‘Blair towns’ apartment located in Silver Spring, USA is an evident proof to portray the need for ‘Green architecture’. It is the first multi-residential apartment to be awarded with 11 LEED certifications out of which 3 are platinum that speaks about the green norms followed in this building.

This 78 unit residential apartment has 3 four-storey buildings and 2 three-storey buildings. Acknowledged by USGBC this edifice is hailed in the domains such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

This ‘Blair towns’ is an exemplary that is 32% energy efficient than any other building in the world.

The energy efficient measures followed in this residential apartment are:

Low-e glasses and windows

The wide usage of low-e glasses with advanced coatings in the balcony doors and windows enable the dwellers to experience the optimal warmth inside their condos. Artificial heating/cooling is greatly reduced by the usage of these double glazed low-e glasses that allow appropriate natural daylight to pass through the windows to provide optimal thermal insulation for a brighter, warmer, energy efficient life inside these residents.

Water Efficiency

The water efficiency is a notch above compared with other residential buildings as the low water fixtures emphasizes the need for water preservation.

The drought tolerant landscapes reduce the need for irrigation as the ultra-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators and the energy star rated dishwashers reinforce the water efficiency further.

The high-efficient shower heads used in these buildings that just use 1.75 gallons per minute compared with other showerheads which use 2.5 gallons per minute.

Air pollution control

The carpool or the public transportation facilities provided the ‘Blair towns’ reduces the air pollution thus protecting ecology to the full. The dependency on automobiles by public transport reduces the gasoline and the oil consumption thus protecting the environment from air pollution.

Reduced electricity Consumption

The energy efficient lighting by efficient energy light star light fixtures, ceiling fans, and other electronic goods reduces the electric as they are energy star rated to reduce the electricity consumption and bill to a greater extent.

Other Eco-Friendly measures

The indoor environmental quality is maintained and the noise pollution is greatly reduced by the usage of insulated walls that help the residents to experience the calmness inside their dwelling places to a greater extent.
Even the low-toxic paints, carbon monoxide detectors, predominant usage of recycled materials register its benchmark as a sturdy, reliable, long lasting energy efficient building.
 

News and Image Courtesy: Greendesign, Matternetwork, USGBC, Blairapartments, Localdc, nreionline