Suburban Apartment Complex in San Diego County Earns a Top GreenPoint Rated Score

Community HousingWorks (CHW) has taken its latest GreenPoint Rated multifamily affordable housing project to the next level of green. That project, North Santa Fe Apartments in Vista, CA, earned a stellar score of 201, which places it in the top 1% all-time for GreenPoint Rated multifamily projects.

“Community HousingWorks went above and beyond with this project,” says Amy Dryden, Senior Technical Manager at Build It Green. “In addition to taking an innovative approach to energy efficiency and resource conservation, they really thought about the health and welfare of the residents, and the community at large.”

North Santa Fe Apartments—a 68-unit apartment complex—features a community-oriented design with high-efficiency features that are approximately 40% above California’s energy code. Outstanding efficiency reduces the operating costs for long-term ownership, keeps the apartments comfortable in all weather, and mitigates utility costs for households so they can invest in their future.

Designed by Rodriguez Associates Architects and Planners, Inc., the development includes two, three-story podium-construction residential buildings above subterranean parking structures. Ten of the apartments (15% of total) are dedicated to underserved young adults, ages 18-24, who are aging out of foster care.

Some of the key green features of the project include:

• Interior finishes and building materials that promote the health and well-being of residents, including no-VOC paint, bathroom humidistats/ fans, natural wood cabinets, and plank flooring.
  
  
• Photovoltaic panels to offset at least 50% of the common area electric load.
  
  
• Energy Star appliances, heat pumps, and pin florescent lighting.
  
  
• Roof-mounted solar thermal that preheats water for high efficiency gas-fired central hot water boilers.
  
  
• A no-smoking policy in apartments and common areas to preserve the sustainable construction and promote resident health.
  
  
• Storm water treated on-site through permeable pavement, planters that catch and filter the water, and landscaped bio-retention areas.
  
  
• Native and drought resistant landscape, low flow toilets and faucets to promote conservation.
  
  
• Five electric car chargers and one parking site for a Flex car to serve the development and community.
  
  
• An attractive central staircase that encourages use of the stairs over the elevators.
  
  
• Secure bicycle storage in the garages.

In addition, the apartments are located across the street from the Vista Transit Station, served by North County Transit District’s Sprinter train and BREEZE buses.

“Building these affordable apartment homes next to transit, jobs, and shopping centers helps working-class families, seniors, and young people save money, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the use of automobiles,” says Sue Reynolds, President of CHW.