Fore Property Company's Greenhaven receives LEED for Homes Silver Certification Plaque from USGBC

Nate Kredich, vice president, residential market development for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), presented Jonathan Fore, vice president of Fore Property Company (FORE), with the prestigious LEED? for Homes Silver certification plaque for Greenhaven apartments in McKinney, Texas. Greenhaven is the first multifamily garden community in Texas to be distinguished as a LEED-certified facility by ?USGBC. The initial five completed buildings at the development have now received LEED for Homes Silver certification. The remaining five residential buildings are under construction with certification anticipated upon completion.

"We are excited about the interest in green building in the Dallas market, and Greenhaven is proof of the interest turning into activity," said Kredich. "Eco-friendly multifamily development is important because it has an impact on so many individuals and families. By achieving LEED for Homes Silver certification, FORE demonstrates its immense leadership and acknowledges that sustainable building is good for both the local economy and the environment. And now the leasing results are proof that it?s good for the residents who desire to live green."

"The City of McKinney is dedicated to making a difference to the environment and the lives of our citizens by making green development important," said City of McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. "Fore Property Company is a leader in its industry and we are thankful it has chosen McKinney to make the move to go green."

"More and more apartment renters are seeking environmentally-friendly lifestyles," said Fore. "The leasing at Greenhaven has been successful and we attribute it to the community being eco-friendly and LEED certified."

To meet the detailed LEED guidelines, FORE has included many sustainable design elements and practices in the project. For example, energy savings will be achieved through ENERGY STAR windows and appliances, high efficiency HVAC units, and Compact Fluorescent Lights throughout the apartment homes. Living healthy is also important which is why Greenhaven includes MERV 8 air filters, eco-friendly building products (e.g., Green Label Plus carpets) and low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) paints. It is anticipated that all buildings will be upwards of 20 percent more efficient than those designed to 2004 standards.

It is estimated that Greenhaven will reduce residents' carbon footprint by roughly 280 tons per year, or the equivalent of taking 70 cars (at 30 MPG) off the road. Residents will use about 900,000 gallons less water each year and will save $1.6 million in energy costs over the next 20 years by achieving LEED certification.

Construction on Greenhaven began in October 2008 and will be completed late-February 2010. Leasing has exceeded expectations and residents have moved in.

LEED for Homes is an internationally recognized certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all environmental metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to the environment.