Earth Day: April 22, 2022

It all begins with one person willing to make a change. At Vivenda Group, the design of our buildings were intentional, with thoughts around our impact on the ecosystem, the environment, and future generations.

Here are just a few ways we implemented this:

• Thermal leakage causes heating and cooling costs to skyrocket. Our buildings feature triple-pane low-E windows, insulated cement walls, and repurposed building materials with a high insulation value. Taken together, these measures make it less energy-intensive to maintain a steady, comfortable temperature.

• Using solar panels that convert sunlight to electrical energy, sunny days are more than just a boost in vitamin D.

• We selected appliances that automatically regulate their own consumption can significantly curb utility bills. At the same time, high-efficiency LED lighting represent a much greener alternative to wasteful incandescent bulbs. This means we really put the “smart” in “smart-home-living”.

• Bi-directional metering means overflow electricity generated in our building goes back to the grid, to gets us closer to achieving net- zero annual energy consumption.

• Our buildings use Cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power (CHP), simultaneously producing multiple forms of energy from a single fuel source, and further reducing C02 emissions and other pollutants.

• Surface run-off rain water is harvested and used for irrigation and cleaning outside areas, which also takes a load off our water supply and has optimal pH for growth of greenery. This further positively impacts the environment, as a single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 pounds per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings.

• All of our buildings have achieved BuiltGreen standard of certification, with a minimum of Gold, but most Platinum.

Every one can make a difference, and even a small change from a larger group of people will make a big impact!

Happy Earth Day!