FishHawk Tennis Club, Information Center Recognized for Excellence in Sustainability

News Report

FishHawk Ranch has once again proven its commitment to the surrounding environment with its tennis club and community information center earning a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This facility, one of the newer amenities added by the community, was recognized with this LEED certification for a variety of efficiency and conservation practices exhibited during construction.

“This certification reinforces our continued commitment to sustainable development,” said Rick Harcrow, senior vice president of operations for Newland Communities. “We are consistently encouraging builders to use energy-conserving designs and materials to create high-performance homes and amenities that can thrive in tandem with the existing environment.”

The tennis club and community information center’s focus on conserving water and electricity was especially highlighted throughout the process. This certification specifically recognized the various green features, including water efficient appliances and energy-efficient fixtures located throughout the buildings. With the community’s landscaping considerations alone, the site was maximized with more than 75 percent of vegetated open space, and the irrigation systems in place will reduce total water consumption by nearly 60 percent.

In addition to this water conservation, the materials used during construction were also emphasized during certification. The construction process for this tennis club and community information center was completed with 20 percent of the materials from the surrounding area, as well as 10 percent from previously recycled materials. At the completion of the new facility, 75 percent of all materials were then recycled to be used for future area projects. 

The certification process was based on a point system, where FishHawk Ranch’s tennis club and community information center was awarded points in seven different categories, such as sustainable sites, water efficiency and energy and atmosphere. The number of points awarded in each category is what determined the facility’s Silver Certification.

FishHawk Ranch offers several first-class tennis offerings for the community. In addition to the tennis lounge and other LEED recognized elements, the community offers five Har-Tru clay courts, including a competition court with bleacher seating.