New east side apartment building is green from top to bottom

To understand the new Sage on Prospect apartment building`s sustainability, climb to the roof.

It`s a so-called "blue roof," where rainwater pools and then slowly drains, long after the storm passes, to reduce the impact on the sewage system.

Also, the roof holds enough solar panels to provide power for the 34-unit apartment building. Meanwhile, at Sage on Prospect`s other end, in the basement, there are two dozen geothermal wells pumping water from 325 feet below the Earth`s surface to both heat and cool the five-story building.

Sage on Prospect, 1825 N. Prospect Ave., is expected to obtain platinum certification — the highest level — from the U.S. Green Building Council`s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, said Mike O`Connor,...   ...more