of turf grass on the property and we have worked with American Gardens to plant a more diverse, native, drought tolerant landscape.
We are working to have American Gardens to use zero-emission, quieter, all-electric mowing, trimming, and blower equipment.
Two years ago, the original irrigation system was removed and replaced with a system that monitors soil moisture levels and the weather forecast, only watering when necessary for plant health.
For ice and snow removal, the association has been using a beet juice slurry for deicing activity. The vendor that we have been using is no longer offering the slurry and the HOA is looking into other alternatives for coming years.
All owners are required to separate trash from recyclables and are further encouraged to reduce by the creation of refuse by being allowed only one toter per week per unit for trash.
Six years ago the association replaced all external and internal lighting with LED fixtures and bulbs, many utilizing occupancy sensors and/or two step (low/high brightness) light levels. The current arrangement supports security and nighttime ambiance while reducing waste and cost.
Unit owners are encouraged to install a water management system that not only automatically shuts off water to the unit in the event of a pipe break, but also allows the owner to monitor water usage. The system also alerts owners if a small drip or leak is detected.
An aging rooftop gas-fired HVAC system was replaced with an all-electric heat pump system, drastically lower the building heating and cooling bills and eliminating a major source of air pollution.
Next year the entire property will be roofed with a white roof, reducing rooftop temperatures and cooling costs for owners.”
Wow! David is proud to live and help lead a development that has put sustainability first. He added, “sometimes it's been difficult to clear these hurdles due to cost and convenience factors or even misinformation, but we've managed, and I am undeterred (when facing current challenges.)”
The list is impressive and could serve as a blueprint for other developments. In fact, if you live in a multi-family rental or condo, go ahead and forward this email to your management! As a reality check, we know that some of these elements are costly and not every facility or residence can afford to make these changes. But even small steps can make a difference.
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Simple steps for a greener home
The Legacy list can also serve as a blueprint for your own home whether it be a condo, apartment or single-family residence! Are there things you can be doing to dial up the sustainability aspects of your domicile? Just choose one or two to start. Think native plants, composting, getting an energy audit, using less toxic cleaning and personal products, etc. Here’s a great list of simple steps to get you started.
Other ideas? Contact us!