Gables Pointe 14, a LEED for Homes Mid-rise Development Benefits its Residents and the Local Neighborhood Gables Pointe 14 in Arlington, Virginia, a 370 apartment home community entwines its neighborhood se?ng with contemporary style. The community demonstrates Gables’ commitment to sustainable, healthy living via enhancements to both the apartment homes and ameniDes. The development cerDfied LEED for Homes, Gold Level and is pursuing Fitwel CerDficaDon. LEED for Homes, developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), is a voluntary green home cerDficaDon system for assuring homes are designed and built to high quality standards and are resourceefficient and healthy for occupants. Fitwel is a building cerDficaDon that uses evidence-based design and operaDonal strategies to support the health and wellbeing of the building’s occupants and surrounding community. Fitwel was developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PrevenDon (CDC) and the General Services AdministraDon (GSA). LocaCon & ConnecCvity The community is located in the highly Figure 1 Gables Pointe 14, Arlington, Virginia desirable Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and within walking distance to the Court House and Rosslyn Metro staDons, dining and entertainment, parks and greenspace. The Georgetown/ West End area in Washington DC is less than two miles away. The development has a Walk Score of 77 “Very Walkable.” Most errands can be accomplished on foot, as defined by Walk Score. Walk Score analyzes walking routes to nearby businesses, services and ameniDes. Three Oaks Park, a community green and public open space onsite, is a welcoming place to gather. The park brings valuable greenspace, storm water management and reduces heat island effect within the neighborhood. Gables worked closely with Arlington County and the public to design the park and its key features, including the preservaDon of a large, old growth oak tree serving as the park’s centerpiece.
PromoCng Green Commutes Gables Pointe 14 offers alternaDve forms of transportaDon with sustainable commute opDons. The community is located within ½ mile walking distance to the METRO staDon. Low-emi?ng vehicles have access to preferred parking spots located close to building elevator banks. Residents can charge their 1
electric vehicles at the charging staDons located onsite. Cycling residents can store their bikes in the secured, covered storage area and bike workshop. The community is located on Arlington Boulevard trail. This locaDon encourages cycling for commuDng or recreaDon with a Bike Score of 62, “Bikable.” “Bike Score measures how good an address is for riding a bike. Scores are calculated by assessing bike lanes, hills, desDnaDons, road connecDvity and bike commuDng mode share,” per Walk Score. Interior Environments The qualiDes of a home impact how we feel. A comfortable and quiet respite with good air quality, and an environment conducive to sleeping support a healthy lifestyle. The air we breathe is one of the most important contributors to wellness. Pointe 14 is a 100% smoke free community eliminaDng exposure to second hand smoke. All homes have a fresh air circulaDon system which automaDcally brings in fresh air at regular intervals. The apartment homes and ductwork are sealed Dght to control pollutants and improve comfort. Interior materials impact air quality. Homes were painted with low VOC Figure 2 Expansive windows bring in daylight and connect residents to the paint. They have luxury vinyl plank, hard surface flooring cerDfied by FloorScore, an indoor air quality cerDficaDon for flooring. Building operaDons manage air quality onsite with pracDces focused on managing moisture and green cleaning procedures. Residents will sleep soundly in their quiet homes with a building that’s designed and constructed to control exterior and interior noise. Living spaces have natural light and views to nature through expansive energy efficient windows. Natural Resource Use Residents will have a high quality living experience in premier apartment homes that are healthy, comfortable and efficient, while using natural resources responsibly. LEED-cerDfied homes are built and tested to be energy efficient ensuring comfort with minimal energy use. LEED homes are more efficient than homes built to typical building code standards, based on average HERS raDngs.1 The Home Energy RaDng System (HERS) is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It’s the naDonally recognized standard for inspecDng and calculaDng a home’s energy performance, per the RESNET HERS Index. The systems in these homes include LED lighDng, ENERGY STAR® dishwashers, refrigerators and washers, programmable thermostats, high efficiency HVAC systems and hot water heaters, and high performance low-e glass windows.
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Trees were planted to provide shade for 50% of hardscapes impacDng the local community by helping to reduce heat island effect. This is caused by dark roofs and paved surfaces which absorb the sun’s heat during the day making the air temperature in urban areas warmer than surrounding suburban and rural areas. The trees also help manage storm water and provide natural elements to be seen from inside of the building. Like fossil fuels used to generate energy, water is another precious resource. Homes have efficient plumbing fixtures using less water than a typical fixture. In addiDon to saving water, high performing fixtures using hot water like showerheads, bathroom faucets and dishwashers (uses less than 6 gallons per cycle) also save energy because the hot water heater is not working as hard. Water efficiency and conservaDon strategies are designed in the landscaping and irrigaDon system. Ninety percent of the plants used are drought tolerant and require less water. Invasive species were not used throughout the community. Grass areas on the grounds are limited to reduce watering and ferDlizer needs. Drip irrigaDon is used to water most of the planDng beds, it is more efficient than spray heads. Controllers and moisture sensors manage water use by watering only when needed. Rainwater from the roof is captured and filtered by a series of bio ponds before it enters a retenDon vault and slowly released into storm water system. This system miDgates flooding and polluDon of local waterways caused by stormwater. FSC cerDfied IPE, also known as Brazilian walnut known for its beauty, strength and durability was used to construct an outdoor trellis, boardwalk at Three Oaks Park and used as an accent wall in the lounge amenity. The FSC cerDficaDon confirms that the wood is sourced from a responsibly managed Figure 3 A series of aBracCve bio ponds is a forest promoDng environmental, social and economic benefits. LEED for Homes signifies a high quality, sustainable and healthy place to live. Each home is third-party inspected, performance-tested and cerDfied to perform bejer than homes built to standard building code. One hundred percent of Gables new developments built since 2015 have earned green building cerDficaDons. Visit gables.com/everyday-green/ for more informaDon. 1Benefits
of Green Homebuilding, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
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