State HFAQAP Update

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• State HFA/QAP Update
• Enterprises annual study of state Qualified
  Allocation Plans (QAPs) incorporation of Green
  policies to advance smart, sustainable
  development entitled
• Greener Policies, Smarter Plans How States are
  Using the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to
  Advance Healthy, Efficient, and Environmentally
  Sound Homes by James Tassos

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• The study includes a comprehensive review of each
  states 2007 QAP with a focus on allocation
  policies that specifically promote
• Energy efficiency
• Sustainable site selection
• Resource conservation
• Enhanced indoor air quality
• Other sustainable development practices.

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• Overall, state housing agencies continue to be at
  the forefront of more environmentally sustainable
  affordable homes through their administration of
  the LIHTC and other programs
• All states now promote sustainable development in
  some fashion through their QAPs.
• More than a dozen directly reference Enterprises
  Green Communities Criteria or incorporate
  policies substantially based on it.

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• In 2007, 42 states employed threshold
  criteriamandatory design, construction, or
  energy standards or other program
  requirementsthat address sustainable
  development.
• Forty-eight states encourage green development
  using selection criteria incentives (point
  scoring). 
• Thirty-nine states have made significant strides
  in this area during the past two years.

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• In 2007, 29 states implemented notable new
  policies or substantially revised policies
  encouraging sustainable development since the
  previous years QAP
• Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,
  Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas,
  Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
  Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
  Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
  Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South
  Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• The early look at 2008 QAPs indicates more
  progress
• In virtually every case the green elements in
  combination constitute a significant policy
  priority for the state.
• Conclusion Developers competing for LIHTCs in
  many states will need to seriously consider
  achieving a high standard of sustainability to be
  in the best position to receive LIHTC
  allocations.

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• State HFA/QAP Update (contd)
• The QAP study is available at
• www.greencommunitiesonline.org

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Understanding New LEED Standards

• LEED is a national benchmark for the design,
  construction and operation of high performance
  green buildings developed by US Green Building
  Council
• Ratings based on points scored in various
  categories
• Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum

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Understanding New LEED Standards

• Early LEED programs focused on new construction
  of commercial and institutional buildings
• LEED For Homes Went Live in January 2008
• LEED For Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) is in
  pilot phase

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Green Communities Criteria

• Tailored to green affordable housing development
• Went live in 2004

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LEED For Homes Framework

• For single family homes and multifamily buildings
  up to 4 stories
• New construction

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Green Communities Framework

• Urban, Suburban, Rural
• New Construction
• Rehabilitation
• Moderate Rehabilitation
• Adaptive Re-use
• Single-family Detached
• Single-family Attached
• Multi-family high-,mid-,and low-rise

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LEED For Homes Criteria

• Innovation and Design Process
• Location and Linkages
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Awareness and Education

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Green Communities Criteria

• Integrated Design Process
• Location and Neighborhood Fabric
• Site
• Water Conservation
• Energy Conservation
• Materials and Resources
• Healthy Living Environment
• Operations and Management

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Comparing LEED For Homes and Green Communities

• In general, LEED For Homes SilverGreen
  Communities Certified
• Cross-certification eligibility is under
  development between USGBC and Enterprise
• Energy efficiency criteria for both programs is
  based on Energy Star
• Green Communities is tailored to affordable
  housing, has a broader framework

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LEED-ND

• Under development by USGBC, NRDC, and Congress
  for the New Urbanism
• National standards for neighborhood location and
  design
• Based on principles of smart growth, new
  urbanism, and green building
• Emphasizes design elements that bring buildings
  together into a neighborhood, and relate the
  neighborhood to its landscape and region

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LEED-ND contd

• Projects in the program can be whole
  neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods, or
  multiple neighborhoods
• Overall goal is to improve land-use patterns and
  neighborhood design
• Pilot is currently closed to new projects
• See www.usgbc.org for rating guide, etc.

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• www.greencommunitiesonline.org