Making Affordable Housing Truly Affordable

Matt Petersen President & CEO Global Green USA 04.14.2010

GLOBAL GREEN USA

Foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment

GLOBAL GREEN & GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

19952005

Why Green Affordable Housing?

Long-Term Ownership Supports Life Cycle Approach Projects are typically owned and operated by the same organization for 15-55 years – justifying medium- to long-term payback periods.

Dollar Savings Help Low-Income Families Most Utility costs can be 25% of expenses after rent. Low-income families spend more on utilities than on education or health care.

Housing Should be Safe, Decent, Affordable & Healthy Indoor toxins impact children's nervous and respiratory systems and can be a trigger for asthma.

Affordable Housing is a Public Asset Approximately $500 million annually in Federal tax credits are allocated to housing. It is critical that these assets are well-designed, do not create an operation burden, and are long-lasting.

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OUR APPROACH

Los VecinosLos Vecinos

•Opened Spring 2009•42 units- including community room•3-story naturally-cooled, a/c community room•LEED platinum – 42% better than CA energy code•93kW of Photovoltaic

LOS VECINOS

•Annually—the average unit PV system is producing 30% more electricity than the average apartment is using, making the entire project a net electricity exporter

• Electricity bills are an average of 62% lower than they are at a nearby affordable housing development

“…low-income groups have additional vulnerability to climate change.”

-EPA

REBUILDING A GREEN NEW ORLEANS

“No organization is doing more

to green New Orleans than Global

Green USA…”- TIME

POLICY: LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT

•• GG launched advocacy in 2000 to “green” the Qualified GG launched advocacy in 2000 to “green” the Qualified Allocation Plan in CAAllocation Plan in CA

•• Success in CA led to greening QAP in LA after KatrinaSuccess in CA led to greening QAP in LA after Katrina

•• GG launched analysis of all states QAPs in 2005GG launched analysis of all states QAPs in 2005

•• GG used this analysis to identify additional states that GG used this analysis to identify additional states that needed assistance needed assistance -- In 2007 we selected NY and TX when they received a “C” In 2007 we selected NY and TX when they received a “C” -- In 2009, TX received a “B+” and NY received an “AIn 2009, TX received a “B+” and NY received an “A--” ”

QAP Analysis – 5 year trends

Top 15 Strategies in QAPs

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QAP Analysis Summary

•• Steady increase in incorporating green in QAPs.Steady increase in incorporating green in QAPs.

•• Increased emphasis on resources and health.Increased emphasis on resources and health.

•• Increased emphasis on specific green certifications.Increased emphasis on specific green certifications.

•• States that make an effort are see big jumps in scoring.States that make an effort are see big jumps in scoring.

•• Most efforts are focused on creating better requirements.Most efforts are focused on creating better requirements.

•• Only a few states are providing additional funding for green Only a few states are providing additional funding for green

projects.projects.

POLICY: ENERGY POLICY ACT 2005

Corzine amendment championed by Global Green:Corzine amendment championed by Global Green:

•• Directs HUD to allow Public Housing Authorities to Directs HUD to allow Public Housing Authorities to integrate their Capital Budgets with their O&M Budgetsintegrate their Capital Budgets with their O&M Budgets

•• Requires PHAs to purchase Energy Star appliancesRequires PHAs to purchase Energy Star appliances

•• Requires all housing constructed or rehabbed with HUD $ Requires all housing constructed or rehabbed with HUD $ to meet the 2000 Internatl Energy & Conservation Codeto meet the 2000 Internatl Energy & Conservation Code

•• Requires HUD to draft energy strategy to reduce utility Requires HUD to draft energy strategy to reduce utility expenses in public and Indian housingexpenses in public and Indian housing

HOW DOES THISHOW DOES THISRELATE TORELATE TO

AFFORDABLEAFFORDABLEHOUSINGHOUSING

PRESERVATION?PRESERVATION?

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION?

The greenest building is the one that already exists...

and there are millions of existing multi-family buildings in the US

HUD spends $5 billionon utilities

NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO BE BOLDAsthma is at epidemic levels in many US inner city

neighborhoods

The incidence of asthma linked directly to housing-related hazards costs the U.S. economy approximately $3.5 billion each year.

THE LINKAGE BETWEEN GREEN AH &PRESERVATION

�� IfIf preservationpreservation andand rehabilitationrehabilitation of theseof theseproperties occurs, green building practicesproperties occurs, green building practicescan provide a variety of benefits includingcan provide a variety of benefits includinghealthierhealthier, more, more habitablehabitable housing throughhousing throughthe use of morethe use of more durable, nondurable, non--toxictoxicmaterialsmaterials. Affordability can be maintained. Affordability can be maintainedthrough the use ofthrough the use of energy efficiency andenergy efficiency andrenewable energy.renewable energy.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO BE BOLD

- Show deep green retrofits are possible in existing buildings

- Demonstrate there are benefits to low-income residents and neighborhoods

- See preservation as an entry point for collaborative policy making and Integrated problem solving

Action now on energy and GHG regulations

Where there is the will Where there is the will

There is the wayThere is the way

Global Green USAGlobal Green USA 2218 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 5812218 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 581--2700 2700 www.globalgreen.orgwww.globalgreen.org