Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – National CORE, one of the top 10 affordable housing developers in the nation, has been named a 2024 LEED for Homes Power Builder by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition places National CORE in an elite group of just five builders, and it remains the only nonprofit to achieve this prestigious ranking consistently.
To qualify as a Power Builder, at least 75% of the homes or apartments developers built in 2023 must have achieved LEED certification. At National CORE, every development built in 2023 has either achieved or is pending LEED certification.
“Sustainable design and construction have become hallmarks of National CORE’s innovative approach to developing affordable housing communities,” National CORE President Michael Ruane said. “We’ve shown that affordable housing can be beautiful and environmentally friendly while containing costs and benefitting our residents.”
This recognition comes as National CORE launches a groundbreaking, next-generation sustainability project with the California Energy Commission. Additionally, the company’s all-electric Legacy Square development is being honored as the USGBC’s Affordable Housing Development of the Year.
As the first developer to sign the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) 2030 Commitment, National CORE prioritizes energy-efficiency and sustainability in each apartment home it builds and owns.
Since 2008, 20 National CORE developments with 1,689 apartment homes have earned LEED certifications, including seven Platinum, 12 Gold and one Silver. Another development, with 150 apartment homes, earned a Build It Green Gold certification.
Looking ahead, National CORE has 30 more communities, encompassing over 2,500 new apartment homes, in development or under construction. Each will be all-electric, near-zero net energy, with most anticipated to achieve LEED Homes Gold certification or higher.
“National CORE is committed to design that respects the limits of our natural resources, creates developments that run efficiently and fosters healthier environments for our residents,” National CORE Director of Sustainable Design Tim Kohut said.
National CORE’s design programs incorporate photovoltaic solar panels in all construction, providing renewable energy to meet various electricity demands: heating, cooling, hot water heating, lighting, elevators, washers and dryers, and plug loads. Cool roof technologies limit heat absorption. Efficiently designed energy envelopes reduce power needs. Plumbing systems minimize water stagnation, and drought-tolerant native plants and rainwater retention systems cut irrigation demands.
With an $8 million California Energy Commission grant, National CORE is exploring next-generation sustainability concepts. Innovations include solar panels on building facades to generate greater energy levels, microgrids that allow buildings to operate on solar power during the evening and power outages, new resident engagement methods and novel building materials.
In 2023, National CORE’s Legacy Square community in Santa Ana earned LEED for Homes Platinum Certification through a mix of efficient design, all-electric systems, and a strong focus on boosting eco-friendly transportation. The development also has been honored as the Orange County Development of the Year and received an Award of Merit in the Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Awards program. The USGBC has also selected Legacy Square as one of three 2024 Outstanding Affordable Housing Projects.
National CORE’s all-electric Valley Senior Village community in Escondido, which opened in late 2023, earned a LEED for Homes Gold Certification.
To read the full USGBC press release on the 2024 LEED Homes Awards, please visit: U.S. Green Building Council Announces Recipients of 2024 LEED Homes Awards.
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About National CORE
National CORE is one of the largest nonprofit developers in the nation, with a 30-year history of being an innovator in the field. In 2021, National CORE became one of only two affordable housing developers to earn an A+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings. In 2022, National CORE issued $100 million in Series 2022 Social Bonds to accelerate the development of critically needed affordable housing. Serving more than 25,000 residents, National CORE strives to be a launching pad, not a landing pad, for families struggling financially. In 1998, National CORE created the Hope through Housing Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit whose mission is to end the cycle of generational poverty through resident services that promote educational attainment, economic mobility and overall well-being.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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