July, 2008 – Satellite is proud to have three new awards for outstanding green building, architecture and land use under our belt. 

In May, Satellite was recognized with a Regional Energy Star Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing for incorporating energy-efficient appliances and practices at our affordable communities of Fremont Oak Gardens, Acalanes Court and Helios Corner.  At the 45th Annual Gold Nugget Awards Ceremony in June, Helios Corner also received two Awards of Merit for Best Affordable Project with 30 units or more per acre and for Best Senior Housing.  

“We greatly appreciate the recent recognition that Satellite has received from the U.S. E.P.A. and the Gold Nugget Awards program,” said Satellite’s Executive Director, Ryan Chao.  “We work every day to create and manage the best communities that we can, and when someone else likes our developments as much as we do, it’s like icing on the cake.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded 12 Excellence in Affordable Housing awards nationwide.  The award recognizes governments, non-profits, non-governmental organizations or utilities that have made exceptional or market-leading contributions toward advancing energy efficiency in affordable housing through the use of Energy Star-qualified products and appliances or Energy Star’s residential construction guidelines.

“The E.P.A. applauds Satellite Housing for its leadership in energy efficiency by bringing Energy Star products to the population it serves,” said Deborah Jordan, the E.P.A.’s Air Division director for the Pacific Southwest, in a press release.  “Energy Star products save energy, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution and lower energy bills.”

Helios Corner, Satellite’s newest affordable senior community in Berkeley, is 20 percent more energy-efficient than California’s building energy efficiency standards.  It was not only singled out for recognition by the E.P.A. but won two Gold Nugget Awards of Merit in the Best Affordable and Best Senior Housing categories.

In its 45th year, the Gold Nugget Awards program is the premiere event of the annual Pacific Coast Builders’ Conference.  The oldest and largest program of its kind, Gold Nugget honors creative achievements in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects.

“The Gold Nugget Awards program has traditionally been a forum for honoring exceptional talent in the real estate development industry, and this year was no exception.  We were gratified to honor winners who very deservedly take their place in the spotlight,” said Barry Berkus, principal of Berkus Design Studio and a 2008 Gold Nugget Judge.

Entries for the competition come from 14 Western states and international countries. Grand Award winners emerged from the Award of Merit honorees in each category. The competition focused on 49 categories with a total of 520 entries submitted in total. Winners emerged from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington; and from Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

During a three-day judging process, a panel of 8 industry professionals from across the country selected Award of Merit honorees and Grand Award winners from a field of more than 500 entries.

“Gold Nugget winners share one common denominator: excellence and innovation in addressing complex design/build issues,” said Judging Chairman Peter Mayer of Peter M. Mayer Productions.  Satellite’s entry was up against stiff competition in both of its categories, and applauds all of 2008’s deserving Merit Award and Grand Award winners.

Information, text, and logos contributed by:

The Environmental Protection Agency
Wendy Chavez, (415) 947-4248, chavez.wendy@epa.gov
For more information about Energy Star, please visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free:
(888) STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

Gold Nugget Awards
Lisa Parrish, (800) 658-2751, lparrish@thenationals.com
For more information on the Gold Nugget Awards, please visit http://www.goldnuggetawards.com or write to:
Gold Nugget Awards
7958 Rosebud
Alta Loma, CA 91701