Peconic Landing Receives Kudos For New, Green Expansion

GREENPORT, NY — Peconic Landing has seen the future — and it's green.

Peconic Landing announced this week that its new expansion apartment building has received a platinum-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The certification is given to construction projects that aim for sustainability by creating cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings, a release from Peconic Landing explained.

“Peconic Landing’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Peconic Landing serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the environment.”

The LEED rating system, developed by the USGBC, is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance, according to the council; there are four levels of the LEED certification, with platinum being the highest, the release said.

Peconic Landing was able to earn the platinum level designation by employing strategies such as installation of low-flow fixtures and shower heads, which will equate to a 20 percent reduction in water usage.

Energy Star appliances were also incorporated in each of the 46 one-bedroom apartments, and walls were triple insulated by environmentally sound materials to regulate temperature.

In addition, drought-resistant flowers and shrubs now cover nearly 90 percent of the newly landscaped areas around the expansion, the release stated. Other measures include use of green cleaners and detergents when requested, native plants, and a limit on pesticide and fertilizer use by introducing guinea hens to the landscape. Other advances include low-energy compact fluorescent lighting where possible and the conversion of nearly 200 shower heads in the existing apartments and cottages to the same low-flow water savings technology utilized in expansion efforts, Peconic Landing reps said.

“We understand that a community like Peconic Landing is unique to the East End. We want to ensure that we are being good neighbors by embracing environmental stewardship opportunities," said Robert J. Syron, President and CEO of Peconic Landing. “While this LEED certification is a good example of that commitment, our sustainability efforts are ongoing. We have an active and engaged group of members who continue to advocate for ‘living green.’”

He added, "While being environmentally sound, these are also economically smart decisions for the community. Our members are passionate about preserving our local environment because many of them are local to the North Fork."