We are excited to announce that Harry’s House, an all-electric, affordable senior housing project in Santa Ynez, has achieved GreenPoint Rated Gold certification! This two-story building is comprised of 60 affordable rental units, a community center, meeting rooms, a beauty parlor, computer room, laundry facilities, a covered patio with a barbeque area, and other amenities. It even has a full all-electric commercial kitchen in the common area serving the resident dining hall.
In Balance Green Consulting worked with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO) consulting on energy optimization, photovoltaic (PV) sizing, GreenPoint Rated certification, and commissioning.
The project achieved GreenPoint Rated Gold certification by implementing features that contribute to increased energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, resource conservation, and promoting livable communities. Because GreenPoint Rated Gold was an important goal set early in the design process, the project teams worked together to develop a checklist and plan that led to a smooth construction process and a high performing building.
Sunseri Construction managed an incredibly efficient construction timeline, considering long lead times and storing materials on site to ensure smooth progress through the duration of construction.
Amana package terminal air conditioner (PTHP) and heat pumps are installed in each dwelling unit. Along with Sanden heat pump water heaters, both contribute to the energy efficiency of the all-electric building. The project includes a photovoltaic system generating over 291,000 kWh of electricity per year, offsetting almost 90% of the predicted residential energy usage.
Last year In Balance published a blog article showing Harry’s House as an example of best practices for radon mitigation as part of the GreenPoint Rated program requirements for projects in Radon Zone 1, primarily covering Santa Barbara County. As radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, proper mitigation is important for promoting indoor air quality and occupant safety.
This project serves as a great example of how early planning, goalsetting, and coordination across disciplines sets a project up to meet and exceed building performance goals, creating a healthy environment for all occupants. Congratulations to the team!