Green is the name of the game these days, but even some of the most environmentally conscious homebuyers cannot afford effective, energy-efficient amenities. However, real estate developer Goray Communities Inc., together with Housing Trust Group, is working to make energy efficiency affordable by developing Green Cay Village, one of Palm Beach County, Fla.’s few Energy Star-certified, value-priced town home communities. The homes are geared to some of the most important, and often underpaid, members of the community: teachers, firemen, healthcare workers and law enforcement officers.

According to co-developer Gerald Goray, Green Cay Village worked with Pompano Beach, Fla.-based general contractor Current Builders to ensure homebuyers do not absorb the typically higher initial costs associated with energy efficient construction. “We were very careful in choosing the [green] features in the community,” Goray says.

Goray and Housing Trust Group implemented energy-saving amenities such as SEER 13 air conditioners, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, high-efficiency hot water heaters and Energy Star appliances.

One of the few official “work force-priced,” certified Energy Star town home communities in the country, Green Cay Village is comprised of 420 units total: 160 condominiums, 100 town homes and 160 rental units. According to Goray, unit price points start at $198,900 for condominiums and $292,900 for town homes.

“It’s so important to develop housing for middle-class America,” Goray emphasizes. “Housing prices have risen so dramatically in recent years that people with these important community-service jobs can barely afford to buy a new house.”

Although energy-efficient building requires more money on the front-end of the project, Goray, Housing Trust Group and Current Builders worked closely together to keep price increases to a minimum. “This kind of construction is usually reserved for higher-priced houses, but I thought it was important to keep the buyers’ energy bills as low as possible,” Goray says.

Goray, Housing Trust Group and the rest of the team set out to eliminate excess costs. Working closely with the general contractor, they purchased many materials far in advance to secure affordable material pricing. “We did a lot of volume purchases,” he says. “We got a very favorable price on plywood, for example, and purchased our concrete under a lump contract, as well.”

All homes were built sequentially, Goray adds, and the team worked in tandem to ensure the project was completed within budget. “We have always viewed our relationship with Current Builders as a working team in this project,” he says. “We were able to align our goals in terms of budgeting, quality and scheduling goals. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Throughout the course of construction, the organizations met regularly to keep the lines of communication open. “We were able to identify problems early on in the project this way, and made adjustments as necessary,” Goray says.

Smart Building
Built on 42 acres, the community is located near good schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants and nightlife. According to Goray, the community may be priced below market value, but it does not skimp on style and amenities. Town houses include granite countertops, colonial baseboards and casing, upgraded appliances and upgraded cabinets, he says.

Green Cay was also marketed directly to its target demographic by becoming fully entrenched in community activities. “We would go into the actual work force we were trying to market to, and meet with government officials to get the word out to the community,” Goray says. “We worked with local human resource departments to spread the word, as well.”

In addition, Green Cay placed restrictions on who can purchase units. Buyers are restricted from purchasing multiple units, and generally should be owner-occupants.

‘Good Social Objectives’
During the course of the project, the Green Cay team of employees felt a sense of purpose in what they were doing, Goray says. “The people working on this project feel like they’re not only in business to meet the usual business objectives, but also to meet some good social objectives at the same time,” he explains. “There are a lot of social benefits to this project that we’re all very proud of.”

While many companies in the construction industry have been hit by a shortage in skilled labor, Green Cay Village has attracted many of its work force through word-of-mouth. Many workers are aware of its pricing and energy conservation goals, and Green Cay Village “continues to seek other leaders in the industry who would like to work in a socially responsible community,” he asserts.

Setting the Standard
Today, Green Cay Village continues to set the standard for green developments, and has garnered recognition throughout the state, according to Goray. After an extensive application process, the development gained certification under the Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Home Designation Standard, Goray says.

“To gain certification, we had to go through an application process where we listed every energy-efficient feature we used in the development,” Goray explains. “In the end, we scored very highly, and were officially designated as an environmentally friendly community.” Goray Communities is in the planning stages for two additional work force housing communities, both set to break ground in 2008.