A Municipal Action Guide for Developing Green Affordable Housing
by Bonnie Mann
Developing and preserving affordable housing is critical to creating sustainable communities, but local governments face many obstacles. The current national economic crisis has contributed to an unprecedented increase in foreclosures and abandoned properties in many cities.
Utilizing funding for green affordable housing practices can provide both long- and short-term benefits for local governments, however the cost of land, materials and labor for housing production and rehabilitation continues to rise.
NLC has published a Municipal Action Guide, “Creating Green Affordable Housing” to assist cities in developing workable policies and practices and identify funding resources linked to sustainability programs. The guide was produced with the support of the Bank of America Foundation.
The publication includes:
• An overview of some of the challenges involved in the development of green affordable housing,
• Strategies and action steps for city officials to help create and implement a comprehensive design for sustainable housing,
• A list of federal and national resources for technical assistance and financing, and
• Examples of green city programs and practices from nine cities.
Action Plans and Resources
The Municipal Action Guide describes five key areas in which city officials can take action to develop their sustainable affordable housing plans, including: education and advocacy; planning; partnerships; building design; and the environment and financing.
Also included is information about a variety of national organizations and federal agencies that offer technical assistance. These resources will help local leaders understand the language of green building, learn the process of adopting policies and regulations that promote sustainable development and promote the use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials. For example, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an NLC Corporate Partner, operates various programs relevant to green building practices, including maintaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Additionally, there are several federal government agencies listed that offer grants and loans to finance revitalization and weatherization for affordable housing.
Green on the Ground
Several cities have undertaken projects and practices to build more green affordable housing.
Poway, Calif., created a partnership with a local nonprofit, Community Housing Works, and the Poway Redevelopment Agency to pioneer the use of green and sustainable materials and created Solara, the first affordable apartment complex in the nation to be fully powered by the sun. The development includes 56 rental apartment units, and a 2,100 square-foot community room equipped with a computer-learning center. Solara has received local, state and national recognition for establishing a new standard in sustainable design.
The City of North Miami, Fla., adopted a set of Green Housing Rehabilitation Guidelines, requiring that 100 percent of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Ownership Opportunities Program (HOME) funds and Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) funds be used for rehabilitation, redevelopment and construction projects that contribute to the “greening” of the city.
In Cleveland, Cogswell Hall, originally built in 1912, was retrofitted to be LEED certified. The building underwent a rehabilitation and expansion of an existing 30-unit housing facility. This facility offers a family-like home for adults with disabling conditions and extremely low incomes.
Details: To download the Municipal Action Guide, visit http://www.nlc.org/ASSETS/DF26C2B464214D93A342888E9B850990/MAG_GreenHousing_09.pdf. To request print copies or learn more about affordable housing resources, contact Bonnie Mann at (202) 626-3125 or mann@nlc.org.
Quick Tips for Making Housing Development Green:
1. Reuse building materials from other projects, and ensure on-site recycling during construction.
2. Build using recycled material such as engineered lumber, fly ash concrete, steel, recycled tile or cotton insulation.
3. Landscape using shrubs and plants native to the area to provide shading, wind protection and noise reduction.
4. Purchase EnergyStar labeled products such as light bulbs, refrigerators, dishwashers, fans and air conditioners.
5. Use compact florescent lights, motion sensors, daylight sensors, and dimmers whenever possible.
6. Install hard surface flooring as much as possible in order to improve air quality.
7. Install metal roofs that can save energy, be used for rainwater collection and may qualify for reduced homeowners insurance.
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