Indigo @ Twelve/West: Nation’s First LEED-Platinum Apartment Building
The Indigo @ Twelve/West in Portland, Oregon is the United States’ first LEED-Platinum certified apartment building, touts owner Oakwood Worldwide. It is also the first building in Portland to host rooftop wind turbines. As a resident of Portland, I can attest to the visual nature of the turbines (switched on in 2009), making the Twelve/West building one of the more recognizable highrises in the city.
In addition to the wind turbines, which provide about 9,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually (only about 1 percent of the building’s energy needs), the structure also utilizes a rooftop garden which cools the building while harvesting and distributing rainwater. Although gaining only passing mention in Oakwood’s press release marking the apartments’ opening, solar panels also grace the building’s exterior and harvest clean energy for use within.
Energy-efficient appliances and high-efficiency window glass are located in each apartment. Greywater systems recycle water in the apartments back into the building for use in toilets, gardens and air conditioning systems.
Apartment tenants also enjoy Concierge services, in-room spas, room service from restaurants in the building, personal trainers, yoga instructors, rooftop parties and a private cinema. According to Oakwood Worldwide, early residents have reported energy bills as low as $12 per month.
One resident, LEED Accredited Professional Joe Vaughn, bore witness to the eco-benefits of life in the nation’s first LEED-platinum apartment building. “Living in the Indigo @ Twelve/West is amazing. “As a LEED Accredited Professional, I deal with sustainability features and issues most every day. Living here really lets me appreciate, first hand, the natural lighting, fresh air, energy-efficiency and comfort of a LEED Platinum property.”
LEED-Platinum is the highest green building certification handed out by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Via Marketwire
Posted on August 24th in Solar News by Dan.