We’re just about halfway through 2019, and AMLI has already exceeded expectations in meeting several sustainability milestones. Here’s a quick run-down of what’s been lighting up on our radar.
Habitat for Humanity Donor Appreciation Award
In May, AMLI received a Donor Appreciation Award from the Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where we donated over 20,000 worth of materials, fixtures and appliances as part of our on-going renovations to our communities in the area. These donations will allow local Austin businesses and homeowners to renovate for less than the cost of buying new, and keep these items from being pitched into local landfills. It’s estimated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that around 5,500+ tons of waste enters Travis County landfills every single day.
Items we donated, included:
- cabinets
- refrigerators
- ovens
- washers and dryers
- dishwashers
- plumbing fixtures
- sink bases
- light fixtures
- ceiling fans
If you’re in the Austin area, be sure to swing by fast. The Austin ReStore location has some of the highest sales in the country. These items may not be there for long!
ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award
In April, the EPA named AMLI a Partner of the Year for our commitment to achieving ENERGY STAR certification for our new and existing communities. Apartment communities that receive this distinction use much less energy and resources than average through their overall design and by using highly-efficient appliances to cut down on waste. Using ENERGY STAR appliances also directly translates into savings on residents’ utility bills.
AMLI has 27 communities certified by ENERGY STAR, and those communities perform in the top 25 percent of similar multifamily buildings nationwide.
Earth Day Recycling Drive
To celebrate Earth Day this year, AMLI completed its first nationwide electronics recycling drive. Residents were encouraged to recycle their old electronics at their community’s leasing office, and in exchange would be entered in a raffle to win a new TV. A winner was selected for each of AMLI’s nine regions, with TVs provided by CORT Furniture. Residents across the country recycled over 1,800 items, with AMLI Deerfield near Chicago collecting the most. The Chicago area placed first in number of recycled items overall, the Austin region came in a close second behind Chicago, followed by Houston in third.
Thanks to all the residents who participated! And congrats to those who won!
AMLI Buckhead goes LEED® Platinum
Our newest community in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood recently received one of the most highly-regarded sustainability nods in the building trades.
In March, AMLI Buckhead achieved LEED Platinum status, the highest award available for LEED certification. Similar to ENERGY STAR, the award was received due to a forward-thinking, efficient design at the community level, but also in large part due to the building’s location. Uncommon for most of Atlanta, AMLI Buckhead is within walking distance to the MARTA, the city’s public commuter train, and the walkable portion of the local neighborhood as well.
This comes in addition to having Marie Sims Park, Buckhead’s newest greenspace, directly outside its doors. Marie Sims Park was created by AMLI for our residents and the public to enjoy, and uses landscaping that helps ease the impact of stormwater runoff in neighborhood. Other features that contributed to AMLI Buckhead’s LEED Platinum achievement include use of low or no VOC paints, high-grade air filtration, electric car charging stations, bicycle storage and water-efficient fixtures.
Looking forward
Coming up next month, we have our third annual AMLI Sustainable Living Index. This is a survey we send to all our residents to see where their sustainability priorities lie and whether we are meeting expectations. It’s always exciting to see the numbers roll in and how they compare. Last year, we saw 84 percent of respondents say they believe in global warming and/or climate change, and 83 percent of respondents say they believe that living in a green community is beneficial to their health.
On the development front, AMLI currently has 18 LEED developments in design or construction phases, with some of those already leasing or expected to be move-in ready this year. Our newest projects to begin leasing include:
- AMLI Park Broadway in Long Beach, CA
- AMLI Riverfront Green in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood
- AMLI Littleton Village in Littleton, CO
- AMLI Addison just outside Dallas
- AMLI Decatur in the heart of downtown Decatur, GA
The future looks bright. We hope you’ll continue to join us on our path to create a more sustainable present—and future.
See a slideshow of last year’s sustainability achievements
View All Posts by Nick Kotecki