Page 47 - Green Builder July-August 2019 Issue
P. 47
Reaching Actively addressing Orlando’s lack of affordable housing,
a new 58-unit project sets out to prove that affordability
and sustainability can co-exist.
New
Horizons
On the Horizon(s). The New Horizons project includes a 52-kW rooftop solar array to lower utility bills for each apartment unit and reduce its
environmental footprint.
BY BARBARA HORWITZ BENNETT Chris Castro, director of sustainability for the City of Orlando,
ANKING THIRD NATIONALLY in lack of housing for agrees. “The New Horizons project presents a showcase model
extremely low-income residents, Metro Orlando oers for how low-income housing could incorporate sustainability fea-
only 18 rentals for every 100 families in deep poverty, tureswithin the same projectbudget in an eortto lower monthly
according to a recent National Low Income Housing expenses, reduce environmentalimpacts, and enhance the quality
R Coalition study. of life for the residents,” he says.
Looking to rectify this, the Village of Orlando, Inc. and City of
Orlando have rehabilitated close to 200 units, including a new 58-unit PROMINENT PARTS
sustainable rehabilitation of an existing apartment complex—New In addition to aforementioned features, the units include ductless
Horizons—in the city’s Washington Shores district. HVAC systems, high-eciency water heaters, ENERGY STAR appli-
But what’s unique about this project is its quest to prove that aord- ances, R-19/R-30 insulation values, low-ow xtures and faucets, LED
ability and sustainability can co-exist. As such, the New Horizons lighting, Florida-native landscaping, a community garden and rain
project showcases a number of green technologies, most notably a barrels.
52-kW rooftop solar array, providing close to 1 kW per resident. The ductless HVAC systems are a three-head wall-mounted mini-
“The New Horizons project is expected to serve as a demonstration split arrangement in each bedroom and living room. “This allows
to developers and the community that aordable housing and green the occupant to compartmentalize the systems eorts, which aords
initiatives—including solar, edible gardening, waste recycling and the user to manage consumption by focusing usage in areas of the
general energy reduction eorts—can be done where all stakehold- home, based on need,” explains Rowe.
ers can benet,” reports Charles A. Rowe, development director for These high-eciency units are rated at 14 SEER, incorporate
the Village of Orlando, Inc. programmable thermostat in each unit, which provide modes for
www.greenbuildermedia.com July/August 2019 GREEN BUILDER 45
44-47 GB 0719 New Horizons-#3.indd 45 7/17/19 3:03 PM
