Vox Residences | Photo Credit: Carmel Partners
Many hands make light work – especially when tackling a nearly 1,000-unit project with 100,000 square feet of retail space!
Over the course of seven years, VCA Green’s project management, energy modeling and field teams coalesced to conduct CALGreen consulting, CA Energy Code commissioning and acceptance testing, Home Energy Rating System testing, and energy modeling for Carmel Partners’ Los Angeles mixed-use project, VOX Residences.
In March 2023, VCA Green officially achieved GreenPoint Rated certification at the Platinum level for VOX, though originally the project had only targeted a Gold rating.
Property Rendering | Courtesy of Carmel Partners
Between a monstrous energy model and numerous site visits for commissioning, HERS testing, GPR inspections and more, VCA became very familiar with the project’s sustainability features. Check out some highlights below:
ENERGY USE
About 66% of VOX’s overall hardscape has a solar reflectance greater than 0.3, which contributes to lower energy costs for tenants and helps minimize ground-level smog production. Residential units feature EnergyStar appliances, yielding energy savings in everyday kitchen and laundry activities, plus smart thermostats, high-efficiency HVAC systems and solar window shades. The project is also powered by 40,000 square feet of solar panels. As a result of implementing these energy-saving measures, the project was nearly 25% more efficient than Title 24 standards.
WATER EFFICIENCY
VOX’s landscaping is divided into areas of very low, low or moderate water use through a practice called “hydrozoning.” This approach groups certain plants with their respective irrigation needs to reduce water use and ensure appropriate water delivery levels. Coupled with drip irrigation and heightened irrigation controls, a greywater system that irrigates nearly 30% of landscaping demand drastically decreases water dependency at the project. Internally, water fixtures and toilets operate at reduced flow rates.
MATERIALS
All insulation features at least 44% post-consumer and 6% pre-consumer recovered materials, contributing to a more circular resource economy. Acoustical treatments were introduced to address noise reduction between the amenity spaces and residences.
PARKING
Though CALGreen only called for about 67 electric vehicle spots to serve the tenants, Vox Residences provides 260 spaces for tenant EVs, in addition to including commercial EV spaces. The project also boasts more than 1,000 combined short- and long-term bicycle storage spaces.
Contact Moe Fakih below for questions about VCA Green’s services.
Moe Fakih, Principal
VCA Green
mfakih@vca-green.com
714-363-4700