Green building has become a fundamental element of many states Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs), which guide the distribution of the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Seven years ago, Global Green USA developed a performance ranking system to compare states’ efforts to build sustainably-designed, healthy and energy efficient affordable housing. We recently completed our “Progress and Possibilities” report evaluating the 2012 Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs), which guide the distribution of the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (LIHTC). LIHTC supports development of nearly 100,000 housing units annually for individuals and families living below median income levels.
The results of this year’s analysis clearly demonstrate that green building has become a fundamental element of many states’ QAPs. For the first time, two states – Connecticut and Maryland – achieved perfect scores. Nearly half (47%) of all LIHTC funds went to states achieving an A- or better in our ranking, and 72% of all funds went to states that received a B- or better. Use of third-party standards is also growing. In the first year of analysis (2005), only 8 states mentioned a third party green building certification program in their QAP. Now, more than half of all states reference national or regional programs like LEED, Enterprise Green Communities, Green Point Rated, and Earthcraft. In 15 states, the majority of funded housing projects pursue green building certification.
Recognizing the growth in the number of states that are using third party programs, this year we updated our scoring system to offer two scoring paths. While the two perfect-scoring states followed the prescriptive path, nearly three-quarters of A- or better states followed the performance path.
Still, there is a great deal of room to further capitalize on the momentum built by the efforts of individual states as comprehensive federal action in this area is only in its infancy. To begin addressing this, the 2012 report offers a series of recommendations to further expand the scope, rigor and implementation of green measures in QAPs, and in low-income housing broadly:
- Update the IRS code governing LIHTC to include health criteria and water conservation.
- Use established tools and metrics such as Walk Score, Housing Transportation Index, and LEED for Neighborhood Development to define smart growth and sustainable neighborhood criteria in QAPs.
- Standardize the green assessment process and energy performance expectations for rehabilitation projects.
- Require energy monitoring for built developments, and establish standard methods for quantifying the environmental and health benefits of green building.
- Require independent, third party verification of green building measures.
- Include green requirements in other federal housing programs administered by the Department of Agriculture and HUD.
I and my colleagues at Global Green USA look forward to further contributing to the national conversation on greening affordable housing, collaborating with stakeholders to push forward our recommendations, and work towards the wider goal of reducing GHG emissions. With reelection wrapped up and events like Superstorm Sandy demanding the American populace acknowledge climate change’s potential catastrophic reality, targeted advocacy aimed at the federal level may be able to finally gain long-overdue traction.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Write for Planetizen
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.