IPC receives national energy recognition

By Island Palm Communities News ReleaseSeptember 15, 2011

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Island Palm Communities recently received the "Project of the Year: Green Award" from Multifamily Executive, a trade publication.

The Green Award is presented to a project that demonstrates environmental friendliness through energy savings and the use of green building materials and finishes; buildings must also qualify for a national or local green standard.

Sustainability initiatives taking place at IPC and U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii stood out from among the more than 200 nominations submitted.

"The achievements we're making in building energy-efficient and sustainable communities continue to bring great value to our families," said Col. Douglas Mulbury, commander, USAG-HI. "Our efforts are contributing to a healthier environment and helping families reduce energy consumption. We have an ability to increase our renewable energy resources."

Besides having one of the first neighborhoods in the U.S. to be recognized as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Certified Neighborhood, several IPC homes are LEED Gold and Silver Certified.

Also, each new IPC home is built to meet LEED Silver standards.

"Our commitment to build sustainable communities is well-aligned with our Army partners' goals surrounding energy efficiency, which has given us an opportunity to implement new development and design approaches and utilize new technologies," said Mark Frey, project director, IPC.

IPC has conducted pilot programs to test new designs, materials and technologies. It's on track to have more than 25 percent of its energy requirements met by renewable energy by 2025.

Currently, more than 17 percent of IPC's energy comes from renewal energy sources, including photovoltaic systems and solar hot water.

By October 2020, IPC projects to generate 35.7 percent of its energy demand through renewable resources.

Since IPC implemented its mock billing program last year and the live billing program last month, electric consumption has decreased 10 percent, as families have seen exactly how much energy they are consuming.

The Green Award is IPC's latest award. In June, the Association of Defense Communities named IPC the 2011 Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Partnership Award winner.