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Apartment living
and environmental conscious don't go hand and hand, right?
Well, that's starting to change with apartments like the Blair
Towns in Silver Spring. MD.
The Blair Towns
are the first apartments in the country to be designated LEED
Certified by the U. S. Green Building Council. Some of the
advanced design features include:
“Low-E”
glass, which reduces heat buildup in the summer, and therefore
reduces energy used for cooling,
Energy Star
appliances are used.
Exterior
walls have increased insulation.
Ceiling fans
make a more comfortable room environment with reduced air
conditioning.
The water
heater and furnace have been combined. Energy that might be
lost from heated water is used to help heat the apartment
space.
Plumbing
fixtures have reduced water flow for energy and water savings.
Renters have
the option of buying "Green" electricity.
The locations
was selected so that dwellers wouldn't have to own a car. They
are close to the Red line Metro and shopping. Zip Car (rent by
the hour) cars are on site.
This really
represents a state of the art example for any new apartment
construction in the US.
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