At Dweck Properties, we are committed to designing, building, and operating sustainable and healthy communities that improve the well-being of our residents, team members, planet, and future generations.  To us, Earth Day should be every day. Since the founding of the Dweck Properties management team in 2021, our sustainability program has focused on energy conservation, water efficiency, waste management, sustainable transportation, health and wellness, industry partnerships, community impact, and more.

Energy Conservation

Across the portfolio, we’ve worked hard to increase energy efficiency in order to decrease utility expenses for residents and identify decarbonization opportunities.  Ongoing initiatives to achieve these goals include tracking energy performance, conducting energy audits, implementing an energy procurement strategy, installing LED lighting and ENERGY STAR® appliances, upgrading HVAC systems, and improving building controls. We are educating both residents and employees at all of our communities on sustainability best practices and will be launching video tutorials in the next year.

Over the past year, we’ve also invested in significant mechanical system upgrades at The Horizons and Crystal Towers to increase energy efficiency and improve resident comfort.

At Horizons, the existing fan coil units were replaced with water source heat pumps – allowing residents to have year-round climate control and improved comfort.  Our team also installed new high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, variable flow system distribution pumps, and other mechanical components to improve operations and reduce energy consumption.

• This capital improvement project is expected to reduce total energy consumption by up to 25%.
• Our sustainability team also partnered with Washington Gas to qualify for utility rebates since these improvements will help take strain off the local energy grid.
• Our sustainability team has started to actively track energy performance at Horizons with a goal to achieve ENERGY STAR® certification in the future.
• You can learn more about our community improvements at The Horizons here: https://www.horizonsapartments.com/communityupgrades

At Crystal Towers, our team is working on a project to install new high-efficiency chillers, updated building controls, and pumps with variable frequency drives to allow the site engineers to have more control over heating and cooling and respond to our residents’ needs.

• The new chillers will be 42% more efficient and with updated controls, the building will use less energy overall to operate.
• In January, Crystal Towers received an ENERGY STAR® certification, with a final 1-100 ENERGY STAR® Score of 85. This means that the community operates in the top 15% of similar buildings nationwide. You can learn more about our ENERGY STAR® certifications here: https://dweckproperties.com/blog/crystal-towers-and-crystal-flats-receive-energy-star-certification/

Water Efficiency

We regularly monitor water usage to identify water efficiency and conservation measures across our portfolio.  These strategies include installing water-efficient fixtures such as faucets, shower heads, and toilets; purchasing ENERGY STAR® appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines; reducing irrigation needs for landscaped areas; and upgrading and maintaining 3^rd party inspections for chillers and similar equipment.  Our engineering teams have also been adding shut-off valves in strategic locations so that water isn’t wasted to drain and refill entire risers each time equipment needs to be repaired.

Over the past several years, Dweck Properties has also partnered with Freddie Mac to execute multiple “green loans,” allowing for the completion of several energy- and water-efficient projects. Pursuing and receiving green loans means that we are allocated additional funding in to make sustainability investments possible.  In one example, The Cosmopolitan at Lorton Station replaced bathroom aerators and showerheads with more efficient, EPA WaterSense-labeled products. As part of the same green loan project, the team also upgraded thermostats to give our residents more control and comfort plus LED lighting with sensors throughout common areas.

Waste Management

Our team provides education and easy-to-access waste collection areas across our portfolio in order to generate less waste and divert recyclable materials from landfills. We partner with trusted waste management contractors and local municipalities to ensure residents can conveniently recycle mixed paper, cardboard, glass, metal, aluminum, and electronics — supporting overall recycling and reuse goals.

Our communities also host donation events year-round to facilitate the reuse of durable goods.  For these events, communities partner with organizations like GreenDrop^®, encouraging residents to donate clothing and other household items and keep reusable items out of landfills each year.  These items are accepted on behalf of local nonprofits and proceeds go to vitally needed programs in the community.

Sustainable Transportation

The majority of Dweck Properties communities are strategically located in areas that encourage biking and provide easy access to public transportation, contributing to pollution reduction and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Several Dweck communities also participate in the Champions program with Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP), promoting sustainable transportation options for residents and Dweck team members.  For example, in 2023, Crystal Flats partnered with ATP and Velocity Bikes to host a bike-tune-up event for residents and this year, Crystal City Lofts is conducting a resident commuter survey to find ways to help encourage sustainable travel to and from work.

Walkable and Close to Transit

According to WalkScore.com, an industry tool used to promote and measure alternative transportation in different neighborhoods, 60% of Dweck communities are considered “Very Walkable” and are served by “Excellent Transit” options.

Bikeable

In honor of our bike lovers out there, 70% of Dweck communities are 3 blocks or less from Capital Bikeshare stations and are also considered “Very Bikeable” on www.WalkScore.com.  Dweck communities also promote Bike to Work Day (BTWD) each year, in coordination with our friends at Bike Arlington, and provide easy access to bike racks or secured storage. 

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

We’re also proud to support the high demand for new EV infrastructure across the DMV region.  In January 2024, the Dulles Icon team installed 12 new EV charging stations – making it easier for our residents to recharge while in the comfort of their homes. The Crystal Flats community also offers two EV charging stations for residents to use.

Health and Wellness

The health and well-being of our residents, team members, company partners, and community visitors has been and will always be a top priority at Dweck Properties.

Indoor Air Quality

To support the best air quality possible, our dedicated engineering teams use MERV 13 filters for common area mechanical systems. Filters with a MERV 13 rating can capture smaller particles than lower rated filters, helping to clean the inside air we breathe. In addition, most Dweck communities are smoke and tobacco-free.  We also intentionally partner with companies that use non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, while our internal teams prioritize low VOC products when purchasing paints, flooring, and other construction-related materials.

Resident Amenities

Dweck Properties communities have Fitness Centers and offer wellness-related programming to support residents on their healthy lifestyle journeys.  For example, several National Landing communities provide complimentary weekly Yoga and Zumba classes for residents to enjoy.  Our transit-oriented communities offer our residents neighborhoods with easy access to shops and other services, public transit, and public parks – all to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.

Employee Wellness Program

Dweck Properties prioritizes wellness with extensive employee education opportunities and team challenges, all designed to keep the health and well-being of our team members at the forefront.  Our monthly Dweck Wellness Newsletters have included healthy recipes and lifestyle examples from team members, as well as tips, tools, and motivation for healthier living. Through a company-wide fitness app, team members have participated in challenges to count steps, monitor sleep, encourage healthy eating, and promote increased water consumption.  We’ve also hosted webinars on topics such as stress management and nutrition, as well as onsite wellness clinics to promote healthy blood pressure and BMI.  To keep it fun outside of the office, our team members enjoy kickball and volleyball games! Dweck also offers an Employee Assistance Program to support team members who are faced with life’s most stressful situations that aligns them with resources to work through legal, physical, and mental health matters.

Industry Partnerships

Dweck strives to build collaborative partnerships and walk the talk to advance sustainability best practices in the multifamily real estate industry.  To align with this commitment, we intentionally chose our headquarters office space at 1050 17^th Street for the LEED Gold and Fitwel certified building qualifications. We have also earned and are pursuing LEED and ENERGY STAR® Certifications at several communities.

LEED Certifications

Following industry-recognized green building guidelines and receiving 3^rd party verification helps to confirm design, construction, and operational targets are met.  Crystal Flats is a 198-unit apartment building that received LEED Silver Certification in 2017 and participated in the Arlington County Green Building Density Incentive Program (GBIP) as part of the development process.  Our team has also started the development process for a new multifamily community adjacent to Crystal Towers, which will pursue LEED Gold Certification.

ENERGY STAR® Certifications

Setting goals and evaluating performance are key to ensuring efficient operations and comfortable living spaces for our residents.  In 2024, Crystal Towers and Crystal Flats were the first two communities in the Dweck Properties portfolio to earn ENERGY STAR® Certification. These communities demonstrate superior energy operations as each building performs in the top 15-20 percent of similar buildings nationwide and meet strict energy performance levels set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

You can learn more about these certifications here: https://dweckproperties.com/blog/crystal-towers-and-crystal-flats-receive-energy-star-certification/

Community Impact

At Dweck Properties, our “Dwecksters Doing Good” community service program allows team members to spend work hours each year on projects that give back to the communities in which we operate.  Dwecksters Doing Good is a program that makes it easy to do just that by organizing regular events that are open to all team members to participate!  It is an integral part of our company culture, aligning with our core values to Do What Matters and Take Care.

Several of our volunteering opportunities focus on activities that protect the environment.  Dwecksters have volunteered with the Anacostia Watershed Society to plant native wetland plants as part of their Wetland Restoration Workday.  We’ve also built urban garden beds at the ARC’s new Nationals Giving Garden in Washington, D.C., helped weed and restore ponds at the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, and collected trash along Crystal Drive in National Landing.

Read our 2023 Dwecksters Doing Good recap here: https://dweckproperties.com/blog/dwecksters-doing-good/

This year to celebrate Earth Day, Dwecksters Doing Good will be partnering with a community organization to help remove invasive plants at Upton Hill Regional Park, a local park in Arlington, VA.  We look forward to many more volunteer opportunities throughout 2024!

THANK YOU to our Dweck team members, residents, and other partners for being part of our sustainability journey and treating every day like it’s Earth Day!

This year’s EarthDay.Org theme is “Planet vs Plastics,” spreading awareness about the impacts of plastic use and pollution.  To learn more and find out how you can take action, visit https://www.earthday.org/.