National CORE’s Villa Serena II Honored for Eco-friendly Design

Villa Serena Phase II, National CORE’s newest affordable housing community in San Marcos, has earned LEED for Homes Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), recognizing its commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation and environmentally responsible design.

Villa Serena II was built with sustainability in mind; it boasts energy efficiency, water conservation, public transportation access and environmental education for a total package of eco-friendly design.

This is National CORE’s 32nd LEED-certified property overall, a list that now spans nine Platinum, 22 Gold and one Silver certified communities. LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is a certification program designed by the USGBC to promote energy-efficient home building.

“Villa Serena is a shining example of what can be done when our communities are thoughtfully designed to be affordable and environmentally friendly,” said Michael Ruane, president of National CORE. “Thank you to USGBC for recognizing our commitment to building communities that benefit residents and reduce dependence on scarce resources.”

Villa Serena Phase II is a three-story wood-framed community that features an advanced building envelope that reduces indoor temperatures, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and an expansive solar panel system that offsets 63% of the community’s energy needs.

Part of USGBC’s LEED criteria centers on access to public transportation. Villa Serena II is a half mile from the San Marcos Civic Center Station and a tenth of a mile from the nearest bus stop, giving residents convenient access to an affordable means to navigate the area.

Sustainability also includes environmentally friendly practices by residents. The Hope through Housing Foundation offers environmental education workshops, teaching residents tips about water conservation and energy saving.

“We’re very honored to have earned yet another LEED Gold certification,” said Tim Kohut, National CORE’s director of sustainability. “Sustainability is no longer a suggestion when developing affordable housing – it’s the key to unlocking affordable living for our residents.”