Southern Villas, an affordable rental community owned by St. Johns Housing Partnership, is now weatherized. All sixty units have new HVAC systems, replacing some that were the original equipment from 1981.
The SJHP bought the complex in 2009 with the intent to rehab the ten one-story buildings and improve the quality of life for the apartments’ elderly and disabled residents. The weatherization rehab is part of an overall effort toward a major rehab of the property later this year. With a USDA loan to replace the roof, windows, doors, and other long-term maintenance needs, the SJHP intends to have a green-certified rehab by the end of the year.
The property will be Energy Star certified beginning with the 17 SEER HVAC systems that were installed. The low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators will help reduce water consumption. The Energy Star bath exhaust fans are quiet and vent humidity to the exterior
of the buildings. Incandescent light bulbs were replaced with compact fluorescents. Hot water lines and water heaters were wrapped. Blower-door testing verified that the duct systems are substantially leak free, which is a major improvement in reducing energy loss and improving indoor air quality. These weatherization repairs will reduce residents’ utility costs and the buildings’ carbon footprint.
