WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - April 22, 2010) - As the nation celebrates Earth Day 2010, NeighborWorks® America reaffirms its commitment to help low- and moderate-income communities across the nation go "green" and become healthy, sustainable places for people to live and work.
The commitment begins at home with NeighborWorks America's pledge to reduce its own carbon footprint by 10 percent by 2012 and to offer training and education on green practices to the nonprofit community development field at large.
The commitment continues throughout the NeighborWorks network, which is working hard to promote green practices in communities through green home design and construction, rehabilitation, weatherization, energy efficient rental properties, and green jobs training. NeighborWorks America and the NeighborWorks network are fully committed to working together to create or rebuild healthy, sustainable communities across the country.
"This is an exciting time for the nonprofit community development field and its efforts to create healthy, sustainable and affordable housing," said Thomas P. Deyo, deputy director of National Initiatives and Applied Research at NeighborWorks America. "NeighborWorks America is committed to being a leader in employing and promoting green and sustainable practices for the long-term benefit of the environment and our nation's communities, so that all people can live, work, and play in healthy, ecologically friendly and affordable places."
Just a few of the local NeighborWorks organizations' green initiatives currently underway include:
-
Argenta Community Development Corporation (Ark.) was awarded a Gold LEED-H® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) certification rating for four green homes in its affordable housing construction initiative: Building Green. These were the first residential structures in Arkansas to earn this designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. All of Argenta CDC's Building Green homes meet the rigorous Energy Star® US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for energy efficiency and are at least 30 percent more efficient than traditionally built homes. The energy saving amenities include gap-proof insulation, tight air and duct sealing and higher efficiency heating and cooling units. The tight construction of the homes helps reduce the stress on the central heating and air system, helps prevent drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pests and to ensure better indoor air quality. The use of compact fluorescent bulbs in lighting fixtures, energy efficient windows, ventilation fans and low flow faucets also contribute to reduced utility bills.
-
Thistle Community Housing (Boulder, Colo.) received the Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing for its Blue Vista Development. Green features of the Blue Vista development include: compact fluorescent light bulbs in all light fixtures, energy efficient furnace and water heater, Energy Star® windows and appliances, a duct system that is inspected to have less than a 6 percent leakage, and the homes are engineered to eliminate wasted framing.
-
Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo (Ohio) recently received $8 million in federal stimulus funding to insulate and efficiently heat over 1,000 Lucas County, Ohio homes at no cost to the homeowners. When the weatherization project is complete in 2011, over 1,000 households will have lower utility bills that result in an average savings of $400 per year.
-
PathStone Corp. (Rochester, N.Y.) received an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for green jobs training, as part of a $150 million program from the federal stimulus. The green jobs training will train participants, which include unemployed individuals and individuals who have not finished high school, for work in three energy efficiency and clean energy sub-sectors. Through the program, participants will earn certifications and receive on-the-job training that will lead to employment.
In addition to supporting the groundbreaking green and sustainable energy projects that are piloted and replicated throughout the NeighborWorks network, NeighborWorks America now offers 15 green and healthy homes courses through its NeighborWorks Training Institutes and place-based trainings. Green courses that will be offered during the upcoming NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) in Phoenix, May 3-7, 2010, include Green and Healthy Strategies for Multifamily Properties and Using Green Strategies for More Livable Neighborhoods.
NeighborWorks America also recently launched its first eLearning green course -- Fundamentals of Green Affordable Housing, Rehab, and Management -- which is designed to help local nonprofits and municipalities understand the key elements that will provide more energy efficient and healthier homes.
Lastly, more information about NeighborWorks' green efforts can be found on the NeighborWorks Green Agenda web site: www.nw.org/green. The site features information about green education and training offered by NeighborWorks, best green practices of community development nonprofits, and the latest industry news and research. The Green Agenda is designed to help the housing and community development industry create "greener" and healthier housing and communities.
For more information about NeighborWorks America's and the NeighborWorks network's green activities, visit www.nw.org/green or contact Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org, or Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org.
About NeighborWorks® America
NeighborWorks® America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network -- more than 235 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org
Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org