common sense for the common good

Sustainable Housing, Rewards and Requirements

March 26th, 2007 by Vihar Sheth
Posted in Design, Housing, Responsibility

The built environment comprises a significant source of the globe’s energy demand. This is why a story like this, Enterprise Wins 2007 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing, is great to read. Not only does Enterprise cater to the affordable housing industry, which I am a part of, but it is making a very strong effort to build the housing it does in a sustainable way. I’m glad it’s being recognized for its efforts, and according to the article, Enterprise was the only national organization to be recognized. Congrats. Some tidbits:

  • Through its Green Communities program, Enterprise has invested $350 million to create more than 7,000 energy-efficient affordable homes in 23 states around the country.
  • Green Community provides grants, financing, tax-credit equity and technical assistance to developers for creating low-income housing according to their specific Green criteria. (Tax-credit equity is the piece of the industry I’m involved in.)
  • “Energy efficiency is particularly important in the affordable housing sector,” said Doris Koo, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Partners. “By building homes that earn the ENERGY STAR [rating], we are reducing utility costs and providing homes that are truly affordable to own and operate for low-income residents. At the same time, these homes are more comfortable to live in and help to protect the environment.”

One of the long-term social benefits of energy-efficient / environmentally-friendly housing is the reduction of health care costs. Creating homes that are efficient makes them inherently cleaner and easier to keep clean. Specialized air filtration systems, better insulation, etc . . . protects residents from germs and makes the development of mold, dirty air, and the like difficult. Also, when energy costs are reduced, low-income residents in particular, are more able to use heating and cooling systems during the extremes of winter and summer weather. This reduces the likelihood that children or the elderly suffer during these times of year to the point they need medical care, often at the financial detriment of society at large.

As a side note, municipalities are beginning to require stricter levels of environmental compliance from home builders. I hope the trend will not only continue but escalate. Congrats again to Enterprise and all the companies out there doing more than they’re required to do in a culture slow to adopt progressive policies.



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