Hi-Rise First in the State Designated "Green" by Florida Green Building Coalition

FORT MYERS, FL, March 22, 2012 (Press-News.org) Green building reached a new high this week when Progresso Point, Fort Lauderdale's newest community in Flagler Village, became the first hi-rise in the state of Florida to achieve the Florida Green Building Coalition's (FGBC) "Green Hi-Rise Residential Designation."

The FGBC confirmed that the 76-unit multi-family apartment building meets the criteria for healthy, environmentally efficient, affordable housing.

Collaboration and Cooperation
A collaborative project completed by co-developers Reliance Housing Foundation and the Broward County Housing Authority, contractor Facchina Construction and sustainability expert Trifecta Construction Solutions, Progresso Point is a sustainable apartment community for residents who work in the hundreds of nearby restaurants, service industries, and other professions critical to Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.

Dr. Jennifer Languell, founder and president of Trifecta Construction Solutions, says that Progresso Point is a perfect example of how cost effective energy efficiency benefits the building's residents.

"Builders, contractors and the public need to realize that building green not only saves money, it demonstrates that when we work together, we can produce housing that benefits the environment and improves people's lives," said Languell.

When Green Hits Home
One such example is 18-year-old Aaron Dames who received the official keys to his own apartment at Progresso Point's grand opening celebration last month. A foster child who recently aged out and now lives independently, Aaron was ecstatic about the opportunity to have a home of his own. He shared his first electric bill which showed $24.63 for one month, less than one third of the average electric bill for an apartment this size. Overall, Progresso Point Apartment Homes was built at an energy efficiency level 40 percent higher than the established Florida energy code. The apartment complex is also designed with tankless water heaters, water saving faucets, showerheads, dual flush toilets, air conditioning with a SEER 15 rating, Energy Star qualified lighting in every room, low VOC paint and energy star rated appliances. Without these measures in place, it is likely that Aaron Dames could not have afforded to live on his own.

Jeff Shetterly, development manager at Reliance Housing Foundation, said, "This collaborative project proves that we can make meaningful improvements in three areas of sustainable development - the social, environmental, and economic areas. We are grateful to Trifecta for their expertise in walking us through the certification process."

Progresso Point Apartment Homes is located at 619 N. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

About Trifecta Construction
For more than 15 years, Dr. Jennifer Languell has championed the integration of green building principles and sustainable design within the construction industry. Today, as founder and president of Trifecta Construction Solutions, she remains an advocate and valued consultant to a wide range of industries that are incorporating sustainable business practices into their daily operations. As environmental policy and growing consumer demands raise expectations for energy efficiency, Dr. Languell strives to educate and inform members of the public and professionals in the building industry. Dr. Languell was the co-host of the Discovery Channels' Project Earth and has been featured in BusinessWeek, CNN Headline News, HGTV and CNBC. In 2011, she became the first person to receive the National Association of Home Builders' Green Advocate of the Year award twice since its inception in 1997.

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