The New Residential category spotlights new structures and can be a single-family or multi-family permanent or temporary residence, such as Airbnb. Outstanding qualities include but are not limited to energy-efficiency, use of sustainable building materials, promotion of connectivity, variety of transportation choices and walkability, land use development, such as a redevelopment of brownfield site or increased green space, and accessibility to affordable or mixed market-rate housing.
Our New Residential Award goes to KCL Engineering for Parkside Development in Charles City. This net zero energy usage (NZE) residential community sits on 6.7 acres of blighted land that was formerly an elementary school. The development allows for 38 affordable, high performance homes and assisted in rebuilding the Charles City housing market, where homes were lost during the 2008 flood.
Located in the middle of town, Parkside makes for easy access to downtown, bus routes, and walkable bike trails. The housing is a combination of location, single level layout, and low maintenance and utility cost burdens.
Because stormwater management was a huge concern of the City, Parkside features permeable pavement and bioswales with native plantings that keeps all rainwater on site. There is also a common geothermal utility with system pump house and integrated photovoltaic array. Utility costs for a year run from $8/month to $140/month, with half the year averaging around $25/month.
With a selling price of $150,000, 30 of the 38 lots required home buyers to meet LMI (Low/Moderate Income) requirements. The site contains an affordable yet quality mix of single and twin homes that come with standard hard surface flooring, Energy Star appliances, and low consumption plumbing fixtures.
All homes were constructed with SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel). The SIPs are pre-cut and resulted in minimal waste of both resources and time on site, superb insulation and low infiltration. Geothermal in-floor radiant heating systems with wall split air source heat pumps and small transfer fans also contribute to the NZE. The smaller fan system with air source heat pump water heater was 5 times more efficient than an electric water heater.
<Click here to read about the rest of our Award recipients.>