SJHP’s Theodore Apartments Certified Green by Florida Green Building Coalition

“Our mission is to develop and preserve quality housing while supporting residents with low and moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans. Being able to provide housing with low utility costs for low-income working families is another approach for meeting that mission. We are proud to receive this gold certification, which reflects our commitment to green building practices,” said SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar.

The four apartment homes in two buildings are located at 135 Theodore St. each have three bedrooms and one bath.

Green building practices were utilized throughout the construction process to address FGBC criteria such as energy performance, water conservation, increased density, site conservation,  health, air quality and moisture, and disaster mitigation. FGBC utilizes a point system based on a checklist to determine the certification level.

“There are a lot of reasons to live in a green certified apartment. They create less of an impact on natural resources, while conserving resources and work to sustain the environment,” noted Lazar. “Indoor air quality is better, homes require less energy and water usage, both are environmental and economic benefits.”

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is a significant part of the FGBC point system. HERS® rated energy efficient homes are the key to green living, providing better home comfort and lower running costs.

“It is particularly important for an affordable rental property to keep utility costs low, along with keeping rents affordable. For each of these three- bedroom apartments it is estimated that that the average energy bill will be less than $75/month which would be spectacular for anyone these days,” added Lazar.

FGBC is the state’s leading certifier of green projects. The FGBC Certification Program tailors’ carbon-reducing, green building standards to the Florida climate, allowing builders, developers, and communities to meet green building standards while simultaneously constructing sustainable properties best suited for Florida’s ecosystem.

“It is quite an accomplishment and shows the commitment St. Johns Housing Partnership has to providing high quality, affordable housing for the community they serve,” said C.J. Davila, Executive Director of the Florida Green Building Coalition.

Mary Tappouni, President of Breaking Ground Contracting, served as the FGBC Certifying Agent for the project. For more information contact the St. Johns Housing Partnership at (904) 824-0902, email [email protected] or visit www.sjhp.org.