Supporting a Vision for Sustainable, Healthy Communities
Southern Energy Management (SEM) is both excited and proud to leverage our expertise to support Grubb Properties’ bold vision for Link Apartments Cykel.
Grubb Properties set a strong foundation for collaboration, allowing us to help the project achieve key third-party certification goals while staying true to its values. The development exemplifies a commitment to environmental responsibility, inclusive micro mobility, and community well-being.
Location
Charlotte, NC
Certification
NGBS Silver & Fitwel
Number of Units
104
Developer
Grubb Properties
Link Apartments Cykel is designed to reduce car dependence by encouraging walking, cycling, and public transit. This project promotes low-impact, healthy living—while making that lifestyle both accessible and appealing.
“At Grubb Properties, we are committed to creating essential housing that is more affordable, sustainable, and transit-oriented, knowing this improves our communities as well as the lives of our residents.”
Green Building and Healthy Living Certifications + Unique Features
Link Apartments Cykel achieved Fitwel 1 Star and NGBS Silver certifications, emphasizing sustainable construction and occupant health.
CERTIFICATION
Fitwel 1 Star
Fitwel assesses buildings based on occupant health, wellness-supportive design, and operational strategies. Projects achieve certification by earning points across these key areas. A Fitwel 1 Star rating indicates that the project has earned at least 90 points, demonstrating meaningful implementation of health-focused policies, programs, and design elements that positively impact occupant wellness.
“Pursuing these certifications brings important and helpful guidance to help us build more resilient buildings and communities as part of our commitment to sustainability. In addition, our dedication to energy-efficient design drives savings for us and our residents.”
Achieving a Fitwel 1 Star rating required adherence to stringent criteria centered around health and wellness across multiple facets of the project’s design and operations.
Key Fitwel Features
- Bicycle infrastructure encouraging regular use
- Close proximity to greenways and transit for car-free commuting
- Onsite micromart with healthy food and beverages
- Outdoor spaces with enhanced with seating, shade, and public art
- Emergency preparedness plans including resident safety education
- Inviting stairwell with motivational signage to promote stair usage
- Integrated pest management limiting harmful pesticide use
UNIQUE FEATURE
Car-Free and Micromobility Focus
Link Apartments Cykel provides diverse transportation options, including:
- 134 dedicated bicycle parking spots
- Levy eBike and eScooter fleet
- Envoy electric vehicle availability
- CATS All Access transit passes
- Infrastructure supporting rideshare and micromobility
The project also features a low-cost shared bike/scooter program. Monthly fitness events, such as cycling meetups and running groups, earned additional Fitwel credits.
CERTIFICATION
NGBS Silver Certification
National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certifies that a building goes beyond code to meet high-performance standards in six key sustainability categories—indoor air quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, operation & durability, and site design. NGBS certification provides independent, third-party verification that a community is developed, built, and operated well above standard building code.
Link Apartments Cykel earned a Silver certification under the National Green Building Standard (NGBS).
Key NGBS Features
- Site Design: Efficient density, access to amenities, native landscaping, and erosion control
- Resource Efficiency: Durable prefabricated components and sustainable materials
- Water Efficiency: Water-conserving appliances, low-flow fixtures, efficient irrigation
- Energy Efficiency: High-performance insulation, ENERGY STAR appliances, reflective roofing, low-E windows, and 100% LED lighting
- Indoor Air Quality: Pollutant source control, fresh air ventilation, and moisture management
- Operations & Maintenance: Staff training and a comprehensive maintenance manual
UNIQUE FEATURE
Native Plant Landscaping
More than 50% of the landscaping at Link Apartments Cykel features native plant species, reducing maintenance needs, water usage, and supporting local biodiversity. This not only contributes to the ecological integrity of the site but also aligns with the criteria in the NGBS framework.
Environmental Benefits of Native Species
Native species are well-adapted to the local climate, soil, and rainfall patterns, which means they typically require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than non-native alternatives. This significantly reduces the environmental footprint of landscape management and supports local biodiversity by providing habitat and food sources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Synergies Between Fitwel and NGBS
SEM strategically aligned certification efforts, particularly in the approach to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), establishing a policy that ensures consistent pollutant management and long-term resident well-being while earning points for both certifications.
Key Areas of Synergy Across NGBS and Fitwel
- No-Smoking Policy: Unified,comprehensive, 100% smoke-free policy across all indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Clear Signage: Clear, consistent signage reinforcing the no-smoking policy.
- Resident Education: Educational materials about indoor air best practices are distributed to residents, promoting healthier and more sustainable practices.
Link Apartments Cykel's approach has led to measurable impacts:
Environmental Impact
222,874 lbs CO₂ offset annually from energy efficient features
= 11,388 gallons of gasoline not burned
= 2,267 tree seedlings grown for 10 years
Economic Impact
$80.55 utility savings per unit/year
= 16.8% more efficient than the baseline NGBS-certified unit)
Social Impact
Wellness-focused community with enhanced and convenient healthy amenities, and accessible green spaces
Social Impact: Spotlighting Local Artists
Community art installations at Link Apartments Cykel, thoughtfully created by talented local artists—including the collaborative Tool Wall project by Kesean Cornish and Jack Moore — enhance the aesthetic character of the development. These pieces thoughtfully embody and reinforce the core values, unique identity, and sense of community envisioned for Link Apartments Cykel.
Key Takeaways
✔ Car-Free Living: Robust micromobility and public transit infrastructure, including bikes, scooters, rideshares, and transit passes
✔ Health-Centric Design: Fitwel-certified features, wellness programming, and active lifestyle encouragement
✔ Sustainability Excellence: NGBS Silver-certified features focused on water efficiency, indoor air quality, and native landscaping
✔ Measurable Impact: Significant energy savings and annual carbon reduction
Collaboration Success
Our collaboration with Grubb Properties began early in this project’s development and continued through final inspection. Grant Warner, Program Manager at SEM, highlights the collaborative approach:
“We aimed to be more than a certifier—we became a strategic partner guiding the process from design through delivery, ensuring alignment with health and sustainability goals. Early engagement facilitated smooth certification, streamlined processes, and exceptional outcomes.”
The project’s success ultimately reflects the dedication of everyone involved. We’re proud to have played a role in helping deliver a healthier, more sustainable building: one that meets rigorous standards and brings long-term value to its residents and the broader community.
Helping You Build What’s Next
At SEM, we help partners move beyond checking boxes. Our work supports sustainability from vision to execution.
Link Apartments Cykel demonstrates how thoughtful,collaborative design yields measurable impacts and community value. The project’s success earned Grubb Properties the “Heavy Hitters Commercial Real Estate Award“ for Best Condo or Apartment Development in Charlotte.
Ready to make your next project healthier, more sustainable, and award-worthy? Let’s talk!
