The Green Communities Criteria
To learn if your project has the potential for green classification and Green Communities grants and funding, see the full criteria and requirements. Download the latest version of the Green Communities Criteria (PDF, 1MB)

The Green Criteria contains detailed information that addresses aspects of design, development and operations, such as:
  • Integrated Design
  • Site, Location and Neighborhood Fabric
  • Site Improvements
  • Water Conservation
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Materials Beneficial to the Environment
  • Healthy Living Environment
  • Operations and Maintenance

To aid you with the Green Criteria, we offer a Green Communities Criteria Checklist. (PDF, 178K)

Washington, D.C.

For developers in the District of Columbia, please refer to the Washington, D.C. webpage for DC-specific information and on-line resources on the Green Building Act and related Green Communities Criteria.

Developing the Criteria

The Green Communities criteria was developed collaboratively by Enterprise and a number of leading national organizations and experts for the purpose of providing a clear, cost-effective framework for all kinds of affordable housing: new construction and rehabilitation in multifamily as well as single family buildings.

The Green Communities criteria are aligned with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System®. The US Green Building Council, through LEED, strongly supports the Green Communities initiative. In addition, the Green Communities criteria reflect and are compatible with leading state and local green building programs.

Although there are many ways to go green, a project must comply with all of the mandatory provisions of the Green Communities criteria. In addition, new construction projects must earn 35 points from the Optional Criteria, while moderate rehabilitation projects must earn 30 points from the Optional Criteria in order to be eligible for financial projects included under Green Communities.

Green projects must meet a minimum number of Green Communities criteria that include:
  1. Integrated Design
  2. Site, Location and Neighborhood Fabric
  3. Site Improvements
  4. Water Conservation
  5. Energy Efficiency
  6. Materials Beneficial to the Environment
  7. Healthy Living Environment
  8. Operations and Maintenance

To learn if your project has the potential for green classification and Green Communities grants and funding, see the full criteria and requirements. Download the Green Communities Criteria. (PDF, 1MB)

Tour a Green Communities Project

The Green Communities Criteria are the only national framework for sustainable affordable housing. The criteria provide developers of all kinds of affordable projects with a proven, cost effective roadmap and reference standard for creating healthy, efficient and environmentally responsible homes. To see how the Green Communities Criteria are incorporated into an actual development, we invite you to take a virtual tour of a signature Green Communities project: Trolley Square, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.