LEED Gold John Arthur Flats Wins 2024 USGBC Local Market Leadership Award

The LEED Gold John Arthur Flats development took home the Quality of Life Award for Ohio, presented by USGBC. It's the first LGBTQ+ affirming affordable housing community in Cincinnati, co-developed by Pennrose and Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation (NEST), designed by New Republic Architecture., and certified by Sol Design + Consulting, which provided sustainability consulting, energy modeling, and certification services. 

Achieving LEED Gold certification signifies a commitment to environmentally responsible design and construction practices. This includes energy efficiency, water conservation, and thoughtful location. Key performance metrics include: 

• Energy: The project achieves a predicted 48% reduction in energy use compared to the LEED baseline.
• Air-tightness: The project achieved a 37% reduction in envelope air leakage compared to targets – a result that significantly improved energy performance without significant capital cost.
• Water: The project reduces indoor water use by 40% compared to the LEED baseline by utilizing water-efficient fixtures throughout.
• Location: The project was built on previously-developed land, and earned Exemplary Performance for both Compact Development and Community Resources.

The project’s development team is also involved in the ongoing management of the building, and are able to monitor ongoing performance, train staff and residents, and ensure smooth operation. NEST has established a fund to help pay for ongoing programs and improvements to the property. 

You can learn more about John Arthur Flats on the USGBC website here:  

https://www.usgbc.org/projects/john-arthur-flats?view=overview 

You can learn more about the U.S. Local Market Leadership Awards here:  

https://www.usgbc.org/articles/usgbc-announces-2024-us-local-market-leadership-award-recipients