 "Photo: Monica Agatstein")
The UCF community will soon be home to the first LEED-certified, eco-friendly student housing complex in Florida and the nation.
Land Environment Economics and Development is an internationally recognized “green” building certification system that provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built to be environmentally sensitive, according to their Web site.
LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is nationally recognized as an approved green rating system, and is more renowned among other rating systems, said Don Brooks, Sustainable Design Manager for Dinerstein Companies.
Dinerstein Companies is set to open the new complex, Sterling Central, in August 2010 and will begin leasing Nov. 2. The complex will be located across from UCF on Alafaya Trail.
Dinerstein Companies is one of the largest builders and developers of green apartments in the nation, according to Brian Dinerstein, one of its partners. The majority of their future projects will also obtain LEED certification, Dinerstein said.
Sterling Central will have the most energy-efficient air conditioning units, Energy Star appliances, compact fluorescent lighting and dual-flush toilets that reduce water usage.
The foundation of the apartments will be made with environmentally safer organic compounds in their paints, carpet systems, sealants, adhesives and coatings.
“With this certification we are showing that we will go through all of the methods necessary in proving that we are greener than any other property,” Brooks said. “We also used energy modeling software to ensure that we would get the most energy-efficient building possible, which is not typical for an apartment building.”
The complex will consist of two four-story, fully furnished residential buildings with 763 beds available in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. There will also be a parking garage connected to the buildings and activity-related amenities including a two-story fitness center, two resort-style pool plazas, computer centers, private study rooms, a tanning salon and a cyber cafe. The buildings and garage will also have multiple elevators so that residents can go straight to their floor from the garage.
The buildings are 21 percent more energy efficient than a typical construction project and at least 75 percent of construction materials have been recycled. During construction, many sustainable finishes were used, such as carpet made from recycled material and low-emitting paints to promote an environmentally friendly and healthy environment for residents, Brooks said.
“When I found the position online I looked up the company and researched it and the green aspect definitely made me want to work for the company more,” junior marketing major Jennifer Camacho said.
She will be a leasing assistant for Sterling Central.
“With this company I’ll be able to learn more and help others become aware of staying green,” Camacho said.
Sterling Central aims to be a pedestrian-friendly property by offering residents alternatives to driving their cars. They will have free bicycle rentals for residents and the UCF shuttle will have a stop on the property.
Sterling Central has also teamed up with Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions at UCF to help get the word out about staying green and using Sterling Central as a great place to start. I.D.E.A.S. is a proactive student nonprofit organization that was formed in order to inspire and promote environmental sustainability on campus.
“Together we can tackle a lot more than we could individually,” said senior environmental science major Chris Castro, president of I.D.E.A.S.
I.D.E.A.S. and Sterling Central attended the Power Shift conference this past weekend at UCF to help raise awareness for students about living in “green” apartments off campus.
“We get students involved with different environmental projects, and it’s a great link to have a student organization connected to Sterling Central,” Castro said.
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