Dear La Cima Residents,

Welcome home! La Cima was designed and built under the 2020 Austin Energy Green Building Multifamily Rating.  Below, are the green features of the community, as well as ways you can enhance the sustainable nature of the community.

Green Building Features

Below, are some of the components that contribute to energy savings and additional ways that tenants can use the components to save even more energy.

HVAC (Air Conditioning/Heating)

The HVAC system provides an energy efficient 14 SEER unit for each apartment meaning that every apartment has individual control over its environment.  Additionally, every apartment has a programmable thermostat. 

Lighting

The lighting system throughout the apartment and common areas utilize high-efficiency LED lighting. 

• Residents are encouraged to create additional energy savings by turning off lights in any room that is not immediately occupied.  Turning off lights regularly can save 8%-20% on lighting energy consumption.
• Keep lights clean.  Why?  Dust can cut a bulb’s light output by 25%.

Ceiling Fans

During the summer, ceiling fans provide air movement that creates a feeling of as much as a 5-degree temperature drop and reduces the need for more cooling from the air conditioning system.  During the winter, the ceiling fans can be switched to run in reverse pushing air up against the ceiling which pushes the hot air at the top of the room down to the occupied level and reduces the need for heating from the HVAC system.

Residents are encouraged to manage energy consumption by running ceiling fans in immediately occupied rooms and to setting thermostats to the Energy Star recommended temperatures.  Don’t forget to turn the ceiling fans off when leaving any room.

Appliances

The following appliances in each apartment are Energy Star rated for energy efficiency and/or low-water use, including washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers.  Tenants can reduce energy and water usage with the following tips:

• Only run washing machines/dryers and dishwashers with full loads.  Partial loads, even with adjusted settings, use excess water and draw electricity.
• Wash laundry with cold water, instead of hot. 
• Keep refrigerators set at the minimum setting necessary to maintain the proper temperature for food storage.  Keep your fridge between 36- and 38 degrees F.  Set your freezer between 0- and 5 degrees F.
• Limit the opening of the doors and avoid leaving the doors open longer than a few seconds.  It is better to open the door multiple times than to leave it open for an extended period.
• Keep the freezer full.  It works more efficiently full than empty.
• Use the air-dry option on dishwashers.
• Scrape dishes instead of pre-rinsing them.  New dishwashers can clean even heavily soiled dishes without pre-rinsing them.
• Use microwaves and crock pots to cook small meals.
• Keep the inside of your microwave clean.  It improves the efficiency of your microwave.
• Use lids when cooking.  They keep steam in and help food cook more quickly, which saves energy.

The design of the overall building includes water savings that equate to using less water than the City of Austin code.  Below, are some of the components that contribute to the water-use savings and additional ways that tenants can use the components to save even more water.

Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

• Low-flow fixtures are installed and are designed to use less water and be equally functional.  Residents shall refrain from replacing these fixtures.
• Take short showers.  Why?  They use less water than baths.  You pay twice for water.  You pay one bill for the cost of the water itself.  Then you pay a second bill for the cost of heating the water.
• Report Leaks.  A dripping faucet can cost over $10 a month and a leaky toilet flapper can also add up fast.

Ventilation Systems

Each living unit is equipped with a ventilation hood over the range/cooktop as well as a ventilation fan in each bathroom and is ducted directly to the exterior of the building. 

• Residents should utilize the ventilation hood any time the range/cooktop is used to exhaust heat directly to the exterior and reduce the load on the air conditioning system.  Additionally, the hood will exhaust smoke directly to the exterior improving the indoor air quality of the apartment.  Be sure to turn the hood off at the same time as the range/cooktop.

Residents should utilize the ventilation fan in the bathroom anytime the shower is used to exhaust heat and humidity directly to the exterior and reduce the load on the air conditioning system as well as minimize humidity damage within the apartment.

Vapor Barriers

Please refrain from installing vapor barriers, such as wallpaper, on exterior walls to prevent mold growth.

Monitor Your Energy Usage

Did you know Austin Energy has a tiered rate structure? The more you consume, the higher (more expensive) the rate tiers that are used to calculate your bill.  This tiered rate structure is designed to encourage energy conservation.  The less you use, the cheaper your power becomes!  Austin Energy has a free app that allows you to monitor your usage and set up alerts to let you know when you may be entering a new rate tier online.  Follow the link below to register and for more information.  

https://austinenergyapp.com/

Community Laundry

La Cima offers high-efficiency card-operated washers and dryers for residents only. Conveniently located inside the Resident Leasing Center.

Pet Etiquette

You must clean up after your pets.  Bag/trash stations are provided for the dog run for your convenience.  City ordinance requires you to clean up after your pet and to keep dogs on leashes.  Pets are only allowed off-leash in the dog park or designated areas of city parks.  Please see and follow the pet rules posted at the entrance to the Dog Park.

Smoking

La Cima is a smoke-free community.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan

Available to Residents upon request.

Practice Good Housekeeping

Deter insects by practicing good housekeeping. Keep windows and doors closed and keep food and water in tightly sealed containers.  Report pests to property management.

Additional Sustainable Initiatives

In addition to the above items, below are additional passive design/construction features that contribute to the sustainable nature of the building.

• Insulated roof cavity –sunlight to reduce the heat transmitted into the building, thus reducing the load on the air conditioning system.
• Low VOC paints and coatings – paints and coatings used within the building were chosen specifically to ensure that the fumes are minimal to provide the highest level of indoor air quality.

Recycling

Recycling is an easy way to minimize the proliferation of waste and growth of landfills.  La Cima encourages residents to separate recyclables from other trash and deposit the recyclables in the labeled containers located adjacent to the dumpster across from building 1.   The current recycling program accepts the following items:

Reduce waste even further; Stop unwanted mail

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicited-mail-phone-calls-and-email

http://stopjunkmail.org/sample/kit.pdf

https://www.catalogchoice.org/

Bulb and Battery Recycling

Your community has a dedicated battery and fluorescent bulb recycling bin in the leasing center. Batteries accepted include alkaline, nickel-cadmium (Nicad), rechargeable watches, camera, cell phone, laptop, and other similar batteries. Please look for the below boxes.