Connection Quarterly - Winter 2019

QUARTERLY WINTER 2019

THE POWER OF LITTLE THINGS MEREDITH HENDRICKS ON SMALL CHOICES & HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

PEDAL POWER FAYETTEVILLE’S BIKE SHARE PROGRAM IS A BIG HIT

BREATHE EASY CLEAN AIR STARTS WITH CLEAN CONSTRUCTION

A NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF SPECIALIZED REAL ESTATE GROUP COMMUNITIES

AIR QUALITY FROM THE GROUND UP BUILDING BETTER IS PART OF OUR DNA

Just as what we eat and drink influences our health, the air we breathe matters.

Dust, smoke, pollen, fragrances, and other pollutants can make us sick. According to the EPA, Americans spend, on average, 90% of their time indoors. Levels of indoor pollutants may be two to five times higher than pollutants outdoors.

Reducing exposure to this stuff is particularly important for people prone to allergies or asthma. But what can an apartment-dweller or an office worker do to create healthy indoor air quality?

In this issue, we focus on air quality from the ground up. Inside, you’ll meet Meredith Hendricks, a sustainability consultant who guides developers, architects, and contractors to create buildings that not only save energy, but also support wellness. In a walk through our Brick Avenue Lofts construction site, Meredith points out the little things that add up to big wins for health and the environment.

And she recommends simple steps we can all take to protect indoor air quality and our health.

We also provide a roundup of can’t-miss NWA spring events and a quick users’ guide to the new powerful e-bikes now available for rides all over Fayetteville.

Breathe easy, friends!

— Specialized Real Estate Group

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Energy efficient insulation at Brick Avenue Lofts

DID YOU KNOW? At Specialized, we strive to provide the healthiest environments for the people who live in all of our communities, and that starts with the very air we breathe. Little choices, like covering air ducts during construction, add up. From non-toxic paint, building materials, and cleaning solutions to quarterly air filter replacements and no-smoking policies, we take our air quality seriously. Learn more at specializedreg.com/indoorairquality

Temporaovryers keep duct c ction dust construebris out and d air that of the residents future reathe. will b

Meredith Hendricks, pointing out LEED certification practices at SREG’s latest project: Brick Avenue Lofts

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b� Sarah King

It’s 18º out

and we’re on a construction site wearing our hardhats and high-visibility vests. We’re here to see Meredith Hendricks, a sustainability consultant who works for Entegrity, an Arkansas sustainability and energy services company. The mud that usually mires our feet is frozen into miniature peaks and valleys. Workers unload cypress siding from a tall mechanical lift. Heavy equipment drones all around us.

In some ways, this looks like a typical busy construction site, but there’s something different about Brick Avenue Lofts. Like each of the apartment communities Specialized has developed, Brick Avenue is registered for LEED Certification. But what does that mean, really?

“LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system,” Meredith explains. “A LEED building is third party verified to use design and construction strategies that improve the walkability of the site, energy use, water use, incorporate careful stewardship of resources and provide better indoor air quality.”

As we open up an apartment door, drywallers are at work inside. Meredith ducks inside a utility closet. “I’ve been wanting to see this,” she says. She emerges with a small square pleated air filter.

“This is something very different from the average apartment,” she says. “LEED Homes have a fresh air supply duct that brings in a small amount of fresh air every day to dilute any pollutants that might be building up. And this filter cleans air on it’s way in.”

In the living area, Meredith points toward a rectangle of

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metal foil on the ceiling. She explains that this cover will remain on the building’s ductwork during construction to prevent dust and debris from collecting in the ventilation system. This means cleaner and healthier air for future residents.

They might not appear on the cover of the leasing brochure, but these interventions add up. It’s Meredith’s job to identify these seemingly little things that will have a big impact on residents’ comfort and health.

“My role is to guide choices around sustainable construction during design. I lay out the options so that the design team can decide what strategies make most sense for the project,” she says. “I’m the squeaky wheel for sustainability.”

I’m the squeaky wheel for sustainability.

Beyond suggesting best practices, Meredith’s team also verifies that construction is following them. “LEED Certified homes are monitored during the design and construction stages to confirm that the building materials meet stringent emissions testing. A LEED Certified home won’t have the “new car smell” that you typically get from a newly built home,” she says.

From slab insulation to shut-off valves, Meredith Hendricks’ green building contributions will be multiplied over decades and hundreds of units.

These “little things” will make a big impact on this place and the people who call it home.

Read more at specializedreg.com/littlethings

Meredith’s Tips for Clean Indoor Air Many of the products that we bring into our homes contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Things like cleaning products, products with fragrances (candles & air fresheners) and cosmetics can all be sources of VOCs in your home. To keep the good quality of indoor air inside your home: • Reduce the amount of fragranceproducing products will help keep the VOCs in your home low.

• Don’t store materials like paints or other harsh products inside.

• Look for cleaning products that meet Green Seal or Environmental Choice standards.

• Open the windows on a nice day (make sure you turn off your heater or air conditioner)

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COMMUNITY EVENTS FARMER’S MARKET Fayetteville: April 6th | Bentonville: April 20th Newcomers, NWA Farmers Markets are the place to be on Saturday mornings! Fresh vegetables, hand made crafts, live music, and lots of puppies. What’s not to love?

COW PADDY RUN April 13th One of Fayetteville’s favorite and longest-standing events, the Cow Paddy Run invites runners of all ages and paces for a 1K and 5K benefiting fitness activities and running clubs in public schools. And there’s a cow costume contest!

SPRINGFEST April 20th

ÉLXR YOGA LOUNGE The latest addition to 200 W Center, Élxr Yoga Lounge or “EYL” is the best new place to practice. Led by yoga expert Nicole Calhoun, EYL is a place for people to “practice with perseverance, persevere with patience.” In addition to teaching yoga, Nicole is a Lululemon Brand Ambassador and holds a Doctorate degree in molecular biology. Check out @elxryogalounge on Instagram for the latest yoga inspiration, class times, and more.

One of Fayetteville’s favorite festivals returns to Dickson Street. Funky Fayetteville will be in full display with live music, crafts, and the famous Bed Race down the Dickson Street hill.

More info on Facebook.

MOVING TOGETHER CHALLENGE GRAB A TRAINING BUDDY & WE WILL PAY YOUR REGISTRATION FEES!

BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL May 7th-11th Mark your calendars for BFF, when Hollywood stars pop up around Northwest Arkansas. The festival celebrates inclusion in the film industry, so you’re sure to find the perfect movie among the hundreds of screenings during the event. bentonvillefilmfestival.com

Any two (or more) SREG tenants or employees: Train for a race or ride together, and we’ll pay you each $30 toward your registration fees.

Fill out the form at: specializedreg.com/movingtogether

Tag your race day photo with #sregmovingtogether and we will mail you each a check for $30!

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PEDAL POWER Have you noticed the new red bikes zipping around town? If not, say hello to easy, accessible, fun, electric power!

VeoRide just launched these upgraded e-bikes in Fayetteville, and they’re a breeze going up hills without a sweat.

Be sure to check one out!

GET THE APP

Download the VeoRide app on your iOS or Android device.

FIND A RIDE

Use the VeoRide app to find an available ride near you.

SCAN TO UNLOCK

Scan the ride’s QR code or enter its ID to unlock it. Enjoy your ride!

PARK RESPONSIBLY When done, park in any area designated in the app.

Building healthy places and connecting neighbors means that we consider not just the qualities of buildings, but the connectedness of the neighborhood surrounding them. A walkable neighborhood with a unique sense of place just feels better. It’s this feeling that we aim to capture in each of our projects.

BUILDING BETTER

EMBRACING NATURE

MOVING TOGETHER

SHARING FOOD

We consider efficiency, beauty and health in every decision we make.

We create opportunities to move—through design, events and service.

We build and conserve places that connect people with nature.

We see growing and sharing food as a vital part of every community we build.

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15 NORTH CHURCH AVENUE, SUITE 103 FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72701

WILSON PARK APARTMENTS @claaiirrreeee

BRICK AVENUE LOFTS @coryaamos

PRAIRIE ST. BAR & TAP @haylielately

HEALTHY PLACES & SMILING FACES. SHARE YOUR STORY EYL @elxryogalounge

JUICE PALM @awilsonwellness

#sregcq