LEED-ing the Way

“It’s not easy being green.” Kermit the frog’s famous expression might be an apt sentiment for today’s environmental building efforts. This fall, Milhaus welcomes residents moving into Artistry, Indianapolis’ first downtown apartments designed and built to be certified under the new LEED for homes multi-family midrise rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council to foster sustainable building practices. LEED standards are sometimes adopted by municipalities in the construction of retail and office buildings, but generally are not used in multi-family construction—and for good reason. LEED’s stringent requirements cause many residential builders to shy away from “going green.” Greg Martin, a partner at Milhaus, says, “The increased upfront costs are hard to recoup without passing the expense on to future residents, a practice we try to avoid. In fact, Artistry’s residents will realize the energy savings in lowered utility bills, but the project developers will not.” For example, Milhaus installed energy-efficient heat pumps rather than standard HVAC units and used higher-rated insulating materials and more caulking throughout to create an essentially airtight construction that will decrease heating and cooling costs long term. Demolition waste recycling and the fees associated with the application and certification process demand additional costs that are factored into the construction budget as well. “However,” Martin adds, “with any effort toward environmental improvement, there are always pros and cons. The additional expense of acquiring a LEED certification increases a project’s risk factor. There are no market analyses to show any significant return for the added investment. On the other hand, Artistry’s LEED certification, energy efficiency and healthier environment will distinguish it from all other urban infill developments in Indianapolis and will further define Milhaus as unique and forward thinking.” And this trend is just the beginning—Milhaus is currently breaking ground on a LEED designed project in Cincinnati and a second one in Indianapolis. In addition, their proposal for the former Market Square Arena site was also designed with LEED certification in mind. As environmental concerns continue to grow, the experience gained building Indianapolis’ first “green” apartment building demonstrates Milhaus’ ongoing ability to innovate as needed, an essential asset to any development organization perched on the leading edge of modern urban construction.