NeighborhoodWorks America Goes Green

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In a major Earth Day announcement, NeighborhoodWorks America re-affirmed its commitment to sustainable development. The group has pledged to reduce the carbon footprint by 10% by 2012 on all its new low to moderate income housing projects.
NeighborhoodWorks America has also agreed to provide training and education on green development practices and emerging green technology for not-for-profit community development project managers. Thomas Deyo of NeighborhoodWorks America announced, “This is an exciting time for the nonprofit community development field and its efforts to create healthier, sustainable communities across the country. NeighborhoodWorks is committed to being a leader in employing and promoting green and sustainable practices for the long-term benefit of the environment so that people can live, work and play in healthy, ecologically friendly, affordable places.”

Deyo’s message sounds familiar. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating program is designed to guide sustainable development on environmental, economic and social fronts. NeighborhoodWorks has adopted the LEED® certification program.

Deyo made his announcement from the Cambridge (MA) Neighborhood Apartment and Housing Services’ Trolley Square complex. The 40 unit sustainable design is LEED® rated and incorporates many sustainable, green features.

Conservation enhancements include water conservation, energy efficient lighting, a gearless elevator, a solar photovoltaic array to power lighting in the underground garage and much more. Occupants must agree to lead environmentally friendly lifestyles.

Other NeighborhoodWorks projects that have received LEED® certifications are the Columbus Housing Partnership, which accomplished a platinum level rating, the Foundation Communities of Austin, Texas, which uses 100% renewable energy and Homewise, Inc of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

NeighborhoodWorks will host a Phoenix symposium entitled Greening Your Roadmap to Succeed in a Changing Landscape on May 6th. Green building, green property management and green economic opportunities will be disused by expert panelists. The public is invited to attend and participate in the program.