Best practices for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging in a multifamily building
As the EV market continues to gain momentum, the need for EV charging capacity will only increase. All multifamily buildings will need to consider how to provide the charging infrastructure needed to fulfill this demand and create a more sustainable future. The high cost of development leaves most developers and owners budget constrained; this is why it becomes imperative to provide the most responsive charging system. This piece will consider the practical realities of what an EV driver desires and needs from a charging system and offer solutions for the most cost-effective way to deliver the most expansive system possible. You’ll learn that it is imperative for a developer to plan for charging capacity from the utility for 20-30% of the parking spaces with L2 type stations. (that is only for capacity. Actual deployment of stations is better served with a mix of L1s and L2 stations.) This will set up developments to maximize tenant satisfaction and charging capacity in the future.

The EV driver and their wants and needs
What does an EV owner and resident of a multifamily building want in terms of charging capacity, and how does this compare to what they need? Sure, we’ve seen the stations with a credit card reader that give a relatively quick charge, but are these types of stations the right ongoing solution for an EV driver living in a multifamily building? The reality is that these pay stations are best suited for someone in a bind who needs an emergency charge of their vehicle. Most often an EV driver needs a dedicated charging station located where they park frequently for long periods of time. This means that residents of a multifamily building are best served by a dedicated parking space and charger. It’s that simple. All the other chargers serve as backups or sources needed for taking longer trips.

AMLI Residential is a market leader in sustainability whose projects include over 44 LEED and 42 Energy Star certifications and was named 2020’s LEED Outstanding Developer of the year. This spring the NAIOPWA Sustainable Development Committee sat down with Matt Elley of AMLI Residential to get his thoughts on the current market in terms of sustainability and what the future could and should bring for multi-family development.

With state and local energy codes marching unflinchingly towards a zero-carbon future, projects seeking to show deep sustainability commitments by going beyond energy code requirements are faced with fewer compelling design options. This may be especially true for large scale projects or multi-building developments, many of which have unique constraints on space and more limited system options. Efficiency focused electric district energy systems, or low-carbon energy districts, have been seeing more widespread adoption in the Pacific Northwest and can help fill this unique niche.

What are low-carbon energy districts?

Image courtesy of McKinstry

Low-carbon energy districts are communities of buildings connected via common energy infrastructure and systems, designed and operated together with a common goal of reducing carbon emissions and utility energy usage. They include many or all of the following attributes:

Honoring Excellence: NAIOPWA’s Night of the Stars 2020 

Honorees showcase the best regional commercial real estate development in 2020 with an emphasis on creative multifamily mixed-use, sustainability and last-mile delivery 

SEATTLE – At today’s first-ever virtual NAIOPWA Night of the Stars, the commercial real estate community honored the year’s most innovative, creative and inspiring CRE projects in Washington state. Completed between July 1, 2019, and August 1, 2020, these projects particularly demonstrate the flexibility and strength of the local CRE industry in the face of a global pandemic. 

The 2020 winners and finalists reflect major shifts in our region toward affordable, multifamily housing that creatively supports communities, as well as the rapid increase in industrial real estate supporting last-mile delivery. This year, as always, judges used a rubric to evaluate and score projects according to defined criteria and made category adjustments reflecting the unique nature of projects, such as dividing industrial projects into those built on spec and those built to suit. This year, too, the full immersion of sustainable practices in the region’s development projects lead to multiple honorees in different market categories. 

NAIOPWA's Night of the Stars identifies outstanding real estate developments and activities in a variety of market types and the individuals who made the projects happen. The awards aim to honor the teams who build our landscape in this annual celebration of the industry. Each finalist project was evaluated for impact on the community, market adaptability, ingenuity and local contributions. 

What does it mean to go first? In celebration of NAIOPWA’s Night of the Stars inaugural “Sustainable Development of the Year” category, here is a closer look at the two nominees, each of whom elected to be on the front edge of sustainable real estate development. Read below to learn more about these two industry-leading endeavors.

What is the first thing many developers or investors think when they hear the words “sustainable” or “green” as their architects describe their building design? For decades the common perception has been that it is difficult (if not impossible) to make a deeply green building pencil financially. However, by definition “sustainability” is the nexus of environmental, social and economic progress. We interviewed key participants representing both Watershed and Inspire at the Russell W. Young Building to learn how they overcame perception to create these very special properties.

It pays to go green!
Sustainability is becoming ever more important in the development of and investment in commercial real estate (CRE) due to several factors:

• Increased attention to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues at the corporate level.
• Increased interest from the real estate investment community in ESG aspects of development.
• Demographic impact of millennials placing a greater importance on environmental and social issues.

Corporate Interest in Sustainability via the ESG framework

NAIOPWA’s Sustainable Development Committee held its fourth annual Change Makers event on June 27, 2019. The event brings together voices from a diverse group of local change-making organizations making social, environmental, and economic impacts, and establishing Seattle as a leader in sustainable development and beyond. The goal was to pool our collective wisdom, challenge assumptions, reach across boundaries, and explore what's possible when everyone pulls in the same direction.

Night of the Stars 2018 Winners Include The Spheres, Sanctuary Seattle, Arbora Court and the BLOCK Project

Ada M. Healey inducted to the NAIOP Washington State Hall of Fame inductee in recognition of her contributions to the built environment of Seattle and the Puget Sound 

People’s Choice Award goes to Maritime Building Seismic Upgrade and Renovation

The Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment released their latest Energy Benchmarking Analysis Report  to update energy performance trends based on data reported to the City from 2014 – 2016. The report highlights key building energy and emissions metrics for the 3,300 benchmarked buildings and reveals that continuously benchmarked buildings have reduced emissions, saved money, and improved performance over time.

Highlights include: