Best Affordable Housing Energy Conservation Effort



Accomplishments:EarthCraft Virginia has certified several Energy Star affordable projects in both the single family and the multifamily sector.The EarthCraft Multifamily program is a process and standard for the certification of multifamily buildings and units that are primarily “low rise” (up to four stories) in the Southeast. It is one of the first green building programs to have a certification process for both new construction and renovations for multifamily projects. EarthCraft certified projects receive a dual certification: Energy Star Certification and EarthCraft House certification. Project stakeholders are guided through a charrette to identify site planning and construction decisions. A holistic, point-based worksheet is adopted addressing all aspects of energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, waste management, and water conservation. Adopted early in the planning process, this worksheet provides an array of options that can be combined in various formulas to make projects certifiably green. To determine if a project will meet the required 15% improvement over the 2004 Energy Code, or 30% improvement over baseline in regards to renovations, project plans are evaluated in an energy modeling software program. Ongoing third-party verification provides in the field education, support and ensures quality. Final pressure testing of both units and systems confirms energy efficiency standards set by the EarthCraft House program. Our multifamily projects serve low-income and elderly people with high-quality, affordable housing. Residents enjoy low utility bills and a healthier home (due to proper construction and controlled air filtration. The EarthCraft singly family certification program is for new construction homes and is 15% better that code 2004 IECC and 30% better that current Virginia code. In 2009, 48 affordable single family houses were EarthCraft/Energy Star certified in the Commonwealth of Virginia; thirty-five of them were certified through Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity Virginia has recognized the benefits of the Energy Star certified homes and has made a commitment that by 2012, all of their new construction houses will have this certification. They have already achieved 70% of this goal. Cumulative Accomplishments:EarthCraft Virginia is a is a state-wide organization that provides a certification process for residential construction that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The EarthCraft program was created approximately ten years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, by a collaboration of Southface Energy Institute and the Atlanta Home Builders Association. In 2006, with the help of Virginia Community Development Corporation, the EarthCraft House single family and multifamily programs were brought to Virginia to implement an established green building process. With national recognition and respect as a technically sound, voluntary green building program, EarthCraft House allows builders to raise the bar in quality construction, growth management and environmental stewardship. EarthCraft Virginia currently services over 200 builders, including various Habitat for Humanity projects, and 59 multifamily projects that have committed to high performance environmentally friendly building. The program helps developers meet the Low Income Housing Tax Credit threshold provided by Virginia Housing Development Association. In the competitive application process developers can gain 30 points through EarthCraft House training and certification. Habitat for Humanity was able to secure funding to certify a number of EarthCraft Houses. In 2007, the Loudon County Habitat for Humanity certified 2 houses and has completed the initial site visit on their third house. The Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity has also broken ground and received their initial inspection on their first EarthCraft House. Currently, Habitat for Humanity has gained enough funding to have a full time staff member administer the EarthCraft program and they have committed to build all new construction homes as EarthCraft/Energy Star by 2012.In Virginia, the multifamily program started with three pilot projects located in Wytheville, Richmond, and Yorktown. Karl Bren, president of Green-Visions Consulting, and Chuk Bowles, president of the Energy Consortium, worked together to oversee and execute the success of these multifamily projects. The following year, in 2006, thirteen projects aimed to achieve EarthCraft certification. To date, EarthCraft Virginia has certified 59 projects with 65 under construction. With the help of the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s commitment to sustainable development, several affordable housing projects will build to EarthCraft standards. EarthCraft Virginia will lead both affordable housing and market rate, multifamily projects across the state. The single family program has certified a total of 163 affordable homes; 131 of the affordable homes were for Habitat for Humanity. ................
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