 The Gish Family Apartments, located in San Jose, California, are a wonderful example of what good we can do for our neighbors. This group of apartments collectively forms a special needs housing development with over 75,000 square feet of space. Completed in 2007, it has been awarded numerous eco-friendly awards, including being given the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental and Energy Development (LEED) Gold rating. It is a transit-oriented (meaning short-term) family apartment complex that offers affordable housing for families that earn less than 50% of the area's median income. The Gish Family Apartments also offer a convenience store, beauty salon and free wireless internet. The apartment complex offers financial literacy training, computer training and after-school programs to its residents.
The Gish Family Apartments is the only affordable housing development in our entire country that has received LEED Gold certification. The apartments are centrally located, offering community resources and services, while providing a healthy living environment for their residents. A light rail station sits nearby the Gish Family Apartments, allowing residents to utilize the city's public transportation system as well. The Gish Family Apartments are extremely green and impressive; the roof is covered with solar photovoltaic panels, high performance insulation is found within the exterior walls, double-glazed windows dot the sides of the building and high-efficiency heating and hot water systems are utilized throughout. The Gish Family Apartments are also equipped with on-site laundry facilities, allowing residents to take advantage of on-site facilities rather than having to travel in order to accommodate their needs.
The Gish Family Apartments are an outstanding example of sustainable architecture and green design solutions. The Apartments protect and enhance the environment while reducing the need for energy consumption, effectively reducing the carbon footprint of the residents of the Gish Family Apartments. The Gish Family Apartments have also been praised for their positive contribution to the local community, as well as for the improved comforts they offer to their residents. The Gish Family Apartments scored 145 points by GreenPoint, an organization that rates buildings in an effort to promote healthy, energy-efficient and resource-efficient buildings in California. The 145 points awarded to the Gish Family Apartments reflects the highest point total possible for a multifamily housing development.
Quite simply, EnviroCitizen.org believes that the Gish Family Apartments provide a great example of how a building can benefit our communities and our environment simultaneously.
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