Overview

• Location: Greensburg, KS
• Building type(s): Multi-unit residential, Assembly
• New construction
• 24,000 ft2 (2,230 m2)
• Project scope: multiple buildings
• Rural setting
• Completed July 2008
• Rating: HERS --Level: 64
  Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Homes v.1 --Level: Platinum

Prairie Pointe Townhomes is a LEED for Home Platinum development of rental housing units for people in the community who are living on a fixed income. Plans for the project were instigated by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation soon after the tornado, who wanted to make sure that residents had an affordable place to call home as quickly as possible. The project was financed in large part by the federal Housing Tax Credit Program. It is the first LEED Platinum new construction affordable housing development in Kansas with this distinction and the third in the nation.

The townhomes were built on land that was occupied by the Greensburg high school prior to the tornado. There are 16 two-bedroom apartments, 8 of which underwent the rigors of LEED certification. Residents are saving as much as 40% of their energy costs and are using 20% less water than comparable, traditionally-built apartments.

The project was completed in July 2008 and currently houses both families and elderly individuals on limited incomes.

Environmental Aspects

The project was an in-fill development on land that used to be the old high school in Greensburg. The buildings were built with 2x6 exterior walls with blown-in cellulose insulation. The concrete slab was constructed using a "floating floor" design to provide foam insulation from the inside concrete and outside stem wall. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), low-flow toilets, showerheads, and aerators were used in all apartments. Energy Star appliances, when available, were used in the kitchen and laundry room. High efficiency air source heat pumps were used and the apartments achieved an overall HERS index score of 64. All interior walls of the apartments were painted with low-VOC paint and bio-based tile was used in the 8 LEED certified apartments. Drought resistant landscaping and turf was used on the site as well as an efficient irrigation system.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned by Prairie Pointe Townhomes, L.L.C.
• Occupants: Individual(s)
• Typically occupied by 2 people, 18 hours per person per week

General Occupancy Rental

Building Programs

Indoor Spaces:

Living quarters (90%), Office (10%)

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