Aiming to “transform the ways communities think about, design, and build affordable homes,” The Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corporation and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), along with the AIA, the American Planning Association, and other corporate, financial, and philanthropic organizations, have launched the Green Communities Initiative, a five-year, $550-million commitment to build more than 8,500 environmentally friendly affordable homes nationwide.

The national affordable-housing provider and the national environmental group joined with the AIA and other organizations in an effort to transform the way Americans think about, locate, design, and build affordable homes. “Building affordable green housing is not a new concept, but Green Communities will broaden the ongoing efforts of developers, states, and cities and make it mainstream,” says Patricia Bauman, vice chair of NRDC’s board of trustees. “We will assist developers who are already building green housing and encourage hundreds more to come on board. Our project will make thousands of affordable green developments bloom.”

The groups made the announcement at a press conference September 28. The program will offer affordable-housing developers and community-based organizations a package of financial and other resources, including:

• Grants to assist in planning, designing, and building Green Communities homes ($5 million)
• Low-interest loans to enable developers to acquire sites and start construction ($50 million)
• Equity investments to fund rehabilitation and construction ($5 million through ESIC)
• Training and technical support for planning (feasibility analyses, market studies, and initial architectural, engineering, design, development, and property management
• Policy advocacy, best practices documentation, and research and evaluation.

Green Communities homes will be built in keeping with proven planning, design, development, and management practices selected by Enterprise, NRDC, and other experts. These “Green Communities criteria” will promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and enhance access to jobs, schools, and services.

The initiative will provide expert training and technical assistance to help housing developers “go green” and provide or help to arrange technical assistance and training with experienced consultants and funding planning activities, including feasibility analyses, market studies, and initial architectural, engineering, and environmental reviews for green projects. The partnership reports it will also encourage government agencies to “green” their affordable-housing programs. For example, Enterprise, NRDC, and other partners will work with state agencies to dedicate a significant portion of their federal housing tax credits to healthy, energy-efficient, affordable housing sited near pubic transportation or vital services.

Healthier homes
“More than 2.5 million families live in substandard housing, in homes that are unhealthy, inefficient, and poorly sited,” the Enterprise Foundation reports. “No one fares worse in these conditions than low-income individuals who struggle just to keep a roof over their heads.” The initiative aims to:

• Provide health benefits through better ventilation, less toxic paints and adhesives, and limited use of carpets in areas prone to mold.
• Save money by cutting utility costs through energy-efficient and water-conserving heating and cooling systems, appliances, and fixtures.
• Enhance access to jobs, schools, and services with homes that are sited near public transportation. These smart developments will help combat the sprawl and traffic congestion in growing communities, while saving individuals the high costs of car-dependency.
• Facilitate a healthy lifestyle through the physical activity that comes from living in walkable neighborhoods.

Although there are examples of green affordable housing in many states, the initiative is intended to help “mainstream” green building and sustainable development in the affordable-housing industry. The Enterprise Foundation will help address additional costs—which, on average, can be about 5 percent—with grants and training.

—Tracy Ostroff

Copyright 2004 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved. Home Page