Green Bronx

Green Bronx

Bronx Zoo Eco Restroom Named 2007 Project of the Year

Fri

Dec

Perhaps we didn't jump the gun here at gbNYC by presenting our top five New York City green buildings to you earlier this week- New York Construction's December feature is the magazine's Best of 2007 list, which offers a selection of top New York City projects across a number of industry sectors A number of important green projects were recognized, but the first that we'll note took top honors in the environmental category. The Bronx Zoo’s $1.6 million, 1,100-square-foot Eco Restroom, which we’ve written about before, earned Environmental Project of the Year accolades for its sustainable design features that include 14 composting toilets, graywater systems, and extensive interior daylighting.

1347 Bristow Street in the Bronx: LEED Silver for $5/sf Premium

Fri

Nov

by Stephen Del Percio

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In a letter to the editor that appeared in this week’s edition of Crain’s, Richard M. Cherry, President of the Community Environmental Center (“CEC”), described his organization’s experience at 1347 Bristow Street in order to make a general point about green building cost premiums. The $3.7 million project, a twenty-five unit apartment building in the Morrisania neighborhood in the Bronx, should earn a LEED Silver rating after being completed earlier this year and involved the gut rehabilitation of 21,350 square feet. Green features included the installation of a condensing gas-fired boiler, fiberglass-framed low-e glass windows, and a variety of energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures. The building’s insulation is also made from fireproof, recycled, blown-in rockwool. Rehab work began in January of 2006 and wrapped up early this summer. In his letter, Mr. Cherry noted how CEC was able to assist the project team in implementing these sustainable features at a premium of only $5 per square foot, or less than five percent of the overall construction cost.

Morrisania Homes in The Bronx Earn NY's First Affordable Housing LEED-H Rating

Wed

Aug

by Stephen Del Percio

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The Morrisania Homes, a sixty-four unit development in the South Bronx that includes sixteen three-family and eight two-family homes, just became New York's first affordable housing project to receive certification under USGBC's LEED for Homes ("LEED-H") Pilot Program (which should launch formally sometime this fall) and the first LEED-H Certified residences in New York City. A second phase to the project will add an additional twelve units from four three-family homes. Green design features include Energy Star appliances, a high-performance HVAC system, and recycled carpeting; residents will also receive training on how to optimize the sustainable features (which is a LEED-H requirement). The Morrisania Homes were developed by Blue Sea Development, in cooperation with the Housing Partnership Development Corporation.