Our Partners & Why they are Important!
**Our National Coalition**

In order to guide us, we have adopted the missions of “Smart Growth America”. Smart Growth America is a coalition of national, state and local organizations working to improve the ways we plan and build the towns, cities and metro areas we call home. To learn more, go to: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org We define smart growth according to its outcomes —outcomes that mirror the basic values of most Americans. Smart growth is growth that helps to achieve these six goals:

NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY: The central goal of any smart growth plan is the quality of the neighborhoods where we live. They should be safe, convenient, attractive, and affordable. Sprawl development too often forces trade-offs between these goals. Some neighborhoods are safe but not convenient. Others are convenient but not affordable. Too many affordable neighborhoods are not safe. Careful planning can help bring all these elements together.

BETTER ACCESS, LESS TRAFFIC: One of the major downfalls of sprawl is traffic. By putting jobs, homes and other destinations far apart and requiring a car for every trip, sprawl makes everyday tasks a chore. Smart growth’s emphasis on mixing land uses, clustering development, and providing multiple transportation choices helps us manage congestion, pollute less and save energy. Those who want to drive can, but people who would rather not drive everywhere or don’t own a car have other choices.

THRIVING CITIES, SUBURBS AND TOWNS: Smart growth puts the needs of existing communities first. By guiding development to already built-up areas, moneyforinvestments in transportation, schools, libraries and other public services can go to the communities where people live today. This is especially important for neighborhoods that have inadequate public services and low levels of private investment. It is also critical for preserving what makes so many places special—attractive buildings, historic districts and cultural landmarks.

SHARED BENEFITS: Sprawl leaves too many people behind. Divisions by income and race have allowed some areas to prosper while others languish. As basic needs such as jobs, education and health care become less plentiful in some communities, residents have diminishing opportunities to participate in their regional economy. Smart growth enables all residents to be beneficiaries of prosperity.

LOWER COSTS, LOWER TAXES: Sprawl costs money. Opening up green space to new development means that the cost of new schools, roads, sewer lines, and water supplies will be borne by residents throughout metro areas. Sprawl also means families have to own more cars and drive them further. This has made transportation the second highest category of household spending, just behind shelter. Smart growth helps on both fronts. Taking advantage of existing infrastructure keeps taxes down. And where convenient transportation choices enable families to rely less on driving, there’s more money left over for other things, like buying a home or saving for college.

KEEPING OPEN SPACE OPEN: By focusing development in already built-up areas, smart growth preserves rapidly vanishing natural treasures. From forests and farms to wetlands and wildlife, smart growth lets us pass on to our children the landscapes we love. Communities are demanding more parks that are conveniently located and bring recreation within reach of more people. Also, protecting natural resources will provide healthier air and cleaner drinking water.

United States Green Building Council gives us a tool to benchmark our project called LEED. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.
LEED® promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of HYPERLINK “http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_features” energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances.

***Our Local Coalition***

The Sustainability Institute (SI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.: We work at the grassroots level to achieve a sustainable South Carolina—a place where homes and communities are developed and restored to be healthy and environmentally sound, where residents actively participate in community decision-making, and where our natural resources and systems are protected for the enjoyment of future generations.
Our goal is to enable all South Carolinians to have a healthy, comfortable and energy efficient home. Each can live in a home that is built or renovated to last. In the process, we advocate and educate others to build, repair and renovate using “green” choices that cause little or no harm to the environment.

At EverGreen Concepts we have the courage to conserve the environment, streamline the Real Estate and building experience, and do the right thing for our customers; thus offering a meaningful opportunity that inspires creativity between our team members and clients.
Evergreen Concepts believes foremost in educating consumers to help them make the right choices for their home and lifestyle. Once they have the knowledge, we will be there to provide the right people and products to complete their building and remodeling project. It is our goal to make using eco-friendly products, contractors and craftsman an easy task for our clients. We will always strive to promote the local manufacturer and craftsman because at EverGreen Concepts we believe that sustainability is the key to our future.

***Battery Island Row Project Partners***

Byers Design Group, founded in 1999 and based in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, SC, is one of few to combine the disciplines of architecture, land architecture and land planning into one firm, offering comprehensive design services to residential and commercial entities throughout South Carolina. The group is dedicated to customizing each design project to complement the natural environment and surroundings and to reflect the style and preference of each client.

Lowcountry Land Development Consultants is a full service professional civil engineering design firm offering land planning, civil design and construction management services for the private as well as the public sectors. Lowcountry Land Development Consultants has a professional staff of land planners, civil engineers, surveyors and project managers ready to assist you with your project from inception to completion.
Kevin J. Coffey, P.E. is the owner of Lowcountry Land Development Consultants. Mr. Coffey is a Registered Civil Engineer in the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee. He is a Graduate of The Citadel.