NJ GREENHOMES OFFICE HOSTED TWO TRAININGS

On Monday, March 16th the NJ Green Homes Office hosted a session on Green Building Programs. HMFA’s Gabe Nathanson, Green Homes Coordinator, and Pam DeLosSantos, Green Technical Advisor,  discussed the  submittal requirements associated with the Green Future items in conjunction with the federal  Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.  Additionally, Dave Bone, of MaGrann Associates, presented an in-depth comparison and analysis of various national green building programs.   Sam Klein, , also with MaGrann Associates, spoke on the process for participation in the LEED for Homes program. 

The HMFA administers a competitive LIHTC program. Developers competing for tax credits can receive  an additional ranking point for green building.  LIHTC applicants  have the option of either completing a required list of Green Future building items; installing a Solar Photovoltaic renewable energy system; successfully building a certified building through a LEED program; or participating in this year’s NJ Clean Energy Program’s Microload Homes Pilot Program.   The slideshow presentations are available online at www.njgreen.gov.

Following the launch of the NJ Clean Energy Program’s Microload Homes Pilot Program, the NJ Green Homes Office hosted a session on Microload Home construction.  Microload Homes can be described as follows: 

• A home built to code has an energy rating of 100;
• a home built to ENERGY STAR standards performs 15% better and has an energy rating of 85; and
• a home built to Microload Home standard is 50% better than a home built to code and uses 50% less energy to operate. 

Combining Microload (super energy efficient design) with renewable energy sources could lead to zero-net-energy homes in the future.  .  The slideshow presentations are available online at www.njgreen.gov.  If you are interested in attending future sessions on various topics, please sign onto the NJ Green Homes Office’s listserve.