Enterprise Community Partners’ Post

As cities grapple with both housing affordability and climate change, the importance of green building standards has never been greater. But what makes housing truly "green"? Here, we explore various certifications, from ENERGY STAR to Enterprise Community Partners Green Communities Certification, and how they're shaping the future of affordable housing. We also delve into the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and the potential impact of policies like #LocalLaw97 in New York City. Join the conversation on sustainable, affordable housing: https://bit.ly/3WzxCHh #GreenHousing #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #DualCrises

As cities grapple with both housing affordability and climate change, the importance of green building standards has never been greater. But what makes housing truly "green"? Our new article explores various certifications, from ENERGY STAR to Enterprise Community Partners Green Communities Certification, and how they're shaping the future of affordable housing. We also delve into the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and the potential impact of policies like #LocalLaw97 in New York City. Join the conversation on sustainable, affordable housing: https://bit.ly/3WzxCHh #GreenHousing #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #DualCrises

The intersection of affordable housing and sustainable building is complex, with a patchwork of standards, incentives, and challenges. Our latest article dives deep into the world of green affordable housing, exploring everything from #LEED certification to #passivebuilding. We examine how developers navigate #energy standards, density, and more to create homes that are both #environmentallyfriendly and #accessible to low-income residents. Discover the innovative solutions and ongoing challenges in this crucial sector of the housing market. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3WzxCHh #AffordableHousing #SustainableBuilding #GreenDevelopment

It's been a real pleasure to collaborate with Living Future's Affordable Housing Pilot Program, and to have our Timber Ridge project featured on their wonderful blog called Trim Tab which does so much to shed light on the path to the regenerative future we must be moving toward. Their lens and supportive resources have been immensely helpful, especially where it comes to finding healthier materials for affordable projects so that everyone can have less toxic exposure in their homes and in the environment. This incredible project is designed for zero-energy certification with no utility bills for residents (equity through sustainability), and we strived to implement as many aspects of the Living Building Challenge as possible through each aspect of design within the project's budget, even as it faced wave after wave of pandemic-driven difficulties. Equity and Sustainability are deeply linked, and we will continue to design projects that move ever farther from consumption, and ever closer toward regeneration; because there's no limit to what we can heal together. We truly hope every developer and architect does the same, and the Living Future community offers an incredible place to start! https://lnkd.in/gttTntQ6 #zeroenergy #zerocarbon #healthymaterials #regenerativedesign #biophilicdesign #affordablehousing

🌿 Pioneering Sustainability and Equity in Affordable Housing We’re thrilled to see the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) take bold steps towards climate resilience and energy efficiency with their latest Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) investments! The $6.5 million in funding for affordable housing upgrades in Wisconsin, Maryland, and New Hampshire is a game-changer for low-income families—and a testament to the power of public and private collaboration in advancing a more sustainable future. At Living Future Institute, we’re especially proud to see Greenspire Apartments in Stoughton, Wisconsin, pursuing our Zero Energy Certification as part of their retrofit. By combining super-insulated building envelopes, ground source heat pumps, and solar energy systems, this project exemplifies the potential of regenerative design to transform housing into environmentally and socially responsible spaces. 🏡 Why this matters: • Families will benefit from healthier, more comfortable homes. • Energy efficiency improvements will drive down utility costs. • Investments in solar energy and electrification will strengthen climate resilience and decarbonize our built environment. We commend HUD and its partners for leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate these critical upgrades, aligning with our shared mission to create a Living Future for all. 💡 Learn more about the Living Future Institute's certifications, including our work with Zero Energy and Zero Carbon, to see how regenerative solutions are shaping the future of affordable housing. https://lnkd.in/dbezMXn Together, we’re proving that housing can be affordable, equitable, and regenerative. ☀️ Read HUD's press release: https://lnkd.in/g_xxjd9t #LivingFuture #GreenRetrofits #AffordableHousing #ZeroEnergy #ClimateResilience #RegenerativeDesign

What Does a Sustainable City Look Like? A Complete walkable community in which mixed-use facilities and mixed housing meet the varied needs of residents and various price points to ensure affordability and the community is designed to protect the natural features.   A low-impact transportation system that prioritizes cycling and walking, and incorporates many alternatives to single-person automobile use.   Green buildings that use green design such as LEED, and include many multi-family dwellings.   Flexible open space that accommodates both community and ecological needs including natural habitat, recreation, and space for growing food.   Green infrastructure that addresses the supply and management of energy, water, and waste, and includes innovative and financially viable heating and cooling options.   A healthy food system that includes community garden space and food outlets, as well as preserving social and cultural food celebration, and incorporates other creative food-producing outlets.   Community facilities and programs that support a healthy lifestyle for community members of all ages, that promote safety and well-being, and that foster community connection.   Economic development includes opportunities for business, investment, and employment, and includes a range of commercial facilities.

Building a sustainable future is often literally about building. And there are some fascinating intersections where housing needs meet climate action. This is certainly true in Manitoba, where buildings make up about 17% of provincial GHG emissions, and a robust energy efficiency strategy will be key to our success in the energy transition. There is a good news story happening in our community that showcases the best in sustainable building practices with innovative housing solutions for community members in need. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Jeff Daly of Simaril Inc. and Josh Friesen with Dueck Builders: Sustainable Homes. This meeting actually made my day. Simaril Inc. is a non-profit organization providing personalized support services for individuals with physical, intellectual, and mental health disabilities. One of the key services is housing solutions to persons with widely varying needs. And this can often mean home building and retrofitting (as I saw today). Dueck Builders: Sustainable Homes is a custom home builder that is squarely focused on #sustainability and a leader in the local market (and yep, in case you are wondering, they are Signatory to the Climate Action Pledge 😎). Today, we toured the construction site of one of Simaril's new supported living homes, and I was impressed to see the commitment to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency throughout the design. Key takeaways: build right, build to last, maximize efficiency, and reduce the total cost of home ownership. Simple, right? But there are many challenges with this approach: higher upfront costs can be a tougher sell, and government procurement practices and traditional funding mechanisms can struggle to approve sustainable innovations, which contribute to delays and challenges (and frustrations). As we scale up climate solutions and sustainable practices, we will also have to pay attention to policy and regulatory barriers. BizforClimate is here to help.

Our CEO, Gina Ciganik, shares her eye-opening experience while working on an affordable housing project in Minneapolis a decade ago. She realized that while the industry was achieving new heights in sustainability, there was a significant lack of awareness about the health and equity impacts of toxic chemicals used to make the building materials commonly specified. This realization became a turning point that led to her joining Habitable in 2015 (formerly, Healthy Building Network). During the interview, Gina highlights our newly released report on building materials choices in Minnesota's affordable housing projects. The report reveals that nearly 70% of "typical" products used contain or rely on hazardous chemicals. This finding is representative of the products being used in other building typologies (office, healthcare, K-12, etc.). Despite these challenges, you'll hear how she remains optimistic about turning this challenge into actionable change by stepping up from red-ranked products. To listen to the interview, click here: https://lnkd.in/gDHjCfSd To download the Minnesota report, click here: https://lnkd.in/ga_qJK8V #HabitableFuture #EquityInDesign #EnvironmentalJustice

🌍 We're delighted to announce that gs8 has been selected by The Crown Estate as a housebuilding partner to deliver 50 new net zero carbon homes in Wootton, Bedfordshire 🏡 Creating sustainable, future-proof communities, which help to address housing shortages in the UK, fully aligns with our mission statement. The scheme in Wootton will be delivered in accordance with our regenerative development principles, pioneering innovative carbon reduction strategies, and designing de-constructable homes for future reuse. "We are incredibly proud to have been chosen to partner on this groundbreaking project with such a prominent and forward-thinking partner. We approach every scheme from a holistic perspective, with this project going beyond best practice to engage the local community to help shape the development, which, combined with our regenerative housing approach, will leave a positive mark on Wootton’s community and environment.” Josh Gordon, co-founder, gs8 Read more in Show House: https://lnkd.in/e2kDwYp7 #Sustainability #Innovation #NetZeroHomes #RegenerativeDevelopment #EnergyEfficiency #FutureOfHousing #SustainableLiving #GreenBuilding #UKHousing

Special thanks to Green Building and Design Magazine for inviting me to contribute a preservation-focused article as we approach Earth Day. Not only is preservation a sustainable practice, it can help solve critical issues that our communities face - including the nation's housing crisis. Read more about the merits of housing-focused preservation and adaptive reuse and let me know your thoughts. Let's continue the conversation about solutions so that everyone can access an affordable place to live. #sustainability #greendesign #EarthDay #preservation #historicpreservation #adaptivereuse #affordablehousing #housing Background: April 22nd has been observed as Earth Day in the U.S since 1970 thanks to the efforts of environmental advocates. It is now recognized in 192 countries. This was just four years after the 1966 passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, which can be attributed to preservation advocates who saw the value of retaining our existing and historic built environment. This article is an excerpt of essays about preservation's environmental and social benefits in "The Relevancy Guidebook: How We Can Transform the Future of Preservation," published by Landmarks Illinois in November 2023 and which I authored. Find it on our website (www.landmarks.org) under "Resources." https://lnkd.in/g722y_A5