The study examines the EC for two samples of low-rise residential buildings that are representative of the North American wood-framed typology: a single-unit raised bungalow of 185m2 and an eight-unit, four-story of 935 m2. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential for buildings to go beyond reduced or zero GHG emissions and to become– at least temporarily – a negative emissions technology, namely places of net storage of carbon. The “upfront” embodied carbon (EC) of building materials includes the accumulated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from harvesting, manufacturing and transportation processes, and is becoming more widely recognized as a major source of global GHGs. The City continued to pilot the program through 2009 and, as builders and developers have gained familiarity with green building practices, has adopted the USGBC LEED-H green building standard for 2010. In 2008, we provided additional program development, design, construction, and inspection technical assistance to the City and three Indianapolis CDCs that built green homes as part of the program pilot. Significantly, DMD agreed to provide additional development subsidy through the federal HOME Investment Partnership Program in order to cover the incremental costs of green construction.
Initial program development resulted in the creation of a comprehensive set of program materials based on building science best practices – prescriptive green building guidelines – which are specific to our climate zone, tailored to local building practices, and uniquely geared toward builders unfamiliar with green building. By expanding local capacity to develop green affordable housing, we create both short- and long-term value for low- to moderate-income homebuyers, affordable housing developers, and the community as a whole. The goal of the program is to produce high-quality affordable homes that are energy efficient, healthy, and durable. In April 2007 we began working with the City of Indianapolis DMD and stakeholders to craft a logistically and financially viable framework through which CDCs can successfully develop green affordable housing in Indianapolis.
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