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Green Initiatives & Sustainable Projects
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National Resources recognizes that in developing on the Hudson River, the company must act as environmental steward and demonstrate environmental leadership in the homebuilding industry. In recent years, the company has explored new ways to make its communities and neighborhoods compatible with the natural environment. NRE sought opportunities to partner with local governments and environmental groups, such as Scenic Hudson, on important environmental initiatives, and looked for innovative ways to make its homes more efficient. |
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National Resources recently opened its Hudson Harbor community in Tarrytown, the company’s first “River Friendly” landscaped community in the state.
The centerpiece of this community is River Friendly landscaping, which is an innovative water conservation initiative sponsored by the Westchester D.E.C.. Water-wise landscaping features include front yards with native plants, as well as the latest generation of programmable “smart timers” that irrigate according to both need and local climate conditions, and will also turn off when it rains. The low-volume irrigation system and precision sprinkler heads deliver streaming water in gallons per hour instead of the standard gallons per minute.
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| Infill Development and Redevelopment |
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National Resources supports reinvesting in established communities where infrastructure already exists. That is why the company is committed to providing “infill” development and redevelopment. Our goal is to build homes that meet specific needs, improve urban life, and revitalize neighborhoods near existing jobs and transportation centers. Hudson Harbor is a prime example of this. Located right on the Tarrytown Metro-North station, it is just a 30 minute commute to Grand Central.
A growing part of National Resources business, includes another major infill development in Edgewater, New Jersey, which will provide the rare opportunity for residents to commute by ferry to NYC.
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| Recycle/Reuse |
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National Resources uses state-of-the-art ways to “deconstruct” and effectively recycle materials from obsolete homes. National Resources pulverized tons of concrete on-site and recycled it, rather than shipping it to landfills.
The company also removed discarded tires from a landfill, ground them up, and mixed them with asphalt to produce a rubberized asphalt road that is expected to last six times longer than traditional pavement and produce less vehicle noise. As urban redevelopment becomes more common, the kinds of recycling and reuse practices National Resources uses will become required to avoid overloading landfills with deconstruction materials. |
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Energy Conservation |
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National Resources has consulted with scientists from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Con Edison and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Research Lab to develop innovative architectural designs and specifications to reduce energy consumption. As a result, our communities now earn ENERGY STAR ratings. In addition, in all of our studio design centers, we offer our customers a full range of both “energy efficiency” and “water wise” options. |
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| Protection of Forests |
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For several years, National Resources has worked cooperatively with the Natural Resources Defense Council to help assure that lumber used by National Resources does not originate from endangered or old-growth forests. In practice, the company acts to ensure that its lumber suppliers and subcontractors strictly avoid procuring wood from areas that need environmental protection. National Resources also owns some two miles of waterfront forest in mid-coast Maine where it is working with the USDA to develop an eight mile waterfront trail system, making it the longest east of the Mississippi river. National Resources frequently supports state, county and municipal public park measures and strives to preserve or replace trees in our communities including initiating tree-planting efforts at schools and other public facilities. |
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| Smart Planning |
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National Resources has successfully designed communities within designated “preferred” or “desired” development areas—locations specifically deemed to be preferred for development by municipalities and environmental organizations. For example, Hudson Harbor in Tarrytown has been designated a “desired development zone” by the local municipality. |
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| Land Stewardship |
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Strict adherence to tree preservation and parkland ordinances is essential. Taking water quality and land stewardship seriously, National Resources is striking a responsible balance between building quality homes for families and protecting heritage trees and other natural landmarks. |
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| River Restoration |
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