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 | Mar 19, 2021
California city bans construction of new gas stations
Existing stations will not be allowed to add more pumps.
Codes and Standards | Mar 18, 2021
Congressmen ask Biden to tackle rising lumber costs
Rising materials costs and supply shortages threaten economic recovery, housing starts.
Codes and Standards | Mar 16, 2021
Massachusetts bill would mandate rooftop solar on new homes, commercial buildings
Proposed Bay State mandate modeled on California’s.
Codes and Standards | Mar 15, 2021
Nevada may create areas for tech companies to form own governments
Legislation calls for ‘Innovation Zones’ that could become smart cities.
Codes and Standards | Mar 11, 2021
Los Angeles commits to carbon-free city buildings
City will take into account embedded carbon when contracting to buy construction products.
Codes and Standards | Mar 10, 2021
‘Smart retrofitting’ will be crucial to net zero aspirations
AI, analytical software, Internet of Things are keys to decarbonization of built environment.
Codes and Standards | Mar 9, 2021
Salt Lake City is first jurisdiction to adopt new standards for off-site construction
Code Council and Modular Building Institute developing standards and compliance protocols.
Codes and Standards | Mar 8, 2021
Hyperlocal zoning could spur more affordable housing construction
Letting blocks and streets pass their own rules could have impact.
Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2021
Biden builds on Trump’s “Buy American” order
New administration extends preferences for domestic construction materials.
Codes and Standards | Mar 4, 2021
Biden administration overturns Trump’s federal building design mandate
Previous order promoted classical and “traditional” architecture above others.