Energy Efficient, Green Communities

FCHA's Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Fort Collins Housing Authority believes affordable housing should not have to compromise on the important resource conservation and healthful living benefits available through green building practices. Starting in 2009 we began a focused effort to incorporate green building best practices into our properties; an approach that we are fully committed to moving forward. FCHA’s green building commitment includes the following:

• Energy audits on all public housing units to identify specific opportunities for green building improvements
• Participation in Energy Outreach Colorado; received a $220,000 grant to install energy-saving water heaters in all public housing properties in an Xcel Energy model project
• Obtained funding from the Governor’s Energy Office for energy conservation upgrade projects
• Recycling all possible building materials and upgraded appliances including participation in the City of Fort Collins energy efficient appliance rebate program
• Participation in the Platte River Power Authority’s “Lighten Up” program to convert incandescent light fixtures to energy efficient compact fluorescent fixtures
• Use of compact fluorescent lighting
• The purchase of Energy Star-rated appliances
• The purchase of low VOC cabinetry
• The purchase of low VOC countertops
• Standard interior paint is low VOC
• Participate in Longs Peak Weatherization program to tighten building shells and provide Energy Star appliances, efficient furnaces, duct sealing and building insulation.
• Clotheslines maintained for air-drying.
• Low flow faucets and showerheads
• Recycling of household trash
• Resident recycling of seasonal yard waste available
• Solar Thermal water heating at several multi-family sites
• Lawn clippings are mulched into the lawn

Village on Stanford Sustainable Property

Our newest property, the 82-unit Village on Stanford, serves as an excellent example of green building breakthroughs new to multi-family housing. These green building improvements include:

• Resource-conserving renovation of an existing 1960’s-era apartment building
• Installation of blown-in insulation and high-performance windows to achieve R-30 wall and R-40 ceiling ratings
• Installation of photovoltaic-powered constant flow fans to improve air quality in all apartment units and common areas
• Installation of a smart boiler system incorporating a side-arm water heater system to provide an anticipated 30-40% energy savings, with a 30-year lifespan as compared to 10 years for a standard commercial boiler
• Use of green-certified flooring including recyclable carpeting in all units
• Use of green-certified flooring adhesives
• Application of low-VOC paint in all interior spaces
• Conversion of existing toilet fixtures to low-flow toilets made possible through funding from City of Fort Collins Utilities
• Solar reflective roofs to cool buildings and sites
• Use of existing landscaping in site plan
• Recycling of landscaping materials and use of plantings with low water requirements
• Connections to public transportation and shopping within .5 miles
• On-site bicycle storage

The Village on Stanford also features sustainable design of a net-zero energy 1,200 square-foot clubhouse building that will be only the second structure in Fort Collins to attain this highest rating for energy efficiency. Advanced energy conservation features include:

• Advanced, blown-in insulation for walls and foundation resulting in R-30 walls and complete air sealing
• Geoexchange heating and cooling system that heats and cools the clubhouse without the use of grid-supplied energy
• Heat pump/exchange system powered by photovoltaic panels installed on the structure’s arbor-covered patio
• Interior day lighting
• Mass wall/floor construction to level out temperature swings
• Occupancy sensor lighting, CLF and LED
• Solar reflective roof
• Finished concrete floors
• Use of local products
• Green products used in interior finish
• Photovoltaic System