Aldeia Developments was the brain behind this innovative project, incorporating many green building features including rainwater collection and reuse, extensive day lighting, recycled and reclaimed building materials, low-VOC paints and adhesives, rapidly renewable resources and energy-efficient systems. They also employed waste heat reuse, significant thermal storage and climate control via an Uponor radiant heating and cooling system.

Independence Station also went above and beyond normal green development, using a unique co-generation system fueled by locally sourced waste vegetable oil, thermal storage, solar heating, solar PV cells and enough high-tech batteries to run a submarine. This system allowed Independence Station to be off the local power grid for extended periods of time.

The project also incorporated an Uponor plumbing system which features flexible, durable crosslinked polyethylene (PEX-a) tubing and ProPEX® expansion fittings. The flexibility of the tubing offers a great alternative to rigid metal systems while taking advantage of the proven ProPEX fitting technology for strong, durable connections that hold tight with up to 1,000 pounds of force.

The PEX-a tubing and ProPEX expansion fitting system appealed to the project developers not just for its durability and ease of installation. It also helped eliminate toxic materials from the construction site. Because ProPEX expansion fittings use one simple tool to expand the tubing to insert a fitting, it eliminates the need for torches, solder, glues and solvents that can harm the environment.