RFP Opportunity
Enterprise has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to support the development of clear performance expectations and processes to guide affordable hou...
For over 20 years, our Green Communities have created healthy, sustainable and affordable homes for over 1 million people.
LIVING GREEN
2300
affordable housing developments nationwide have met Green Communities certification to date.
EMISSIONS PREVENTED
26000 tons
of CO2 emissions prevented by our Green Communities-certified homes.
SAVINGS
$131 Million
saved in water and energy costs by our Green Communities-certified homes.
In addition to our industry-leading standards, we provide grants and technical assistance to advance high-quality affordable housing development, partner with researchers to improve the health and quality of indoor environments, and engage federal, state and local leaders on polices that further green affordable housing development.
Many of those living in areas most vulnerable to climate change are communities of color, which is why we’re committed to advancing racial equity while promoting economic and environmental justice. All of our capital tools, technical assistance, programs and policy solutions are designed as a response to the legacy of systematic racism in housing and the increasing racial wealth gap in America.
Our cost-effective, above-code green building program includes integrative design, site considerations, water, energy, healthy building, operations/maintenance and resident engagement. It is applicable for new construction, substantial and moderate rehabilitation, historic properties and adaptive reuse across both multifamily and single-family affordable housing projects.
In partnership with the International Well Building Institute and their WELL Building Standard, we’ve leveraged the best of these impactful programs, and created a path for affordable housing developments in the United States to create best-in-class healthy, efficient and environmentally responsible homes. Projects that achieve certification with the 2020 Criteria are recognized as certified under both Enterprise Green Communities and the WELL Building Standard.
Learn more about our criteria and eligibility requirements.
Enterprise recently modified its Green Communities criteria to simplify how developers pursuing our highest level of certification, Certification Plus, can align their projects with the Department of Energy’s newly released National Definition of Zero-Emission Building. As a result, housing providers now have more opportunities to access valuable funding and incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act, while supporting energy and emissions goals for the sector. In another recent update, the criteria now offer housing providers embarked on deep energy retrofits a clear course to Certification Plus, giving existing buildings an on-ramp for IRA opportunities, as well as funding through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery.
We are passionate about turning our best practices into standard practices and are here to support you on this journey. To make things easy, we’ve created a certification portal with everything you need to complete your application.
In addition to a comprehensive overview of our application process, the portal has customizable templates, tools and calculators for your green building certification submittal. We also host regular office hours to answer your certification questions.
In addition to our industry-leading standards, we partner with researchers and government organizations to advance the field of green affordable housing development.
Our practice-informed guidance leverages more than four decades of successful advocacy at all levels of government and experience executing programs to create actionable policies. At the national level, we work with affordable housing institutions including HUD, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to associate more favorable financial incentives for housing that achieves green building standards.
Our team is always working to deepen our understanding of how green building, policies and practices can lead to more equitable development. Throughout our history we have partnered with a variety of leading institutions on research projects designed to advance the field, for example, “Studying Optimal Ventilation for Environmental Indoor Air Quality” with the National Center for Healthy Housing.
More than 30 states currently include Green Communities Criteria as part of their Qualified Action Plans for the distribution of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits – and many more include some level of green and/or energy incentive(s). We provide guidance on best practices to housing finance agencies and other organizations to help continually move the needle on green building and work nationwide with coalition partners to advance green building across the country. Learn more about the certification offerings in your state’s QAP.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you advance green building for affordable housing in your area.
Meet Our Team