Knox Housing Partnership Announces First LEED Platinum Home Development

Blue Ridge Senior Community Housing

Knox Housing Partnership (KHP - www.khp.org/Home.aspx), Knoxville, Tennessee, a local affordable housing organization, recently announced that its zero-step fully accessible 30 unit Blueberry Ridge Senior Housing complex (www.khp.org/Rental-Information/Blueberry_Ridge_Senior_Housing_copy1.aspx) located on Beaver Creek Road in Powell has earned the U.S Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes (www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147)-Platinum level certification, making it the first construction in Knox County to receive this designation.

"I really enjoy living here at Blueberry Ridge," says resident Dick Allen. "It is a very energy efficient apartment. My electric utility bill has been $30-$40 a month during April and May." Mr. Allen maintains a small garden on the premise, which he waters through cisterns that collect rainwater off the centrally located campus gazebo.

Ed Ellis, Field Office Director, Knoxville HUD Office, commented; "Not only does this development show the partnership between many partners; it shows affordable housing for our Senior Citizens can be energy efficient, and a part of our long-term goal of sustainability."

The Blueberry Ridge Senior Community is made possible through grant funding from Knox County HUD HOME funds, in the amounts of $1,805,636.26, a generous grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, capital funding from NeighborWorks America, and financing from the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises.

Features include drought-tolerant, native, non-intrusive grasses and plants which provide 28% less energy consumption; and the ENERGY STAR certified apartments feature local building materials and services that minimize energy consumed by transportation, along with highly efficient conditioned air filtration system in the units to improve indoor air quality. The very high-efficient water fixtures will conserve water and reduce utility bills. The units also feature low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, adhesives and Green Label carpets, which minimize off-gassing and improve indoor air quality. Rainwater barrels will be used by the tenants for their community garden.

"We spend 90% of our time indoors and where we live and work has a significant impact on our health and well-being," said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development, U.S. Green Building Council. "By achieving Platinum LEED home certification, Blueberry Ridge will be apartments that residents will truly enjoy, because they are a more healthy and high-performing place to live."

KHP Jackie Mayo challenged the Blueberry Ridge project team to design a senior housing campus having common grounds with walkways, seating benches, gazebo, and accessible raised-bed gardening; zero step access to mail boxes; and a site positioned to encourage walking. "All of these design elements work to create a therapeutic living environment which stimulates residents to remain physically and socially active," said Ken Block, project team leader for the Blueberry Ridge development.

Project architect Elizabeth Eason adds, "Knox Housing Partnership has shown true leadership by achieving the highest level of energy and environmental design possible while at the same time demonstrating that it can be done affordably."

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