Kalahari Harlem :: Green Living

Harlem's Kalahari reflects the same commitment to the preservation and sharing of the earth's fragile resources that the Kalahari's San people have practiced for 50,000 years. Kalahari Harlem is a green building designed and built to the US Green Building Council's LEED Silver Standards with the goal of limiting the building's impact on the environment while still providing luxurious and modern resources.

   • ionic and plexi air filters for cleaner and healthier air
   • substantial energy utilization efficiencies
     (20% lower usage than NYS Energy code)
   • energy from 25% renewable sources (solar and wind)
   • low VOC emmision building materials
   • stainless steel Energy Star appliances
   • bamboo flooring throughout homes
   • green roofs
   • landscaped public courtyards featuring native plants
     that are both sustainable and beautiful
   • on-site Zip Cars available for both convenience and
     energy conservation

Starting with construction
Kalahari Harlem is also committed to using recycled materials in the building in everything from the structural steel and concrete to the gypsum board and carpets. Construction from residential buildings accounts for 11 million tons of waste being sent to landfills every year. Not only did the Kalahari reduce construction waste by reusing materials on site, but the builders found ways to recycle a large portion of the construction waste that normally would have been sent to landfills.

The beauty of bamboo
By using bamboo, a diverse, fast growing sustainable material for Kalahari's flooring, we are saving methane/CO2, "inhaling" trees like oak, which require 50 to 300 years before they can be harvested. This translates into less greenhouse gas in our environment and helps to reduce global warming, save forests and still provide you with a breathtakingly beautiful floor.

Financially smart
Financially, the Kalahari Harlem hybrid home also deliver real savings which greatly impacts affordability of these unique residences. This also translates into buyers qualifying for additional mortgage funding. For example:

for a typical 1,000sf unit:
• month energy cost: $213 ($2,556 annually)

for Kalahari Harlem 1,000sf unit:
• month energy cost: $170 ($2,040 annually)

annual savings
• $510 savings annually

The big picture
The Kalahari Harlem energy strategy is an important initiative to protect our environment and do something about global warming climate change, perhaps the greatest challenge facing this generation. The green features integrated into Kalahari Harlem will significantly impact both how residents live their lives and the environment for years to come.