NeighborWorks Affiliates' Green Projects

For Sale Developments

• Argenta Community Development Corp., Argenta, AS
• Columbus Housing Partnership, Columbus, OH
• Community Housing Partners, Christiansburg, VA
• Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation, Gainesville, FL
• Thistle Community Housing, Boulder, CO
• View Additional Case Studies in our Winning Strategies Database (search under "Green Building" or "Energy Efficiency")

Argenta Community Development Corp., North Little Rock, Arkansas

Argenta Community Development Corporation 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 helps reduce the stress on the central heating and air system, helps prevents 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. 

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Columbus Housing Partnership, Columbus, OH
North of Broad Project

This residence in the North of Broad neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, was awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding.  The home is the first Platinum-certified residential dwelling in the state of Ohio and the first in the Midwestern United States.  The home was built by NeighborWorks member Columbus Housing Partnership and a collaboration of other non-profits, government, corporate and educational entities.

The home:

• uses up to 60 percent less energy than a traditional house of a similar design;
• features an Apricus solar thermal system, advanced framing that diminished the amount of wood used for construction
• a rain garden to keep storm runoff on site and out of the watershed
• triple pane high performing windows
• low flow toilets, green cabinetry, and landscaping that includes native drought resistant plants.
• has two renewable energy systems on the home’s roof, which allows onsite generation of all necessary electricity by using the sun.

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Community Housing Partners, Christianburg, VA
Roanoke Lee-Street Project

Community Housing Partners' (CHP) Roanoke-Lee Street Project in Blacksbrurg, Va., has won numerous awards for its affordable green features. It won:

• 2008 Home Depot Foundation Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing Built Responsibly
• 2008 Silver EnergyValue Housing Award® (EVHA), affordable home/cold climate category
• 2007 ENERGY Star® Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing;
• 2007 James River Green Building Council Go Green Award
• 2007 Gold Award recipient, Best in American Living (BALA)/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence

On March 11, CHP announced that it was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for designing and constructing the Tekoa Boys’ Home, a 20-bed therapeutic residential facility for at-risk youth in Christiansburg, Virginia, which is one of the first LEED certified new construction projects built in southwestern Virginia.

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Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation, Gainesville, FL
North Point at Ironwood

North Point at Ironwood is a new project developed by the Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation (NHDC) combining affordable and market rate homeownership opportunities in Gainesville.

The project is Florida Green Building Coalition designated and features Energy Star, Water Efficiency, Lot Choice, Health Materials; the project also provides Homebuyer Education. Homeowners report that they are surprised with the low energy bills of $80 - $90 per month compared to bills of $120 or more in their previous homes. Additionally, they find that the landscaping requires low maintenance due to the incorporation of native plants in the overall landscaping design.

North Point was recognized as a “green success story” during Florida Housing Coalition’s statewide national conference September 15-17.

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Thistle Community Housing, Boulder, CO
Blue Vista

Thistle Community Housing received the Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing for its Blue Vista Development. The same development also won the 2008 Built Green Home of the Year Award from Built Green Colorado, one of the nation's oldest and largest green home-building programs; as well as the 2008 Development of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders.

Green features include:

• Compact flourescent light bulbs in all fixtures
• Furnace and water heater efficient
• Energy Star® windows and appliances
• Duct system that is inspected to have less than a 6 percent leakage
• Homes are engineered to eliminate wasted framing
• Promote green conduct in Financial Literacy courses

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