“You haven’t filled the prescription for your daughter’s inhaler in quite a while,” Tonya Hollen’s doctor noted.
Living in Ripley Gardens brought the Hollen family more than stability – it restored some of their health. The development’s low-VOC products and ample ventilation created a healthier environment for her daughter, who barely needs her inhaler anymore.
“I don’t understand all of the green strategies, but I know they’ve had an impact on our lives,” Hollen said.
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Ripley Gardens realizes an annual electricity
savings of 60% and energy savings of 36%.
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When it was constructed in 2006-2007, Ripley Gardens was a demonstration project of Minnesota Green Communities, a program aimed at greening affordable housing. Today, Ripley Gardens realizes an annual electricity savings of 60% and energy savings of 36%.
The lessons learned through the demonstration projects have been incorporated into the Green Communities Criteria. Minnesota Housing’s standards for multifamily housing are based on the Green Communities Criteria, and mandatory for all funded projects.
“Projects like Ripley Gardens have helped set the stage of what’s possible,” said Billy Weber, senior research fellow at the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) at the University of Minnesota. “It’s resulted in an expansion and acceptance of sustainability throughout the state in affordable housing.”
Creating award-winning developments through partnerships
“Aeon pushes the envelope not just for the sake of innovation, but to implement strategies that will move our industry forward to being as green and as sustainable as possible,” said Vice President of Housing Development Gina Ciganik. “We’re minimizing the negative impact on the environment and maximizing the positive impact on our residents’ lives.”
Award winning projects like Ripley Gardens and
The Wellstone (where Aeon installed its first solar thermal hot water system) illustrate a strong commitment to sustainability. A partnership with CSBR and the Center for Energy and Environment will help push the sustainable envelope even further for upcoming projects.
Sienna Green,
Renaissance Box and
Alliance Addition – all slated to begin construction within months – will serve as case studies that provide lessons for Aeon and other developers. Focus will be given to
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The Wellstone Apartments opened in May 2009
and boasts Aeon's first solar water heating system. |
pre- and post-construction analysis of energy efficiency, sustainable building materials and installation techniques.
Sienna Green provides a testing ground where different strategies for sustainable rehabilitation can be implemented – and effectiveness tracked – in five 40-year-old buildings. For example, three buildings will receive white roofs, while the others will receive standard roofs, a comparison that will demonstrate the effectiveness of white roofs in a climate where the dominate need is for heating rather than cooling.
The historic Renaissance Box will be achieving LEED Gold certification. Alliance Addition is incorporating innovation building techniques in new construction, including structural insulated panels. The development is also being considered for participation in the LEED for Homes Mid-Rise Pilot Program.
“While it’s exciting that these projects will be Aeon’s first LEED developments, it’s not about the title or designation. Our work is about creating healthy, sustainable homes for generations to come,” said Ciganik.