This is an ongoing series of blog posts where Cindy Wasser, Home Innovation’s Senior Manager of Green Building Programs, shares updates on Home Innovation's green advocacy efforts and opportunities for NGBS Green Partners to get involved.
Home Innovation actively advocates for third-party certified, green, affordable housing by providing input for state Qualified Allocation Plan (QAPs). QAPs specify a state agency’s allocation of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Most QAPs include criteria for energy efficiency and green building, and nearly 30 states specify green building certification as a requirement or point-based incentive. When third-party green certification is included within a QAP, NGBS Green Certification is typically recognized alongside other credible national green building programs. NGBS Green certification is affordable to implement, making it ideally suited for affordable housing. For more information about QAPs and how to get involved, contact me.
Recent QAP Updates/Opportunities by State:
ALABAMA
The Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) published its draft 2023 QAP and accepted comments through mid-August. The draft QAP includes prescriptive energy and water conservation measures, but no third-party programs are referenced. Home Innovation joined with other green building programs to encourage AHFA to incentivize comprehensive third-party green building programs and ensure that all funded projects at meet or exceed the 2015 IECC.
ARIZONA
The Arizona Department of Housing published its draft 2022-2023 QAP and accepted comments through mid-September. The QAP awards ten points for NGBS Green (Silver or higher), Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED (Silver or higher) certifications. The QAP also awards five points for HERS ratings of 55 or lower or DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) achievement.
Home Innovation submitted a letter that expressed support for the QAP’s inclusion of third-party green certifications, including NGBS Green. We also highlighted the value of third-party water ratings, such as WRI, particularly in areas experiencing drought. Finally, we requested that NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY be included alongside DOE ZERH for equal point value.
OPEN ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY! COLORADO
The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) published its first draft 2023-2024 QAP and a summary of expected changes; comments are accepted here through October 1. The QAP would require all projects to achieve 2020 NGBS Green, 2020 Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED v4.1 certification. Projects that achieve higher levels of certification and/or are constructed to be “Electrification Ready” will be considered more competitive. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to express support for CHFA’s inclusion of third-party green certifications and also recommend that CHFA highlight specific high-performance programs, including NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY, for competitive points.
OPEN ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY! DELAWARE
The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) will host a Developer’s Forum for its 2023-2024 QAP on September 21st at 10AM EDT at DSHA’s Liberty Court Community Center (1289 Walker Rd. Dover, DE 19904). The DE 2021-2022 QAP awarded three points for NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, and LEED certification and two or three points for zero energy, passive house, and resilient construction. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to attend and share feedback on green building and resiliency requirements.
OPEN ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY! IOWA
The Iowa Finance Authority released a preview and draft of its 2023 QAP. In prior rounds, green building certifications were recognized alternatives to the QAP’s energy requirements, which include ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction and HERS ratings. The draft QAP does not include these alternatives. Energy efficiency requirements for rehabilitation projects were also removed. A public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 10:00AM-12:00PM CDT, and written comments are accepted through October 6 at 4:30PM CDT. Home Innovation requested that IFA recognize green building programs once again and expressed the importance of energy efficiency and green building criteria for both new and existing buildings. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to submit comments and participate in the hearing.
NEW MEXICO
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (Housing NM) published its draft 2023 QAP and accepted comments through mid-September. The draft QAP does not include any energy efficiency or green building criteria. Home Innovation joined with other green building programs to ask Housing NM to incentivize comprehensive third-party green building programs.
OHIO
The Ohio Housing Finance Authority released the first draft of its 2023 QAP and accepted comments through mid-August. The draft QAP requires new multifamily developments to earn NGBS Green (Silver or higher), Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED (Silver or higher) certification. Rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects must obtain green certification when feasible or meet alternative requirements. Home Innovation submitted comments that praised Ohio Home for recognizing credible third-party green building programs and requested that green building expectations for rehabilitation projects be clarified. Our letter highlighted that there are specific green building compliance pathways, including NGBS Existing Buildings, that are well-suited for renovation projects.
OPEN ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY! SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority published its draft 2023 QAP and draft design criteria. A public hearing will be held virtually on September 20 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM EDT. Written comments are accepted through September 26th, 5:00PM EDT. The draft QAP would award five points for achieving NGBS Green, EarthCraft, Enterprise Green Communities, CHiP, or LEED for Homes certifications. NGBS Green Partners are encouraged to submit comments that praise SC Home for recognizing credible third-party green building programs.
TENNESSEE
The Tennessee Housing Development Authority (THDA) published its draft 2023 QAP and comments were accepted through mid-August. THDA previously recognized third-party green building programs, but none are referenced in this draft QAP. Home Innovation submitted comments that requested that the agency recognize credible third-party green certification programs, including NGBS Green.
TEXAS
The Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) released its preliminary draft 2023 QAP, and comments were accepted through early August. Four competitive points are available for NGBS Green, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED certification. Alternatively, up to four points are available for prescriptive energy and water conservation measures and IgCC compliance. Home Innovation submitted a letter of support for TDHCA’s inclusion of third-party green certifications, including NGBS Green.