Incorporating Green Building and LEED into affordable housing: Cherry Gardens Case Study

1. Incorporating Green Building and LEED into affordable housing:Cherry Gardens Case Study Jimmy Royster Development Associate The Affordable Housing Group of NC

2. Who is The Affordable Housing Group of NC? • Nonprofit working across NC and SC • Developer, technical assistance provider and administer the Association of Housing Counselors • Curlin Commons was first affordable multifamily community in NC to be EarthCraft Certified • Cherry Gardens will be first affordable multifamily community in NC to receive LEED for Homes Certification

3. Cherry Gardens • Developers: TAHG and Living Gardens LLC • 506 Avant Street, Charlotte, NC • 42 units of rental apartments for seniors • Construction completion: April 2010 • Construction Budget: $3.8 million • Affordability: 24% to 60% AMI • Currently under USGBC review for LEED for Homes Certification (Silver, possibly Gold level)

4. The case for Green Affordable • Green building can help mitigate health disparities caused by unhealthy built environments • Energy Efficiency provides financial benefits to residents who truly need them • Use of durable materials decreases operating costs ensuring units are affordable in the future

5. Our path to LEED • Started with Energy Star and incremental green steps • Slow construction market created great opportunity • Selected increasing efficiency and promoting a healthy living environment as our priorities • Applied lessons learned from TAHG’s other green development • No LEED for Homes multifamily in North Carolina so design team had to learn as we went • Ongoing process throughout construction

6. US Green Building Council’sLEED for Homes • Third-party certifies the greenness of homes based on rigorous guidelines • LEED for Homes – Single/Multifamily • Levels – Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum • Role of LEED for Homes Provider • Registration and Certification www.usgbc.org

7. Cherry’s Green Building strategies • Energy– Efficient windows, insulation, water heaters, Energy Star light fixtures and appliances, & radiant barrier roof decking • Water- low flow fixtures & toilets • Construction site recycling • Spot ERV provides fresh air to each unit • Indoor Air Quality - Low VOC carpet and paint, low formalydye countertops

8. Cherry’s Green Site strategies • High density on previously developed site • Numerous neighborhood amenities and transit within walking distance • NC native drought tolerant plants & tree preservation • High efficiency irrigation • Charlotte’s first Stormtech underground stormwater system

9. Lessons • Measurable impact on residents and the environment • Cherry Gardens will achieve LEED, stay under budget and repay a 1/3 of our perm loan early % of construction costs dedicated to green hard costs: 7% % of total development costs dedicated to green hard and soft costs: 5% • The goals and cost of each green project will vary project to project • How to go green for cheaper? - Shoot for a lower certification level and incorporate green early in design phase • TAHG plans to collect and share information on costs and best practices • Have the right team members with clearly defined responsibilities • TAHG’s future projects will incorporate green features, going LEED will be case by case

10. Hardly anything is easy or a perfect fit on first try Green affordable housing is achievable if you are willing to learn, adapt, and be creative

11. Jimmy Royster Development Associate The Affordable Housing Group of NC jroyster@affordablehousinggroup.org 704-763-1727 More green info available at www.affordablehousinggroup.org