Clark Builders Group puts sustainable construction practices to use on the revamping of On-Post Housing on Ft. Belvoir.
It has been several years in the making, but Ft. Belvoir is finally getting its green facelift for on-post housing thanks to work by Clark Builders Group (CBG) and Clark Realty Capital (CRC). As the developer on the project, CRC has outlaid millions of dollars into creating a community that is energy efficient and functional for our soldiers and their families who are stationed at Ft. Belvoir. In 2008, the Huffington Post noted that ” according to green tech blog Clean Technica, the Department of Defense is responsible for over 1.5% of all U.S. energy consumption” and they were looking to make the shift to energy independence. What better place to start than where our soldiers live?!
The development period, which is slated to continue into 2011 includes thousands of homes that Clark Builders Group (CBG) is constructing, remodeling, and renovating to be more energy efficient; there are some homes which are being fully gutted to the studs, and others which do not require as extensive of a renovating process. These homes are undergoing a third party verification system through the EarthCraft Virginia program which is the regional green building program; energy audits are performed on the homes to ensure that specific standards are met for each individual unit in the project. The homes are getting significantly stronger insulation, HVAC systems and EnergyStar fixtures and appliances throughout. The interesting thing about the process of greening the military housing is that the superintendents on the job sites are so very into this program that it has almost become a competition between the different communities and how tightly built their specific product is!
In 2010 CRC released this article sharing in their triumphs with the Ft. Belvoir community initiative: “On October 7, Fort Belvoir Family Housing won the 2010 GreenGov Presidential Building the Future Award at a White House reception, earning recognition as an exemplary community that embodies America’s movement towards a clean energy economy. Chosen for its sustainable practices, renewable energy, innovation, community engagement and education, Fort Belvoir was distinguished among over 300 nominees nationwide by The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Clark Realty Capital, Clark Builders Group, and their Army partner accepted the award, which recognized Belvoir as a project truly representative of CEQ’s mission.”
CRC and CBG have put a lot of work into creating a more energy efficient product for the Ft. Belvoir on-post housing. Their dedicated team has aimed to remain true to the history and strong sense of community of the Ft. Belvoir villages, all the while striving to make the community a healthier, more sustainable place to live for our soldiers and their families.
