Tampa residents have new living options that offer water efficiency and affordability.
District leaders celebrated Earth Day last week by awarding Florida Water Star℠ Community certification to the latest apartment building in the Encore!, a mixed-used redevelopment complex in downtown Tampa. The Reed is the third building in the complex to receive the certification for meeting specific requirements of the Florida Water Star℠ program.
Florida Water Star℠ is a voluntary certification program for residential and commercial buildings that encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation and landscapes.
The apartments feature high efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets, and water-efficient dishwashers. Outside, cisterns were installed to collect rainwater to provide irrigation.
Because the Encore! also installed drought-tolerant plants and use only micro-irrigation, the community’s Trio, Ella and Reed buildings use 40 percent less water than the District’s irrigation allotment calculation, a reduction of approximately 320,000 gallons of water per year.
“These practices are environmentally commendable on their own, but also provide affordable housing to residents that offer lower utility bills today and in the future,” said District Governing Board Chairman Michael Babb.
Babb presented the latest Florida Water Star℠ Community plaque to Ben Wacksman, Chairman of the Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
“Lower bills allow residents who are usually on a fixed income to save money when every penny counts,” Babb said.
Encore! is a mix of subsidized housing, senior living and market rate apartments. The complex boasts other Earth-friendly features like solar panels and electric car charging stations.
Click here to learn more about the Florida Water Star℠ Program.