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For Policy- & Decision-makers
Why does Green Affordable Housing matter to you?
For policy and decision makers, community acceptance and quality of affordable housing are critical issues. Well designed housing meeting multiple goals of energy efficiency, health, durability and low environmental impact can contribute to community acceptance and perceived quality of affordable housing. In addition, lower operating and maintenance costs will make single-family houses more affordable in the long run leading to more stable, owner-occupied communities.
Green Affordable Housing has a number of financial benefits to the community as well. The ability to optimize first cost and long term operating costs will lead to the best investments for communities and public agencies. Where public agencies partner with rental property owners to develop affordable multifamily housing, lower operating and maintenance costs protect public investments. In addition, sustainable design strategies can assist local governments in reducing costs for street, water and sewer infrastructure as well as waste removal and landfill costs.
What is Green Affordable Housing?
Green Affordable Housing is designed to meet multiple goals. First, it must be affordable. Systems design leads to high performance at the lowest first cost. Energy efficiency is also important so that low operating costs make houses more affordable over their lifetime. Housing cannot be made more efficient at the expense of occupant's health. Indoor air quality can be improved through ventilation design, construction systems, and material selection. Durability and low maintenance are critical issues as well. Long lasting systems and materials are more affordable in the long run. Green Affordable Housing also means selecting systems and materials with the least lifetime impact on the environment. Finally, housing must be well designed so it adds value to the community and makes individual homeowners want to stay and improve their property.
What does this web site offer you?
- Planning principles and requirements. The site provides a set of planning principles for local governments and agencies to incorporate into planning documents and requirements for developers.
Neighborhood Scale Strategies»
Yard Scale Strategies»
All Strategies» - Housing standards. The site provides a list of strategies that are low cost while improving energy efficiency, health, durability, and environmental impacts. These items could be recommended or required by agencies and communities and possibly linked to incentives for the developer.
- Cost Analysis and Recommendations. To aid agencies and communities in understanding costs and benefits of design strategies proposed by developers, the web site includes a systematic analysis of design alternatives at several scales.
List All Analysis and Recommendations»
Links
Statewide
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency: www.mhfa.state.mn.us
Metro Area
Family Housing Fund, Minneapolis, MN: www.fhfund.org
Metropolitan Council (Housing & Redevelopment Plans): www.metrocouncil.org
Minnesota Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH): www.micah.org
Outstate
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund: www.gmhf.com
Initiative Fund of Southeastern and South Central Minnesota: www.smifoundation.org
West Central Initiative: www.wcif.org
National
Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs (see Partnerships for Affordable Housing), U.S. Department of Energy, www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/documents/pdfs/doe_pfah.pdf
National Coalition for the Homeless: nch.ari.net
Enterprise Foundation: www.enterprisefoundation.org
Homeownership Assistance Council: www.ruralhome.org
Manufactured Housing Institute: www.mfghome.org
Policy
Housing Minnesota: www.housingminnesota.org
Minnesota Housing Partnership: www.mhponline.org
National Low Income Housing Coalition: www.nlihc.org
National Housing Institute: www.nhi.org
HUD User: www.huduser.org
The Brookings Institute www.brook.edu
Joint Center for Housing Studies www.jchs.harvard.edu
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials: www.nahro.org
Guides
Affordable Housing Design Advisor www.designadvisor.org
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (Building Better Neighborhoods): www.gmhf.com
Knowledgeplex www.knowledgeplex.org
Build America Program, U.S. Department of Energy, www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/building_america
Energy & Environmental
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance: www.moea.state.mn.us
Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy: www.me3.org
Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network (MnSCN) www.nextstep.state.mn.us
Green Institute: www.greeninstitute.org
Built Green Colorado www.builtgreen.com
Rocky Mountain Institute www.rmi.org
Worldwatch Institute: www.worldwatch.org
Ecosa Institute www.ecosainstitute.org
National Renewable Energy Laboratory www.nrel.gov
Wisconsin Environmental Initiative www.wi-ei.org
Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technologies: www.ceert.org