Renters in many U.S. cities have come to expect green features in apartments that they rent, with an eye toward energy efficiency and healthy indoor air, according to a report by National Real Estate Investor. New apartment units today almost always include some green features, with renovations often incorporating sustainable design components.
Some 42% of overall multifamily financing provided by Fannie Mae in 2017 qualified for its Green Rewards program. That program offers lower interest rates to apartment properties that have earned green building certifications or pledge to cut their energy use by at least 25% through renovations.
Tenants are willing to pay an extra $27.21 a month to live in buildings that have green certifications, according to the 2017 NMHC/Kingsley Renter Preferences Report.
With the cost of incorporating many green features in apartment properties having dropped to be roughly comparable to conventional construction, landlords are meeting the wishes of the market. Fannie Mae’s Green Rewards program often slices about a fifth to a third of a percentage point off the interest rates offered to apartment borrowers.
In 2017, Fannie Mae provided $27.6 billion in financing to qualified apartment properties through Green Rewards.
Related Stories
| Jun 14, 2012
USGBC co-founder launches rating system for building product manufacturers
U.S. Green Building Council co-founder David Gottfried’s new venture, Regenerative Ventures, has established a rating system for building product manufacturers.
| Jun 14, 2012
Green standard set for single-ply roofing membrane
A sustainability standard has been established for single-ply roofing membranes used on commercial buildings.
| Jun 14, 2012
Minnesota Vikings stadium plan gets legislative go-ahead
Legislation that approved the construction of a new billion dollar stadium for the Minnesota Vikings passed the Minnesota legislature.
| Jun 14, 2012
Report alleges New York’s prevailing construction wages are miscalculated, costing billions
A miscalculation in how prevailing wages are calculated in New York reportedly costs the state $3 billion a year in public-infrastructure projects.
| Jun 14, 2012
AGC, other business groups oppose hiring rules for disabled
Business groups have asked the U.S. Department of Labor to reconsider a proposed hiring quota aimed at federal contractors pertaining to people with disabilities.
| Jun 5, 2012
HP Labs aims for net-zero energy data centers
Building sustainable data centers is one of the goals of HP Labs, and it believes technology, combined with the right building techniques, could result in the construction of energy-efficient data centers.
| Jun 5, 2012
USGBC delays LEED 2012; renames it LEED v4
In response to concerns by LEED users, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will delay the ballot on LEED 2012 until June 1, 2013.
| Jun 5, 2012
Baltimore officials vow to block $1.8 billion urban renewal project
Baltimore officials want to block a $1.8 billion urban renewal project until more neighborhood residents and minority contractors are hired and displaced residents can benefit from the revitalization.
