HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - February 15, 2011) - The Dinerstein Companies, a national real estate and development company committed to providing quality eco friendly housing, achieved certification through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program for high-end apartments in San Diego, Orlando and The Woodlands. Dinerstein's green student housing and environmentally friendly apartments earned enough credits in the LEED Rating System for Gold or Silver.
"Achieving certification is a lengthy process, but we believe it's worth the effort," says Misti Morales, Marketing Director for The Dinerstein Companies. "With LEED, prospective residents know how green we are."
The rating system, designed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is based on points earned in five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Materials & Resources. Projects earning at least 26 points achieve LEED certification. Silver Rating is awarded for 33-38 points. Gold requires 39-51 and Platinum 52+.
"And those points don't all come from one green feature," says Morales, "regardless of how outstanding it is."
For instance, to get a point for maximizing open space a project must exceed local zoning requirements by 25%. Dinerstein's Sterling Collwood apartments near San Diego State University exceeded minimum code requirements by 1880%, earning one point. Collwood, awarded LEED Gold, gained two points by diverting 10,479.81 tons of onsite-generated construction waste from landfills.
Irrigation systems at The Millennium Waterway Ave apartments in The Woodlands, Texas reduce potable water consumption by 56.5%.Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce usage by another 23.8%.The water efficiency earned two of 34 points achieved for Waterway's LEED Silver.
Also rated LEED Silver, Sterling Central apartments near University of Central Florida earned a point for its stormwater management program in which structural control infiltrates 100% of rainfall onsite. Using low emitting construction materials earned three. Measures to reduce heat island effect, optimize energy performance and reduce light pollution were among various other point earners.
About The Dinerstein Companies:
Founded in 1955, the Houston-based full-service real estate and development company has built and managed apartment communities in 27 states. Dinerstein is dedicated to creating healthier, cleaner, more sustainable homes and encourages building beyond green.