Park South was designed and built under the 2022 Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) Commercial Rating. Below are green features of the building as well as ways that you can utilize the building to enhance the sustainable nature of the facility.

Recycling:
Austin's Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) requires our building to provide adequate recycling capacity for our residents. Recycling is an easy way to minimize the proliferation of waste and growth of landfills. Park South encourages residents to separate recyclables from other trash and compost, and deposit the recyclables in the labeled chute in the trash rooms throughout the community. Cardboard boxes should be broken down and placed in the trash rooms, but NOT directly into the chutes as they can get stuck and block the chutes. If you have any questions, please contact the Property Manager at 737-210-1241.

The current recycling program accepts the following items:

• Mixed Paper
  • Newspaper/magazines
  • Home office paper
  • Junk mail/envelopes
• Cardboard (break down and flatten)
• Plastic
  • Plastic soda/water bottles and milk jugs
  • Plastic food containers (with food particles washed off)
  • Rigid plastic items (#1 - #7)
• Metals
  • Aluminum/tin/steel cans
• Glass
  • Glass bottles and jars

Composting:
Almost half of everything residents send to the landfill could have been composted. Compostable material cannot break down in a landfill as it would in nature. Instead, it decomposes without oxygen, releasing harmful methane into the atmosphere. This is why we compost! Organic materials that are composted can be used to help soil retain water and fertilize gardens without chemicals. Park South's composting drums are located in the trash/recycling chutes on each floor level. 


Bulb and Battery Recycling:

• Park South has a recycling station for household batteries and fluorescent bulbs located in the mail room.
• Do NOT throw away light bulbs in your household trash. Dispose of them in the on-site collection located in the mail room or deposit at a hazardous waste facility or at stores that sell bulbs, such as Home Depot, IKEA, etc.

Reduce waste even further by stopping unwanted mail:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-stop-junk-mail
https://www.catalogchoice.org/

Active and Sustainable Transportation Options:
Park South has a Walkscore of 33 and a Bikescore of 34. The following alternative transportation options are available:

• Bicycle racks are provided, and residents are encouraged to make use of the wide array of bike lanes and trails provided by the City of Austin. A map of the bike routes is available at most local bike shops or route you trip online at Austin Bicycle Route Map.
• Our building has 8 electric vehicle charging spaces located on the 1st floor of the parking garage.
• Go to capmetro.org or download the CapMetro app capmetro.org/app for current bus routes and schedules.
  
• The closest CapMetro bus stop is located 1.1 miles away at Akins High School on the 201 Southpark Meadows route.
• Alternative Transportation: Get There ATX

Energy and Water Saving Features:
Below are some of the components that contribute to the energy and water savings of the building as well as additional ways that tenants can save more energy and water.

HVAC (Air Conditioning/Heating):

• Your HVAC system is more efficient than the COA Energy Code requirements, and every unit has convenient control over their environment with a Wi-Fi-enabled, programmable thermostat
• In the winter, consider wearing a sweater before turning up the heat. In the summer, consider using the ceiling fan before turning down the temperature.
• Replace your filters: Dirty air filters can impact your units air quality and make your HVAC system use more energy. Replace your filters regularly generally every 30-90 days, depending on the season and usage.
• 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 are 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: Austin Energy Online App.
• Energy Star recommended settings: Set your daily thermostat schedule to reduce use while you are typically away. For example, residents who aren't in their units during weekday working hours might consider programming their thermostats as follows:

Lighting:
The lighting system throughout the building utilizes 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:
Every apartment has ceiling fans in the living room and bedrooms. 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 reducing 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 set thermostats to the Energy Star recommended temperatures. Don't forget to turn the ceiling fans off when leaving any room.

Water Use:
Your unit is designed for water efficiency. It is equipped with low-flow fixtures that use less water and are equally functional. You can reduce your own water usage with the following tips:

• Short showers save you money. Why? You pay three times for hot water: the water itself, the heating of water, and the wastewater.
• Report leaks and save money. A dripping faucet can cost over $10 a month and a leaky toilet valve can also add up fast. Report water leaks to Property Management at 737-210-1241.

Appliances:
The following appliances in each living unit are Energy Star rated for energy efficiency and/or low-water use, including the dishwasher, refrigerator, washer, and dryer. Tenants can assist in additional energy and water usage reductions with the following tips:

• Only run washing machines/dryers and dishwashers with full loads. Partial loads, even with adjusted settings, waste water and electricity.
• Wash laundry with cold water instead of hot. Hot water is only necessary for very dirty laundry.
• 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.
• It is better to open the refrigerator door multiple times than to leave it open for an extended period. Consider limiting opening the refrigerator doors and avoid leaving the doors open for more than a few seconds.
• A full freezer runs more efficiently than an empty one; plastic jugs or bottles filled partially with water can help.
• Use the air-dry option on dishwashers.
• Save water by scraping dishes instead of pre-rinsing them. New dishwashers can clean even heavily soiled dishes without pre-rinsing them.
• Use microwaves, hot pots, and crock pots to cook small meals and save energy.
• A clean microwave runs more efficiently than a dirty one.
• Use lids when cooking. They keep steam in and help food cook more quickly, which saves energy.

Each living unit is equipped with a ventilation hood over the range/cooktop as well as a ventilation fan in each bathroom and are 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 minimizing humidity damage within the apartment.

Materials:

• The interior paints and coatings used in the building emit fewer contaminants which benefits indoor air quality.
  
• The building's design and construction teams made efforts to select materials from manufacturers that provide transparency around chemical ingredients, embodied carbon, and/or life cycle impact. These disclosures encourage use of products that reduce health and environmental impacts.

Prevent Mold Growth:
Mold growth inside buildings can have negative health impacts. Please refrain from installing non-breathable wall finishes, such as vinyl wallpaper or stickers, on exterior and bathroom walls and use your exhaust fans after showering or cooking.

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

Smoking:
No smoking is allowed in your unit or the common areas.

Pest Management:
Park South provides regular pest control at the building exterior and within each apartment home. More information regarding chemicals used and schedules is 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. Frequently take out the trash and recycling. Report pest sightings to property management. Residents who wish to practice green cleaning in their home can select cleaning products that meet the EPA's Safer Choice standard or that are Green Seal certified.