Westview Village Phase III Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

Ventura, CA — The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is excited to announce that it has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction, and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.

Westview Village III achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow housing developers to build more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to live. The special features in Westview Village III include a SmartStrand Carpet, Graywater System, Solar System, Solar Battery System, and a Sense Home Energy Monitor.

The Sense monitor is a tool that calculates energy usage, identifies areas of improvement, and finds patterns in energy use so that you can be more efficient. The SmartStrand Carpet is certified with a Green Label Plus rating that ensures the lowest chemical emissions in carpets which makes for better indoor air quality and a healthier home. The Graywater systems reduce the need for fresh water which can significantly reduce household water bills and reduce demands on public water supply. In addition, it reduces the amount of wastewater entering sewers or on-site treatment systems. Solar Photovoltaic and Battery systems allow for the households to reduce the amount of electricity they buy from the utility company, and ensure they are using a clean, renewable source of energy and have access to power during grid outages or blackouts.

“The HACSB is a firm believer that its mission goes beyond building affordable homes, but also includes building homes in the most sustainable way possible. By ensuring that Westview Village III included all the LEED features that earned the project the highest LEED certification, the HACSB is demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the families it serves.”, said, Jeff Lambert, CEO of the HACSB.

“The work of innovative building projects like Westview Village III is a fundamental driving force in transforming the way our buildings are built, designed, and operated,” said Peter Templeton, president, and CEO of USGBC. “Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, reducing operating costs, and conserving resources while prioritizing sustainable practices and human health. Because of Westview Village III, we are increasing the number of green buildings and getting closer to USGBC’s goal to outpace conventional buildings, while being environmentally and socially responsible and improving quality of life for generations to come.”

Certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability. More than 105,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 12 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 185 countries and territories.

To learn more about the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, visit www.hacityventura.org.

About the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura
The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura with more than 1,480 Housing Choice Vouchers and 1097 affordable rental units. The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is to provide and develop quality affordable housing for eligible low-income residents of Ventura County and to establish strong partnerships necessary for HACSB customers to achieve personal goals related to literacy and education; health and wellness; and job training and employment leading to personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a healthy, resilient and equitable future for all through the development of green buildings, cities and communities. For more than 20 years, USGBC has been advancing green building practices through the development of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building program. With the support of thousands of members, volunteers and partners, USGBC provides robust green building education courses, a rigorous professional credentialing program, and advocates for effective public policies. It convenes an international network of green building and sustainability leaders through the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and forward thinking programs, including the Center for Green Schools. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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