Enterprise Green Communities Certification

Enterprise Green Communities is pleased to offer an online process for certifying green affordable housing developments. The process is available for any affordable housing project that meets the eligibility parameters outlined below.

Eligibility

  • Certification is open to all entities engaged in the development of affordable housing. (Please note that Enterprise defines affordable housing as projects serving residents at or below 60% AMI for rental projects and at or below 80% AMI for for-sale projects).
  • The development team must demonstrate their qualifications to successfully carry out the proposed project.
  • Project teams submitting a request for certification may include, but are not limited to, participants in the Green Communities Carbon Offset Fund and affordable housing providers participating in local, state and/or federal green building programs.

Review Process
Enterprise Green Communities certification will require a two-step certification review process:

Step 1

  • Project team completes online certification request form and submits additional documentation during the design phase, as plans and specs are being developed.
  • Once all submittals required under Step 1 are complete, Enterprise will conduct an initial review of the materials and provide feedback on the submission as necessary.

Step 2

  • Project team completes online final certification form within 60 days of construction completion.
  • Enterprise conducts final review and determines whether project can be certified as meeting the Green Communities Criteria. Enterprise sends notification of certification to project contact via email within 30 days of receiving completed submission.
  • Any project team submitting a request for certification to Enterprise may be subject to on-site verification by a third-party provider. Projects will be selected for on-site verification on a quarterly basis, using a random sampling approach based on the number of certification requests submitted in a given quarter. Enterprise will direct a consultant to conduct the on-site verification, monitor the consultant for quality assurance, and cover the costs to complete the verification.

Submittals

Step 1, Submitted through the online application process:

  • Certification Request Form.
  • Certification workbook (Excel, 181K) – complete only the Project Overview and Intended Methods tabs for this step.
  • Site Plan: This plan must indicate utilities and sidewalk connections as appropriate.
  • Context Map: This map must indicate locations of minimally required community amenities and their distances from project boundaries.
  • Energy Improvement Report: Required for Moderate and Substantial Rehabilitation Projects only. The report must provide the results of modeling the current and projected energy performance of the building.
  • Utility Release (Word, 262K)

Step 2, Submitted through the online application process

  • Final Certification Form
  • Certification workbook (Excel, 181K) – complete only the Cost Development and Compliance Report tabs for this step.
  • Energy modeling report: Project teams should submit results of energy modeling in the format provided by modeler that indicates the percentage improvement as compared to the baseline building. Enterprise does not require a standard form for this submittal.
  • Project photos: Project photos should show project before, during and after construction.