Plan

How do I approach a green affordable housing project? How is the process different? How do I plan to build green?

Integrate

The integrated design process brings your whole team to the table to plan and design a truly high-performance building. The combined experience of the architects, engineers, builders, subcontractors, consultants, operations staff, and others can connect the dots and create a building where all of the components work together to deliver comfort, health, and efficiency. By valuing collaboration and communication from the beginning, you will pave the way for a smooth design and construction process with fewer call-backs and change orders. These design, process, and operating efficiencies will cut costs. Go to the Integrated Design page.

Involve the community

Combine your team's vision and experience with the real life needs and preferences of residents and the community. When you plan charrettes and meetings to engage community members and respond to their questions, concerns, and ideas, your project is much more likely to receive their support. Go to the Involve page.

Innovate

Building green opens the door to innovative design, financing, and construction techniques and to higher performance through the use of advanced equipment and novel approaches. Your project can break the mold and stay within budget as you can gain experience with these methods. Go to the Innovate page.

Pick & Choose

Make your project green by focusing on performance. Use strong evaluation tools to make the best choices: energy modeling to design your building envelope and to right-size systems; life-cycle assessment to pick durable, low-impact, and cost-effective materials; commissioning to ensure that the essential details of insulation, sealing, and systems installation are done right. Use contract language and specifications to make performance the goal, then work with your whole team to keep your green choices on track. Go to the Pick & Choose page.

Planning to build green means making the best choices for your project. When you bring your whole team's skills to the design process and keep the focus on performance, you open the door to innovation. By responding to community needs and investing in building analysis, you can make the best choices for residents, the environment, and your bottom line.