Green Building
Incorporation of "Green Building" features in affordable housing is becoming increasingly desirable. It is also rapidly becoming a requirement of affordable housing development both through local development policies/standards as well as by funding sources. Costs of green building need not be prohibitive and the resultant reductions in energy consumption, repairs and lowered operating costs can be significant. Additional benefits are extended life expectancy of green homes and a healthier in-home environment for residents.
A number of different standards have been developed for Green Building, some of which are being formally adopted by organizations, local & state governments, and by funding agencies. A few are described below.
Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:
- Sustainable site planning
- Safeguarding water and water efficiency
- Energy Efficiency and renewable energy
- Conservation of materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
US Green Building Council - www.usgbc.org
EPAGreen or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental, economic, and social benefits. Elements of green building include:
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System ® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
LEED was created to:
- define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
- promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- stimulate green competition
- raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
- transform the building market
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
City of Seattle
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/sustainablebuilding/
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/GreenBuilding/OurProgram/Resources/CaseStudies/default.asp
Enterprise Foundation
http://www.enterprisefoundation.org/resources/green/index.asp
Entergy Star
http://www.energystar.gov/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#6
National Association of Home Builders
http://www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines/
U.S. Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
National Association of Realtors
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/focusonmar04?OpenDocument
Green Affordable Housing Coalition
http://www.frontierassoc.net/greenaffordablehousing/index.shtml
Smart Communities
http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/buildings/affhousing.shtml
American Institute of Architects
http://www.aia.org/release_060906_showgreen
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/energystar.cfm |
