The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation announced the opening of the application period for the expanded 2014 Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program.
The program, which awards financial and educational resources to developers of affordable housing in North America that are committed to building sustainable communities through the LEED for Neighborhood Development program, is made possible by an $850,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
This year the program will expand to 14 awardees from 10 in 2012, the most recent year that grants were awarded. Applications will be accepted from now until July 11, 2014.
LEED for Neighborhood Development is a green neighborhood rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building, while benefitting communities by reducing urban sprawl, increasing transportation choices and decreasing automobile dependence, encouraging healthy living, and protecting threatened species.
“Ensuring universal access to healthy and affordable housing for all people is a critical element of our pursuit of a sustainable built environment,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Green buildings and neighborhoods are about the people who inhabit them every day, and Bank of America is committed to creating vibrant, walkable and affordable communities that enhance the quality of life for everyone who calls them home.”
“Together, Bank of America and USGBC are bringing to life the best plans in sustainable community development throughout North America,” said Alex Liftman, global environmental executive, Bank of America. “The continued growth of the LEED for Neighborhood Development and the Affordable Green Neighborhood programs showcases how communities can design and build in a way that protects our environment while enhancing economic vitality.”
A review committee of industry leaders will award 14 affordable housing projects in the U.S. and Canada with the following support:
-
Cash award of $25,000 USD to be used to pursue LEED for Neighborhood Development certification
-
Complimentary LEED for Neighborhood Development reference guide
-
Registration for the online LEED for Neighborhood Development webinar series
-
Registration for a LEED for Neighborhood Development educational workshop
-
Waived registration and exam fees for one member of each project team to pursue the LEED Green Associate professional credential
-
Monthly support calls and direct access for technical inquiries
-
One registration for the National Affordable Green Homes & Sustainable Communities Summit during the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in New Orleans
-
Travel stipend to attend Greenbuild 2014
-
In addition to the award package, three to four projects will be selected to receive a two-day, in-person technical assistance session with a team of USGBC and Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) staff, valued at $3,000. The in-person meetings provide an opportunity for USGBC and GBCI staff to provide intensive, dedicated assistance to projects pursuing certification. The application form provides interested projects the opportunity to apply for the selective technical assistance sessions.
This is the third round of funding the Bank of America Charitable Foundation has provided for the Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program. The 2014 program has grown to include support for additional projects, in-person technical assistance visits and an expanded focus to include Canadian projects.
Through the previous cycles of the grant program in 2012 and 2010, USGBC has provided assistance to 20 affordable housing redevelopment projects across the country, representing the creation of 8,448 rental units and 2,391 for-sale units. All projects are being designed and built to the highest standards of environmental sustainability and indoor air quality, with the majority reserved for low-income residents.
Applicants for the program will be notified of their status in early September. To learn more about the Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program and/or to apply, visit www.usgbc.org/initiatives/grants/affordable-neighborhoods.
Related Stories
Architects | Apr 2, 2024
AE Works announces strategic acquisition of WTW Architects
AE Works, an award-winning building design and consulting firm is excited to announce that WTW Architects, a national leader in higher education design, has joined the firm.
Office Buildings | Apr 2, 2024
SOM designs pleated façade for Star River Headquarters for optimal daylighting and views
In Guangzhou, China, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed the recently completed Star River Headquarters to minimize embodied carbon, reduce energy consumption, and create a healthy work environment. The 48-story tower is located in the business district on Guangzhou’s Pazhou Island.
K-12 Schools | Apr 1, 2024
High school includes YMCA to share facilities and connect with the broader community
In Omaha, Neb., a public high school and a YMCA come together in one facility, connecting the school with the broader community. The 285,000-sf Westview High School, programmed and designed by the team of Perkins&Will and architect of record BCDM Architects, has its own athletic facilities but shares a pool, weight room, and more with the 30,000-sf YMCA.
Market Data | Apr 1, 2024
Nonresidential construction spending dips 1.0% in February, reaches $1.179 trillion
National nonresidential construction spending declined 1.0% in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.179 trillion.
Affordable Housing | Apr 1, 2024
Biden Administration considers ways to influence local housing regulations
The Biden Administration is considering how to spur more affordable housing construction with strategies to influence reform of local housing regulations.
Affordable Housing | Apr 1, 2024
Chicago voters nix ‘mansion tax’ to fund efforts to reduce homelessness
Chicago voters in March rejected a proposed “mansion tax” that would have funded efforts to reduce homelessness in the city.
Standards | Apr 1, 2024
New technical bulletin covers window opening control devices
A new technical bulletin clarifies the definition of a window opening control device (WOCD) to promote greater understanding of the role of WOCDs and provide an understanding of a WOCD’s function.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 30, 2024
Hotel vs. office: Different challenges in commercial to residential conversions
In the midst of a national housing shortage, developers are examining the viability of commercial to residential conversions as a solution to both problems.
Sustainability | Mar 29, 2024
Demystifying carbon offsets vs direct reductions
Chris Forney, Principal, Brightworks Sustainability, and Rob Atkinson, Senior Project Manager, IA Interior Architects, share the misconceptions about carbon offsets and identify opportunities for realizing a carbon-neutral building portfolio.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 28, 2024
Longwood Gardens reimagines its horticulture experience with 17-acre conservatory
Longwood Gardens announced this week that Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience, the most ambitious revitalization in a century of America’s greatest center for horticultural display, will open to the public on November 22, 2024.
