Tag Archives: LEED

LEED

EYA Launches Homeowner Maintenance Videos

14 Jun 2013 // from EYA

Washington-area homebuyers love our new townhomes and condominiums because they’re low-maintenance and eco-friendly (not to mention walkable to countless neighborhood amenities).

Now, simple home maintenance tasks are easier than ever, thanks to the launch of our Homeowner Maintenance video series on YouTube!

We filmed a variety of common household tasks, such as changing air filters, winterizing for cold weather and cleaning common household finishes. You can view all the how-to videos here.

Our Homeowner Maintenance video series includes:

Winterizing Your Home

Care for Common Finishes

HVAC Care & Maintenance

Spring Cleaning Tips

Health & Safety

_______________________________________

The video(s) brought to you by EYA Marketing, LLC are offered to the public for information and entertainment purposes only. The Producers, Writers and Actors of these video(s) have used reasonable efforts in producing these video(s) to provide the information contained therein, but neither Producers, Writers nor Actors of or in these video(s) make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy of the information contained in the video(s), nor the applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this video.

The information contained in these video(s) is strictly for entertainment and informational purposes. Where manufacturer information or warranties are provided with respect to any equipment in your house, you should rely on such information and warranties and not on the video(s). Before you elect to apply any of the concepts or ideas contained in these video(s), you should verify that such actions are consistent with the manufacturers’ information or warranties. Information regarding the care and maintenance of equipment in your home may also be available from the manufacturer through the manufacturer’s website, and we suggest that you check the manufacturer recommendations first, prior to applying any of the concepts or suggestions seen in the video(s). By applying the concepts or suggestions set forth in the video(s), ou are taking full responsibility for your actions.

No representations or warranties are made by the Producers, Writers or Actors regarding the information set forth in the video(s), and none of the Producers, Writers or Actors, nor the copyright holder of these video(s), shall have any liability of any nature, to any party, for any actual, direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the material, concepts or suggestions which are set forth in the video(s).

The author and publisher do not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any websites listed or linked to in these video(s).

All links are for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose. There may be additional links which are included in the video(s), and none of the Producers, Writers or Actors make any representation or warranty regarding the links which are included or those that are not included in the video(s)..

These video(s) are copyrighted by EYA Marketing, LLC and are protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws, with ALL rights reserved. No part of this may be copied, or changed in any format, sold, or used in any way other than what is outlined within this under any circumstances without express permission from EYA Marketing, LLC.

Study Measures Impacts of Smart Growth Developments

0 Comments

22 Apr 2013 // from EYA

Leave a reply

Bethesda, MD – Washington-area homebuilder and real estate developer EYA has long focused on close-in, walkable new home developments throughout the region. Fittingly, the company places a strong emphasis on sustainable design, green building and smart growth. While EYA has heard anecdotally that its neighborhoods and construction techniques have improved their homeowner’s lives, the company recently commissioned a third-party study to measure the true lifestyle benefits of living in an EYA neighborhood.

EYA selected third-party research firm, Robert Charles Lesser & Company (RCLCO), to conduct a survey of homeowners among its recently built communities in Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA. Owners were asked to report their actual energy & water usage, commuting and lifestyle habits. RCLCO also collected comparison energy & water usage data for older homes and newer homes built by other homebuilders.

The findings are:

60% of EYA homeowners have an “alternative” commute, as compared to only 32% of Washingtonians[1].
73% of EYA homeowners have a commute less than 30 minutes, which is 10% shorter than the DC-average[2].
The average EYA homeowner walks 32 minutes per day, compared to the national average of only 13 minutes[3].
71% of EYA homeowners walk to Metro at least once a week, compared to only 15% of Washington-area residents[4].
The average EYA household has only 1.43 cars, compared to a regional & national average of 1.9 cars per household[5].
The average EYA household drives only 21 miles per day, as compared to a regional average of 26.3 miles per person[6].
By moving into an EYA community, owners report driving 25 miles less per week, which saves them $734.50 per year[7].
EYA homeowners report saving $258 per year on utility bills (or 9%) versus older homes or other new construction.
88% of EYA homeowners report that moving into an EYA neighborhood positively impacted their lives by bringing amenities within walking distance.
In a typical EYA new home development, the company recycles 85% of construction debris, diverting over 2,000 tons of waste from landfills[8].

The study is timely for EYA, as it recently celebrated its 20^th anniversary, 4,000^th settlement and completed its 500^th LEED certification. The results are a testament to the merits of the green building techniques the company has implemented in pursuing LEED certification, along with the lifestyle benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood.

Living in a Statistically Smarter Neighborhood, an EYA Infographic

ABOUT EYA

EYA is a smart growth developer, specializing in walkable new home communities and mixed-use developments. Since its founding in 1992, the company has built over 30 neighborhoods in the Washington Metropolitan area. Learn more at http://www.EYA.com.

ABOUT RCLCO

Robert Charles Lesser & Company (RCLCO) is the largest independent real estate advisory firm in the nation. The company provides strategic and tactical advice regarding property investment, planning, and development. RCLCO has offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA, Austin, TX and Orlando, FL. Learn more at http://www.RCLCO.com.

[1] Commuting in the United States, 2009. Data for households earning $75K+ per year. U.S. Census Bureau. September 2011.

[2] Commute Times in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. June 2001.

[3] Vital Signs: Walking Among Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 2012.

[4] Commuting in the United States, 2009. U.S. Census Bureau. September 2011.

[5] Consumer Expenditures for the Washington, DC Area: 2010-2011. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[6] Mega Commuting in the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. November 2012.

[7] Using an IRS mileage rate of 56.5 cents.

[8] Data compiled using actual construction waste recycling reports from Northern Virginia Waste.

EYA Readies to Open Bethesda Townhome Community

4 Comments

3 Jan 2013 // from EYA

4 Replies

Bethesda, MD – Washington’s leading urban residential developer and home builder, EYA, has acquired an infill redevelopment site in Bethesda from longtime businessman and attorney, Peter B. Hoyt.

EYA's Little Falls Place Townhomes in Bethesda, Maryland

The property, located at the intersection of Little Falls Parkway and River Road, abuts Montgomery County parkland and the Capital Crescent trail, while offering easy access to the Kenwood Station Whole Foods, Friendship Heights, Mazza Gallerie and downtown Bethesda. Formerly, the Hoyt property was home to Betco Block Plant, a manufacturing and distribution facility for brick and concrete building materials.

EYA's Little Falls Place Townhomes in Bethesda, Maryland

“Over the years, I dedicated my career to the building products industry. I’m eager to see this site transformed from a manufacturing purpose into a neighborhood of homes which will use some of the very products we’ve made”, said Mr. Hoyt. “There is no better partner than EYA for this financial and building venture.”

The Townhomes at Little Falls Place will include an expansive rooftop terrace with outdoor kitchen and fireplace - all overlooking the Capital Crescent Trail.

The 1.8-acre site will soon be comprised of 25 luxury townhomes and 5 moderately-priced dwelling units (MPDUs). The new neighborhood, Little Falls Place, has been designed in a modern, urban vernacular with walls of glass to capture the scenic views of the parkland and Capital Crescent Trail. Materials such as stone and stained wood combine with clean lines of glass and metal. Further, expansive outdoor spaces include rear yards, balconies and rooftop terraces complete with outdoor kitchens and fireplaces.

Expansive windows overlook nature preserves in this open floorplan townhome.

“What we’ve envisioned for Little Falls Place is a rare blend of vibrant city living in a peaceful, relaxing setting. There aren’t many places in Washington where you can achieve this level of access to world class shopping and dining, yet enjoy acres of nature preserves and onsite trail access,” said Bob Youngentob, EYA President and Co-Founder.

European Chef's kitchens feature sleek cabinetry, quartz countertops and appliances by Bosch, Thermador and Sub Zero.

Consistent with EYA’s other neighborhoods, Little Falls Place will be built to the U.S. Green Building Council’s environmentally-friendly building standards, LEED for Homes. New home sales will begin in February 2013 from an offsite sales center, priced from $1.4 million.

About:

EYA is a smart growth developer, specializing in walkable new home communities and mixed-use developments. Since its founding in 1992, the company has built over 30 neighborhoods in the Washington Metropolitan area. EYA is currently selling four new home communities: Chancellor’s Row in Washington, DC; Old Town Commons and The Oronoco in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; and Mosaic District Townhomes in Fairfax, Virginia. For more information on the company or its neighborhoods, visit http://www.eya.com/.

EYA Launches Final Phase at Chancellor’s Row

0 Comments

18 Oct 2012 // from EYA

Leave a reply

It seems like just yesterday EYA broke ground on the new townhomes at Chancellor’s Row, the 10-acre development on the grounds of St. Paul’s College where Brookland & Edgewood meet.

Since then, the Artspace Lofts were completed and occupied, Monroe Street Market went under construction, Menomale opened, and 901 Monroe began demolition. The neighborhood has a noticeable new vibe, yet maintains the same charming architecture and close-knit community feel.

Even San Antonio Grill got a facelift.

San Antonio's Nifty New Sign (Photo Courtesy of http://brooklandavenue.com/blog/)

EYA has sold 65% of the 237 homes at Chancellor’s Row, a LEED for Homes certified development located just steps from Brookland-CUA Metro station on the red line. Construction is maintaining pace closely with sales and over 120 households have moved in.

Photo of the first building at Chancellor's Row (Model Home Row) while under construction in early 2011.

The community features an onsite Zipcar, soon-to-come Capital Bikeshare station, tot lots, three acres of open space and beautiful rooftop terrace views. Chancellor’s Row was named “Community of the Year” by the local building industry associations.

Chancellor's Row, now, "Model Home Row"

The final phase at Chancellor’s Row, comprised of 64 units, abuts 5th and 6th Streets just off Franklin Street NE. Home styles include three and four bedrooms, traditional brick or stone facades, along with the final 12 “Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU)” homes.

To learn more about Chancellor’s Row, visit the community website, or attend our special event this Saturday, October 20th from 1 PM – 4 PM, with catering from Old Europe.

EYA Earns LEED Certifications at Chancellor’s Row

0 Comments

18 Nov 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

No other homebuilder in the Washington Metropolitan area has built as many LEED for Homes certified residences than EYA and the company has just earned additional certifications at its DC townhome community, Chancellor’s Row.

LEED for Homes Upgraded Insulation Green Building

Upgraded insulation techniques and third party inspections ensure homes stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

The 237-unit neighborhood is built to LEED-ND standards and is within walking distance to Metro, shopping and neighborhood services. An onsite Zipcar and soon-to-come Capital Bikeshare station improve mobility for residents. Rear-load parking garages, tree-lined streets and wide sidewalks improve pedestrian friendliness. And native landscaping, onsite construction recycling, bioswales and rain gardens also contribute to LEED-ND standards.

LEED for Homes Panelized Framing Green Building

Panelized framing is an efficient technique for limiting jobsite waste and providing more exact measurements.

The LEED for Homes designation was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for green building techniques such as:

ENERGY STAR appliances, windows and fixtures
Airtight and watertight building envelope with slab insulation
Low VOC paints and finishes
Low flow faucets for water conservation
Energy saving CFL bulbs throughout
Solar hot water rough-in and available solar electric rough-in
Third party green building inspections during the construction process

Homeowners enjoy a better quality of life, more comfortable indoor living environments, lower utility bills and peace of mind that their homes are built with the latest green building materials.

LEED for Homes Dual Flush Toilets Green Building

Available dual flush toilets and low flow faucets are two easy water saving features any homeowner can add.

EYA builds all of its homes to LEED for Homes standards, or higher. To learn more about the company’s green bulding practices, visit the Smart City Living interactive tool here.

Increasing the Efficiency of Your Energy Star Washer

0 Comments

4 Aug 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

Energy Star clothes washer in EYA LEED certified home.

Upgrading to an Energy Star, high-efficient washing machine is a great step towards making your home energy-efficient and green, but is their more that you could be doing with your laundry to reduce your carbon footprint? Energy Star washing machines, which are included in all new EYA homes, use 37% less energy and 50% less water than regular washers, saving you an average of $135 a year in utility bill costs. You could be saving even more, though, if you use some of these tips:

Limit dryer use. On average, dryers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in your home (second to only the refrigerator). Even if you only cut your dryer use part-time, it will save you energy and money. When you do use your dryer, clean your lint filter regularly to ensure that your clothes dry as fast as possible. Also, some sources recommend ditching dryer sheets all together because they have harmful chemicals for the environment and for you.
Buy Front Loading Washing Machines. These Energy Star machines, sometimes referred to as “horizontal axis” washers, use between 18 to 25 gallons of water per load. In traditional top loading washers, the machine uses about twice that amount of water.
Use HE and Concentrated Detergents. Many detergents on the market now display the high efficiency symbol, which designates that they are compatible with HE machines. See this HE detergent chart here to see some popular options, or use ConsumerSearch to find out which brand might fit in best with your lifestyle. In addition, try to buy very concentrated detergents – they come in smaller containers that use less packaging resources and fuel when shipped, yet last you just as long as a less concentrated equivalent.
Fill ‘er Up! Whenever possible, wait to do your laundry until you have enough clothes to fill an entire load. In traditional machines, the same amount of energy and water will be used regardless of the amount of clothes, resulting in the wasted energy and water. If you need to do a smaller load, some newer washing machines have a “load size selector option” that uses less water for smaller amounts of laundry.
Cold, cold, cold. Wash your clothes in cold water. As soon as you tell your machine to wash in hot, or even warm, water, your energy bill rises significantly. 90% of the energy used by a washing machine is caused by heating the water. To help encourage the use of cold water to wash your close, there are now detergents on the market made specifically for cold water washing, such as Tide Coldwater Detergent.

Put to the Test: CFLs vs. Incandescent Light Bulbs

0 Comments

5 Jul 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

Our first official test of the Belkin Conserve Insight Energy-Use Monitor is complete! Last Tuesday, we posted about the monetary gains of using compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) and we decided to use our energy-use monitor to see the gains for ourselves.

To determine which incandescent bulb to compare to our 23-watt ENERGY STAR CFL bulb, we consulted the CFL purchasing guide and determined that a 100-watt incandescent bulb would be the equivalent regular bulb wattage to test. We then attached a standard table lamp to the Belkin device and tested each light bulb individually. Assuming that the lamp was run continuously for a year and the cost of electricity was $0.11/kWh, the results were as follows:

A 100-watt incandescent bulb: $104/year

A 23-watt ENERGY STAR CFL bulb: $27.97/year

The results speak for themselves. CFLs use about 70% less energy than equivilant standard bulbs and also last nearly 8 times longer, saving you a significant amount of money over the bulb’s lifespan. Why wouldn’t you make the switch?

Introducing: The Belkin Conserve Insight Energy-Use Monitor

0 Comments

29 Jun 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

The Belkin Conserve Insight Energy-Use Monitor tests how much energy any given appliance uses in your home.

In our efforts to learn more about green living and energy-efficient households, EYA recently purchased the Belkin Conserve Insight Energy-Use Monitor, a simple device that measures the impact of individual household appliances on utility costs. We wanted to purchase the device to learn about which items in our homes are using up unnecessary energy so we can change our habits in the future to be more green and cost effective.

We’ve been testing the device on various electronics and have been pleased with the results thus far! This product is very easy to use and understand with its simple set up and display features. Simply plug the Conserve Insight into a wall socket and then plug the device you are trying to learn more about into the Conserve Insight. The plug piece is connected to the display screen via a five foot cord, which helps make reading the device easy. The device measures pounds of CO2 emissions per year (or month), utility cost in dollars per year (or month), and watts. While the device is set at default to measure cost at an average of 0.116 cents per kilowatt-hour, this can easily be adjusted to match the cost that your energy company actually charges (which can often be found on your utility bill).

There are some short-comings to this device, namely that it is hard to calculate the energy cost of items that you turn on and off frequently, or items that use varying amounts of energy depending on settings, such as in various washing machine cycles. Regardless, it gives you a rough estimate of how much any specific device is costing you, and also makes it easy to gauge which of your electronics is costing you the most. You can buy your own energy monitor directly from Belkin, or through amazon.com.

We’re really looking forward to testing out this device some more and learning about which devices we should limit our use on and unplug often. Stay tuned!

CFLs: Lighting Your Home, Not Lightening Your Wallet

0 Comments

28 Jun 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) are energy-efficient and save homeowners lots of money on their energy bills. These light bulbs are used throughout EYA new developments as part of EYA's commitment to building smart, green homes.

Consider this fact: “If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.”

If that fact is not enough incentive to start utilizing energy efficient light bulbs, then perhaps consider the personal gains you will receive from a smaller energy bill. Energy efficient light bulbs, technically called a compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL), may seem more expensive at first glance. On average, CFLs cost about three times more than an equivalent incandescent bulb, but the key is to consider the lifespan of CFLs compared to incandescent bulbs. The average CFL ENERGY STAR light bulb will run for about 8,000 hours, the equivilant of more than seven years of typical household use. In contrast, incandescent bulbs only last about 1,000 hours. Changing one bulb in your home to a CFL will cut about $40 off your energy bill in the bulb’s lifespan – which means it ends up paying for itself multiple times over. Check out this CFL Purchasing Guide if you have questions about which CFL bulbs to purchase for your home.

When your CFL bulb runs out, however, proper measures must be taken to ensure that the light bulb is disposed of properly. CFL bulbs are completely safe when they are running and unbroken, but CFL bulbs contain a small amount of Mercury that can be harmful to the environment and humans if exposed. Always use caution when handling bulbs and if one breaks, be sure to clean it up in a safe way. The Environmental Protection Agency emphasizes the importance of getting rid of the bulbs appropriately and there are many local retailers that will recycle your CFL bulbs . Lowes, True Value Hardware, Home Depot, and IKEA currently take back CFL bulbs at store locations, or you can even pay to mail them to designated CFL recyclers . In addition, most local city recycling centers have specified drop-offs for CFL bulbs and other household hazardous waste.

For more details on compact fluorescent light bulbs, consult energystar.gov.

Used CFLs can be dropped off in Alexandria, Virginia at 3224 Colvin St on Mondays & Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Used CFLs can be dropped off in DC at the Ft. Totton Transfer Station, 4900 John F. McCormack Rd, NE, on the first Saturday of every month.

EYA Employees Studying Hard for the LEED Green Associate Exam

0 Comments

24 Jun 2011 // from EYA

Leave a reply

EYA employees – both those stationed in the field and in the office – are currently studying hard for the LEED Green Associate exam to further their in-depth understanding of LEED building standards and practices. For years, EYA has been building green homes and is the only developer in the Washington area to build large communities in accordance with LEED standards. Upwards of 200 homes have been LEED certified and more will follow in the upcoming months as more homes are completed. This LEED Green Associate exam, which contains 100 questions and must be completed in two hours, is used to test green building expertise of green design, construction, and operation.

Exemplary of EYA’s longstanding commitment to environmentally sound practices, EYA is investing in this exam for its employees to help encourage more green practices and understanding throughout the company and beyond. Outside of making EYA a more responsible green company, informed employees will take these practices they have learned and apply them in their own familys’ and friends’ homes. In addition, those who take the LEED Green Associates Exam can effectively educate future homebuyers of the importance of maintaining a healthy, environmentally-friendly home.

As part of their exam preparation, EYA employees completed a walkthrough of a LEED standard townhome under construction so they could see the concepts they were studying in application. The walkthrough occurred at Old Town Commons in Alexandria and included a green testing demonstration from Everyday Green, an independent green building consultant company.

EYA employees during the LEED walkthrough at Old Town Commons in Alexandria, VA.

Elliott from Everyday Green explained the importance of home airtightness.

Everday Green conducted a blower door test on a newly finished EYA home to test for the home's airtightness during the LEED walkthrough for EYA employees.

Citydweller