Enterprise Community Partners has announced the release of a research report entitled “Incremental Cost, Measurable Savings Update: Enterprise Green Communities Criteria” which examines 52 affordable housing developments that were built using either the 2005 or 2008 versions of the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (EGCC). The EGCC provides a guideline to affordable housing developers to create greener buildings, which use less energy and water, have a smaller or positive impact on the environment, and offer health benefits and a better quality of life to their residents. The average project analyzed in Enterprise’s study achieved a lifetime utility cost savings of $3,709 per dwelling unit, while the incremental cost per dwelling unit for the average project to comply with the EGCC was $3,546. The report finds that the lifetime savings, a conservative assessment of the economic life of building elements, exceeded the cost of integrating the EGCC into affordable housing.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to view an archived webinar presentation of the report findings.
