New York will soon boast the world’s tallest passive house building. Cornell Tech tower will break international records and set a new standard sustainable building. Cornell Tech residential tower is a collaboration between Yardi client Related Companies, Hudson Companies, and Cornell Univerty. The residential high-rise broke ground in 2015. Upon completion this fall, it will stand 26 stories high and cover 270,000 square feet. It houses 356 rentals with floor plans ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites. Amenities include a rooftop deck with city views, a lounge, gym, and bike room. To promote an atmosphere of learning, the site hosts numerous public spaces. These tech-ready meeting rooms encourage interaction between faculty and students. The residential towers provide easy access to the East River tram and metropolitan subway. Both connect to Manhattan and its transit hubs. Cornell Tech residential tower will be the tallest Passive House building in the world. The Passive House, or passivhaus, design concept originated in Germany. It is a performance-based standard without dictated methods of construction. Passive cooling techniques such as strategic shading, air circulation and ventilation techniques keep buildings comfortable in warm weather. In cool weather, the buildings make efficient use of the sun, insulation, internal heat sources and heat recovery. Passive House buildings rely less (or none at all) on conventional heating and cooling systems. Internationally, Passive House designs can operate using 60-90% less energy than conventional buildings. “In thinking through the right type of building for a campus that honors innovation, one of the first things we came up with was Passive House construction, which could be a game-changer for the residential industry,” says David Kramer, a principal at Hudson Companies during an interview with Planning Report. It was after touring several large Passive House projects in Vienna...

Two new recycled brick products offer energy efficient, low-cost solutions for your next green building project. WasteBasedBricks, manufactured by Amsterdam-based StoneCycling, produces bricks by creating a composite of demolition waste, rejected clay, leftover ceramics, insulation, and glass. Clients can chose between machined bricks for large-scale products as well as intriguing handmade bricks for accents and special features. Bricks range from 70 percent to 100 percent recycled product. Each building material is collected within a 150-kilometer radius of the factories that collaborate with StoneCyling.The proximity to manufacturing hubs keeps transportation costs and emissions low. By integrating salvaged building materials, the company is able to reduce the amount of construction waste that is shipped to landfills. “We like to use only secondary materials,” Ward Massa, co-owner of StoneCycling, explained to FastCoexist. “That way it doesn’t end up somewhere in the landfill or being sent to other countries—we reuse it as new raw materials.” StoneCycling keeps production costs low, which allows the company to pass savings on to clients: StoneCycling can also skip clay excavation and processing costs. Manufacturing the product requires less energy than traditional bricks. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Green Leaf Brick raises the bar on green building materials by offering several lines of 100 percent recycled materials. Each product is 100 percent refuse content and as much as 30 percent post consumer waste. Green Leaf Brick, a creation of Red Tree Group, developed the bricks in response to the loads of construction waste heading to American landfills. The company aims to make use of waste streams with little residual commercial use. Brick products include more than 25 recycled raw materials. Different combinations of those materials result in a line of aesthetically stunning bricks and pavers in a wide range of colors and textures. There...

While past Olympic Games have left graveyards of unused stadiums in their wake, Brazil hopes its facilities will live on even after the athletes have left the building. Though some aspect of the Rio 2016 Olympics may not be living up to expectations, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes expects many of the locations specifically constructed for the games will outshine past Olympic venues, especially when it comes to longevity. From handball courts to stadiums, the city’s entire Olympic infrastructure exists in flux – designed to transition from its primary function to something entirely new once the games are over. With a heavy emphasis on “nomadic architecture,” several of the Rio’s Olympic settings will be repurposed after they’ve serviced their primary function. The pools, arenas and fields will eventually become schools, parks, community swimming pools and much more. No More White Elephants One of the curses of hosting the Olympics is leftover infrastructure. Few cities are capable of supplying sites for every event, and so pools appear out of empty fields and stadiums rise up along the skyline. Beijing’s Bird’s Nest lives on as a tourist attraction – and occasional soccer spot – but its glory days will never be revisited. In Athens, the Olympic Park lies abandoned, covered in rust and slowing fading in a cloud of neglect. Meanwhile, Sochi’s once bustling Olympic Village now lies empty, inhabited only by stray dogs and unfinished construction. In acknowledgement of the burden placed on host cities to supply appropriate sporting arenas, the International Olympic began to encourage bidders to spend some time planning for life after the games. London, one of the first examples of this legacy mode philosophy, took the suggestion to heart by including several structures that were easily dismantled and repurposed. Many other cities,...

Though the GenX and Millennial generation are often touted as the “green living” demographic, as the New York Times reports, demand for green retirement communities is on the rise, outstripping supply and inspiring new projects and renovations. Sustainable Retirement Many of the newest senior living facilities include state-of-the-art technologies that are inherently energy and water efficient including low-flow fixtures, LED lighting, and onsite power systems including solar and geothermal. Natural light and an avoidance of toxic building materials helps developers provide living quarters that are aesthetically and philosophically pleasing to potential residents. As a bonus, many environmentally friendly options can also help property managers save money. Increased efficiency can lower energy costs by reducing electricity demands, and there is often government funding available for retrofits and renovations. Another surprising benefit – onsite power systems can also serve as backup during natural disasters or service interruptions, enabling facilities to stay up and running during a grid failure. Leading with LEED When LEED for Health Care was adapted in 2011 to include assisted living communities and nursing homes, many communities seized the chance to earn certification. Because of strict regulations within the health care industry, allowances were made to the certification process and special protocols were included to account for issues like infection control and patient privacy. LEED properties adhere to a comprehensive set of guidelines that cover not just energy use, but construction waste, water efficiency and landscaping, and greenhouse gas emissions. While LEED provides a standard for sustainability, many communities are also finding other ways to expand the notion of sustainable senior living. Even without LEED certification, many facilities prioritize recycling and walkability. Many pledge to avoid pesticides and introduce drought resistant landscaping. Some communities even make a farm-to-fork pledge, buying a majority of foodstuff and...

Plants do more than beautify your office space. They are a tested, effective, low-cost—and now, low maintenance—way to make your office space a better place to work. The presence of greenery results in increased productivity, improved morale, more amicable interpersonal relations, higher air quality, and decreased stress and anxiety. If those seem like haughty claims, consider the research: The Journal of Experimental Psychology reveals that the presence of greenery in an office space boosts productivity by 15 percent. Plant life is proven to enhance concentration, which not only supports productivity but also fosters creative problem solving and faster learning. When employees are burdened by stress, fuses run short and interpersonal conflicts may escalate. Studies by the Horticulture Research Institute suggests that indoor plants demonstrably reduce stress, thus improve mood and morale in the workplace. In the long term, emotional stress is a contributing factor to the top six leading causes of fatal illness. By reducing stress, businesses can improve employee health and cut costs on absenteeism and health care. It is common knowledge that plants can reduce the presence of carbon dioxide outside. It’s equally as important to note that some plants can combat volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are commonly found indoors. VOCs are found in paints, adhesives, flooring, furniture, and other office products. Cleaner air contributes to employee health, as well as a reduction in minor setbacks such as headaches and fatigue. Plants have proven their value. So why aren’t more offices packed wall to ceiling with greenery? Terra Basche of Santa Barbara-based Terra Malia Designs recalls common misconceptions about indoor plants. “People think potted indoor plants should be placed in the corner and out of the way. Plants are cared for, but otherwise no one interacts with them. Terra Malia Designs...

As green features become more and more important both from an environmental point of view, as well as a tool to increase occupancy and attract eco-conscious renters, the pressure is on for apartment owners. While many green upgrades do come with a high price tag, plenty of green upgrades can be achieved at relatively low cost and plentiful gains down the line. We explore the easiest solar-powered green solution that you can introduce into your apartment communities right now. Easily one of the least eco-friendly amenities, the pool can easily be greened harnessing the (free) power of the sun. It can be as simple as switching to solar-powered pool lights. Once bought, these tiny gadgets work away on their own. It’s as simple as placing them in a pool, where they will automatically charge during daylight hours and come on at night, when the sunlight fades. Some also have lightshow features that can set the mood for an impromptu pool party. Others also double as pool sanitizers, dispensing chlorine while giving off light at night. If you really want to green your pool, but don’t want to switch to saltwater, there are numerous mineral-based and solar-powered gadgets that cut down chlorination by 80 percent or even more. While these gadgets take care of algae and microorganism, they don’t clear surface debris. If you’re looking to fully automate pool maintenance, a solar pool skimmer is just the thing for your apartment community. This little gadget cleans up to 95 percent of surface debris, eliminating the need to hand skim, while also significantly cutting down on filtration and bottom cleaning. The solar-powered robot also features solar-charged batteries, meaning it also works well into the night. It can also double as a chlorine dispenser. BBQ facilities are...

Toronto shines as North America’s greenest city according to the Sustainable Cities Index, coming in at a respectable 12th place out of 50 cities. It is the only Canadian city to make the list. European and Asian cities continue to dominate the top rankings each year but Toronto is poised for greater gains. The Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index analyzes 20 metrics in areas such as environmental impact, quality of life, and economic performance. Toronto placed 9th in environmental impact, 15th in quality of life and 18th in profits. A looming population boom may serve as the perfect motivation to improve the country’s environmental impact rating. Within the next 15 years, Toronto’s population is estimated to grow by 25 percent. Infrastructure is developing to meet the needs of the growing population: Ontario earmarked $130 billion over the next decade for new transit, roads, bridges, and similar projects. As part of this plan, GO bus and train lines are expanding services to James North, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Georgetown South, Kitchener, Unionville and Agincourt. The Scarborough subway will bring additional services to the north by the end of summer 2016. Those improvements are only the first frontier. Premiere Wynne presented a challenge earlier this year for all levels of government to increase investment from 3-3.5 percent to 5 per cent of the nation’s $2 trillion gross domestic product (GDP). The bump in funding will be dedicated to infrastructure renewal each year. But even with adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and visitors, one of the greatest challenges will be supplying the population with sustainable energy. The city currently has about 60 renewable energy installations. (That quantity is small scale compared to other cities of its size, though it’s better than other cities in North America.) The new hydro-powered Copeland Transformer...

The demand for sustainable retail properties is growing, demonstrated by an influx in applications at accreditation organizations, top tier rents, and high trade rates. According to Lux Research, green building is now a $260 billion market with retail as one of its most vigorous verticals. Green building certification programs such as LEED for Retail have witnessed an increase in applications. The “LEED in Motion: Retail” report states that more than 8,000 retailers worldwide participate in LEED and more than 1.2 million people experience a LEED-certified retail space on a daily basis. Participating companies include Target, Kohls, Bank of America, and Starbucks, which recently celebrated its 500th LEED-certified store. The transition towards greener retail spaces corresponds with reports that retailers with LEED Gold certification or greater outperform their conventional neighbors. Studies by Nils Kok, Ph.D., executive director of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) suggests that sustainable office buildings trade at a 13 percent premium over conventional buildings. Green office structures also receive rental rates that are at least three percent higher than their conventional counterparts. “We found that LEED-certified and Energy Star-rated office buildings financially outperform their non-green peers in terms of rental rates and occupancy rates,” says Kok. For new developments, state and federal programs offer subsidies and other incentives to green retailers, helping to raise such projects’ internal rates of return by as much as six percent in less than 15 years. While there are certainly owners who pay top dollar for green retail spaces because they prioritize the environment, financial and social pressure are contributing factors behind the growth in sustainable retail popularity. Publicly-traded REITs face pressure from investors to achieve optimal energy efficiency in order to reduce operating costs and increase returns. Pressures come on a larger scale as well. An...

The uptick in green affordable housing continues as Habitat for Humanity embraces passivehaus design. Passivehaus, or Passive House, is a rigorous German building standard that emphasizes air-tight envelopes, optimized solar gain, and decreased dependence on mechanical heating and cooling. Such stringent standards and cost assumptions have discouraged many affordable housing developers, yet Habitat for Humanity teamed up with BarlisWedlick Architects to look at passivehaus through an affordable lens. Dennis Wedlick of BarlisWedlick admits that he had his reservations about the project, though they weren’t rooted in costs or standards.  “We were concerned about how much training it was going to take for the volunteers so they could achieve what custom builders and their subs normally achieve on a project like this,” he says. “But there was no problem.” Columbia County townhouses were born, each costing about $125,000 and 4,000 volunteer hours to build. The results are well worth their efforts. Each 1,200-square-foot home achieved an air tightness level of less than .6 air changes per hour, and an R-value of 50-60 for the walls and roof, thanks to glorified newspaper insulation (weatherized cellulose insulation to be exact). Columbia County townhouses use less than 90 percent of the energy required to run a conventional home of the same size. The efficiency of passivehaus construction loses value if residents do not receive the proper tutorials on how to optimize the home’s features. Owners were taught the ins and outs of daily operation and maintenance, simple pointers such as closing the blinds during the hottest time of day and running the recovery ventilator nonstop. Time will tell if the houses and their residents live up to their greatest potential. Yet even with a margin for human error, such green building techniques offer three-fold benefits to those who need it most....

Going green has become a way of life for many of us. Mostly thanks to the efforts of environmental groups who advocate for a greener future, we can now easily incorporate sustainable practices into our daily lives. We carpool to work, buy hybrid cars, use reusable shopping bags, compost, reduce energy consumption and save water any way we can. Whereas these individual undertakings are indeed effective and help stretch our planet’s resources on a daily basis, achieving sustainability on a larger scale wouldn’t be possible without serious input from our nations’ development leaders and influencers, including architects, urban planners, property owners, managers and landlords. Many developers have already adhered to the green building movement and started delivering high-performance structures that prioritize livability and occupant well-being. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, building green typically translates into happier employees, improved productivity, lower operating costs and implicitly higher returns for owners. Moreover, by designing and constructing ecologically-intelligent buildings, developers may obtain financial and regulatory incentives to further support their practices. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oregon are on the leading edge of states offering tax credits for LEED Certified buildings; Portland (OR) and Seattle (WA) offer grants for energy modeling, commissioning and related costs; the private Green Building Loan Fund in Pittsburgh does much the same on a loan basis; and Arlington County (VA) links preferred zoning considerations for LEED projects. From highly-efficient windows, formaldehyde-free furniture, live walls and green roofs, water-saving equipment, solar panels and personal comfort controls, there’s a plethora of new technologies available to help investors add function, cost-efficiency and value to commercial buildings. The importance of delivering healthy spaces derives precisely from the huge impact that the built environment has on human health, especially...

Investing in earth-friendly energy solutions is an ongoing trend in real estate, across all market sectors.  Political and ethical reasons for implementing green building and utility systems notwithstanding, investors and owners of real property assets are often motivated to use new technology for monitoring and controlling energy use for an even simpler purpose: to cut costs. Government-supported initiatives, like Ontario’s saveONenergy for business, are just one of many motivators. Commercial owners and managers across North America are looking for creative ways to increase ROI and add investment value to existing properties. Energy retrofit projects are one pragmatic and earth-friendly way to achieve added value. In some cases, incentive funding can cover up to 25-30 percent of the project cost. But given the cost of implementing a new system or choosing a new contractor to handle your real estate energy needs, it isn’t easy to determine whether a significant investment is saving you money, and energy is one of the most expensive requirements of commercial property management. At the Green Real Estate Conference, held in late March in Toronto, a panel of experts from the energy sector addressed this topic and provided valuable insight on the best practices for energy management in commercial real estate. One analysis, provided by the forum organizers, estimates that energy costs comprise around 40 percent of building operating expenses. But the opportunity to reduce those costs is tremendous: a newly constructed green building typically cuts down conventional energy output by around 30 percent. And even if you are not building a new structure from the ground up, there are now alternative management methods to save resources and reduce expenses – often with minimal work required. Swift advancement in technology monitoring systems now makes it possible for large commercial buildings, with...

The widespread presence of sustainability features in affordable housing is finally underway thanks to changes in government regulations and financing incentives. Key green features are in high demand, forming a new standard in affordable housing. Affordable housing communities are becoming greener from the ground up, beginning with optimal placement: the north-south and east-west orientation of structures can help builders capitalize on passive solar energy or greater access to natural light, both of which can help tenants cut utility costs. Such passive solar housing units were recently added to Stoneham Barrier Free development in Massachusetts. By situating the buildings towards the sun, the units receive passive solar heating. During the summer, overhangs provide shading to keep units cooler. Clerestory windows channel natural light throughout the residences resulting in lower power bills for tenants. Developers are also taking advantage of smarter envelopes to create more efficient interiors. Since air leakage accounts for 25-40 percent of energy usage, constructing an airtight envelope promotes maximum indoor climate control and reduces energy waste. A tight envelope also helps to control moisture in living quarters and basements, minimizing the likelihood of mold, mildew, and moisture-related damages that carry significant costs for owners. What energy is needed to power affordable housing communities is furnished, at least in part, by renewable energy sources. Solar panels are more affordable and diverse than ever, coming in a variety of space-friendly styles to accommodate multifamily applications. Other innovative technologies, such as the use of algae and living concrete, offer properties a way to generate their own power and potentially sell power back to energy providers. “The Mennonite” is the nation’s first multi-family affordable passive house apartments, implementing an airtight envelope and on-site renewable energy sources. The $8.5 million structure will offer 24-units of green living for...

A new generation of highly-efficient buildings, focused on carbon reduction and livability, demonstrate that smart living calls for tech and green combined. The green building movement is not limited to new construction projects; green principles can be easily incorporated into existing environments as well by overhauling interiors, using eco-friendly materials and supplies, and educating on green practices. Installing solar panels and occupancy sensors, putting in better insulation, using energy star-rated appliances or energy-efficient light bulbs are only a few of the improvements that property owners can make in order to green their offices without building from the ground up. DPR Construction, a national technical builder specializing in highly complex and sustainable projects, has achieved net-zero energy consumption in its Phoenix Regional Office, a 40-year old building located in the Discovery Triangle. The outfit has been officially certified as a Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) through its Living Building Challenge (SM) program, making it the largest building in the world and only the second in the United States to achieve NZEB certification to date. “Net-zero is possible, even in one of the most extreme climates in the country,” said Dave Elrod, Regional Manager, DPR Construction. “We purposely chose a building that was nearing the end of its intended life cycle in a redeveloping area to show our commitment to Phoenix and to demonstrate the impact revitalization can have on an urban environment. This building is another proof point of our ability to walk the walk of sustainability. Our Phoenix office will be a ‘living lab’ where anyone can see firsthand how our sustainable technologies work together in real life.” Among several outstanding enhancements, the high-profile office building includes operable windows that work in tandem with the energy monitoring system...

Green building has gained momentum in the affordable housing sector, providing some of society’s marginalized residents with hip, eco-friendly—and budget friendly—living accommodations. It has been a long time coming but it is finally here: affordable housing has blossomed from the ugly ducklings of architecture into beautiful swans, complete with coveted interiors, state-of-the-art green features and unique exteriors that boost local pride. As experience plucks away the myths that surround green building expenditures, more cities seek developers who are willing to offer sustainable, beautiful solutions for low-income housing. This shift is a reasonable route to take; studies suggest that low-income residents are in the greatest need of cash savvy and health conscious resources. The Uphill Crawl Just as quickly as builders gained consciousness of sustainable development in the 60s and 70s, they seemed to forget. By the 1980s, green building lost its momentum.  The housing industry witnessed a notable increase in green building projects at the turn of the 21st century. Though the economy struggled towards the end of the first decade, the number of green building projects in the pipeline continued to increase. Such proposals and have now reached record heights. While the amount of green building certifications increased for traditional housing, businesses and institutions, green affordable housing lagged woefully behind. Various organizations released reports on the benefits of green building within affordable housing—such as The Cost and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing and Green Affordable Housing Within Our Reach—but cities and builders proved slow to catch on. Within the last seven years, however, this sector has welcomed an influx of environmentally conscious projects. Planetizen released a summary of Global Green USA’s Progress and Possibilities Report, indicating that affordable green building has become a priority for many states’ Qualified Allocation Plans. States now implement...

In advocating for urban parks revitalization, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is also fighting for a better quality of life for all Americans. Today, many communities are suffering from a lack of sustainable infrastructure, chronic stormwater management issues, lagging economies, poor health and limited recreational options. Neighborhood parks and other public green spaces have much to do with the creation of healthy environments for tourists and residents alike. Not only do parks provide a great place for socialization and recreational activities, but they are also credited with supporting economic development; improving public health; reconnecting children with nature; reducing crime; and providing safe, healthy alternatives for youth. In a recent statement, ASLA commended Congressman Albio Sires (NJ) for reintroducing the Community Parks Revitalization Act (CPRA), which would help communities rehabilitate existing and develop new outdoor spaces and recreational infrastructure. According to Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA, the CPRA is an exceptional initiative that will contribute to enhancing the very essence of our communities. “Parks provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits to everyone in the community. Parks are not just pretty places, but critical to the fabric of our daily lives” she noted. The bill is expected to stimulate neighborhood economic growth by leveraging limited public resources to generate community reinvestment; in other words, it will authorize grants for park and recreation agencies, which must be matched with local funds. Additionally, the CPRA includes a financing mechanism that would create a program for secured loans and loan guarantees for the development of parks and recreational facilities. The program, which was modeled after the popular Transportation Infrastructure Innovative Financing Act (TIFIA), would allow either large scale projects such as trail systems, or multiple communities to bundle multiple projects...

What began as a small push from eco-conscious businesses has become a cost effective movement that is sweeping Europe and North America. By switching to daytime cleaning services, businesses are experiencing multitudinous benefits. Still, most businesses are not thrilled about the idea: will the activity cause a disruption in the workplace? Will employees be distracted by the noise? While all valid concerns, a better understanding of how daytime cleaning works can eliminate worries. How it works For starters, no one will ask your clients to lift their feet so that the vacuum can pass under. You should not choke on floating dust during an intense sales call, either. The cleaning staff simply starts emptying trash cans, cleaning restrooms and other relatively quiet tasks during the last few hours of business. Once most employees are gone, the heavy duty work begins. Starting maintenance a few hours earlier permits the cleaning crew to leave the business earlier. The monetary savings come when cleaning tasks overlap with regular business hours. Tony Guzzeta of ABM Janitorial Services explains, “One of the biggest uses in the building is energy. If you could conceivably do some cleaning while people are at their jobs, you cut the end result time down and again, it saves money.” The lights and air conditioning, for example, are already running. There is no need to consume more energy for several hours after the business has closed so that the janitors can work. “There are about three fewer hours at night that the lights would be on, which would save you between nine and ten cents per square foot” says Rick Needham, General Manager of 10 & 120 S. Riverside Plaza. For larger businesses, the savings are more impressive. The California EPA building saved nearly $100,000...

A thirst for improved building performance, coupled with growing awareness of the planet’s limited resources, have contributed to a new series of impressive commercial developments that boast highly efficient environments as well as reduced carbon footprints. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has played a major part in the worldwide growth of the green building movement. Now, USGBC is preparing the launch of the next version of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system, LEED v4. Through its many programs and green initiatives, USGBC seeks to provide eco-minded developers with actual data, knowledgeable perspectives and insight on the greening process with the sole purpose of helping them build communities that are environmentally sensitive, energy-efficient and ultimately enhance quality of life. LEED applies to a broad range of projects, from single-family homes to office buildings, multifamily, healthcare and industrial outfits. Essentially, it provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built around green principles. Using strict parameters, LEED measures metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions, materials and resources, indoor air quality, and the overall environmental impact of a project. In addition to promoting healthy living and sustainable design, LEED provides developers and property owners with tools to increase asset value, lower operating costs and even qualify for money-saving incentives, like tax rebates and zoning allowances. Lower energy and water bills, increased comfort, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, less exposure to indoor pollutants and toxins, and lower maintenance costs are just a few of the benefits associated to living in a LEED-certified environment. LEED v4 continues USGBC’s mission to spur transformation of the built environemnt toward zero-energy green buildings,  while also providing a new suite of features designed to help streamline the certification process. Changes from LEED 2009 are seen...

This year’s student housing boom has opened the floodgates for innovation and creativity. Many recent and upcoming projects share common characteristics, paving the way for industry trends that will hold strong well beyond the coming year. Growing Upward This year, land prices have risen in major markets worldwide. Zelman and Associates reported that US land values raised an average of 13 percent in 2012; that growth has continued well into 2013. Even agricultural land prices have risen 15 percent according to The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. And as space adjacent to campuses becomes scarcer, renters can expect to see an increase of taller housing structures rather than extensive complexes, particularly near urban and infill campuses. The recent return of vigor to the housing market has resulted in a lumber shortage, markedly driving up building costs. In an increasing number of cases, the cost of wood frames is nearing that of steel within 5 percent. If these conditions continue, builders may be even more motivated to pursue taller, land-conservative steel framed buildings, especially in urban cores. The trend already has a solid foundation. University of Michigan students were greeted with high-rise accommodations on Southern University Avenue last year. 33-story The Grove at Cira Centre South is slated to sprout up near University Center, Philadelphia in coming months. University of Arizona opened a student housing high rise last year and will soon add another to the Tucson skyline next year. Sustainable Here to Stay The green living trend has sustained itself, finding its key supporters amongst youth and young adults. To appeal to coming generations, student housing developments have come to the forefront of green building, catering to an audience that expects sustainability as a standard rather than a niche luxury. Many projects in the...

As capital and operating costs continue to rise, businesses seek creative ways to reduce expenses while passing benefits to their clientele. A solution rests under their feet. Poorly-planned infrastructure leads to long term financial burdens on businesses and the communities in which they reside. By implementing sustainable infrastructure techniques, businesses can reduce maintenance expenses and minimize the need for infrastructure related tax increases. Such businesses will also appeal to the new generation of consumers who value innovation, sustainability, and responsible growth. Sustainable storm water management is a commonly overlooked aspect of green building yet it proves to be a worthy foundation upon which any business can establish better practices. A series of studies executed by American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation, the American Society of Landscape Architects and ECONorthwest uncover the numerous benefits of environmentally conscious storm water management. The report, issued by the Sustainable Cities Institute (SCI), concludes that green infrastructure can reduce upfront development costs, minimize the cost of future maintenance, and decimate daily operating costs. Those may seem like high claims for simply redirecting rainwater, but the evidence proves to be compelling. A new perspective on age-old problems Traditional urban planning treats storm water as a problem that requires billions in funds to rectify. A new line of thought approaches storm water as an asset that can be used to reduce operating costs and beautify man-made sites. The premise of the new mindset is simple: capture and treat water where it falls, rather than channeling it to a centralize system. In doing so, the water’s power may be harvested and the challenges of transporting contaminated runoff are minimized. Businesses interested in alternative infrastructure have several green options from which to choose, including porous pavement, street trees, green roofing, rain gardens and...

When it comes to new multifamily communities, nowadays it’s pretty much “Go Green or Go Home.” And that’s a very good thing. With more and more people conscientious about protecting and preserving the environment, developers are taking note and incorporating eco-friendly features into the buildings. Whether it’s building to qualify for a LEED rating, incorporating Energy Star appliances into the units, or including a charging station for electric cars, the multifamily industry is becoming more and more sustainable. And New York City has certainly stepped up its green game. The Helena, a multifamily community on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, is the first to utilize the Organics Collection Program. This program allows residents to compost items such as fruits, vegetables, egg shells, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, bones, flowers, houseplants and soiled tissues. The residents are given small containers to sort their organics, which they deposit in bins in the trash room. So, they’re already making the trip down there—what could be simpler? All said and done, this program will divert an impressive 35 percent of resident waste at The Helena from landfills. Hopefully more communities in Manhattan—and throughout the country—will start to participate in this or similar composting programs. And we can be sure that multifamily will continue to show its true colors (shades of green, obviously!). Jessica Fiur is News Editor at Multi-Housing News. Find more of her insights on multifamily living on the “What Renters Want”...