The developers of affordable housing are increasingly incorporating green building features into new construction to reduce long-term heating costs and protect the environment.

As energy prices continue to climb and the environmental impact of carbon emissions and global warming become more apparent, New England communities are taking more seriously alternative approaches to energy use and home construction.

The developers of affordable housing are increasingly incorporating green building features into new construction to reduce long-term heating costs and protect the environment. Green construction promotes building longevity through the use of durable materials, and supports conservation by recycling construction materials. It preserves natural resources by reducing consumption of energy, water, and lumber, and enhances health by using products that neither pollute nor deplete the environment.

Green building supports use of renewable solar, hydro, and wind power to reduce the carbon emissions associated with air pollution and global warming. Reducing the use of fossil fuel also means less dependence on costly imported oil and lower heating costs, particularly for the residents of affordable housing.
 
To tell the story of green building in New England, Tools has turned to the developers of affordable housing across the region, including many who have benefited from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP). We asked bankers, developers, architects, and builders to share their experiences with green building to better understand how new green standards are altering the construction of affordable housing in the region.

In the coming years, government policies are certain to have an impact on the status of green building standards. To better understand that impact, Tools asked Congressman John Hodes (D-NH-2) to comment on green-related legislative initiatives, and Dale McCormick, executive director of MaineHousing, to discuss Maine’s new Green Building Standards.

In recent years, the Bank has been closely aligned with the green building movement through sponsorship of the annual Affordable Housing Development Competition and forums on affordable-housing design and green building technologies.

“The Bank’s AHP gives points to housing initiatives that incorporate high-performance green building elements into their proposals,” says Kenneth Willis, vice president and director of the Bank’s housing and community investment department. “Initiatives that demonstrate use of specific green building practices receive three points, which often represent the difference between winning and not winning an AHP award.”

The Bank’s focus on green building goes hand in hand with its promotion of well-designed affordable housing. “Well-designed housing represents a better investment for the Bank, our members, and New England communities,” says Mr. Willis. “It makes our communities more livable and our economy more vibrant and resilient. Well-designed, green developments are durable, energy efficient, and effectively meet the needs of their users.”