The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) recently released a guide to aid affordable housing developers and designers to construct new sustainable affordable housing.
The Guide for Greener QAPs identifies strategies to overcome social, regulatory, and financial barriers for new development. Affordable housing projects typically submit Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) when applying for federal low-income housing tax credit programs that are administered by state housing finance agencies.
QAPs have a significant influence on the type of housing that gets built and can be used to incentivize certain building types and features. Many state finance agencies have found that adding sustainability criteria to their QAPs can be an effective method to encourage projects to consider health and energy efficiency, according to ILFI.
The guide is the result of three years of work by ILFI working with state finance agencies around the country to encourage sustainability and healthy materials use in affordable housing projects through QAPs.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 18, 2016
ASHRAE releases proposed energy standard for historic buildings
Designed to balance with preservation requirements.
Codes and Standards | Apr 13, 2016
Canadian city fines itself for failing to get a building permit for building renovation
Guelph, Ontario, will pay a $1,125 fine to the province.
Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2016
Construction trade groups sue OSHA over silica rule
Cite concerns about technological and economic feasibility.
Codes and Standards | Apr 11, 2016
New LEED 2009 projects will have to meet increased minimum energy performance
New requirements went into effect April 8.
Wood | Apr 8, 2016
New LEED Pilot ACP designed to help eliminate irresponsibly sourced materials
Illegal wood is primary target to restrict illicit material in the supply chain.
Lighting | Apr 5, 2016
Lighting requirements for high-rise dwellings proposed for energy standard
The requirements would effectively eliminate incandescent and halogen bulbs.
Steel Buildings | Apr 4, 2016
AISI publishes Cold-Formed Steel Framing Design Guide, 2016 Edition
Updates 2007 edition; includes five comprehensive design examples.
Data Centers | Apr 1, 2016
ASHRAE releases publication on the impact of IT equipment on data center design
The book offers advice for designing structures in the fast-changing data center industry.
Codes and Standards | Mar 28, 2016
Occupant egress simulations that impact codes fall short, researchers say
Building evacuations in emergencies are too dangerous as a result.
School Construction | Mar 28, 2016
National report on school buildings reports $46 billion annual funding shortfall
Millions of students said to be learning in obsolete facilities.
