The 78,000-square-foot complex achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver and Energy Star® certification. The Hegeman provides permanent, affordable studio apartments for formerly homeless individuals with special needs, persons with HIV/AIDS, and low-income residents.

SWA worked closely with the developer, Common Ground, throughout design, construction, and occupancy to create the high performance, energy efficient building. Common Ground is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to end homelessness through a model of supportive housing, which blends housing assistance with social, health, and community services.” SWA served as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Multifamily Performance Program (MPP) partner and provided fundamental and enhanced commissioning services for the project.

Energy Efficient Affordable Housing

The 160-unit affordable housing complex includes amenity space and a garden for residents, as well as office space for housing staff. Energy efficient features of the complex include high-efficiency mechanical systems, occupancy sensing controls, and a roof-mounted solar electric system. Resident key cards, a component of the apartment power management system, reduce electricity consumption by cutting power to lights, hot plates, air conditioning, and bathroom plug loads when a unit is unoccupied.

Steven Winter Associates provides research, consulting, and advisory services to improve commercial, residential, and multifamily built environments for private and public sector clients. The company specializes in energy, sustainability, and accessibility consulting as well as certification, research and development, and compliance services.

For more information, visit www.swinter.com.

Publication date: 8/5/2013

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