One of 12 Developers Nationwide to Earn LEED Certification on at Least 75% of Construction in 2021
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized National CORE as a LEED Homes Power Builder. National CORE is once again the only nonprofit developer to be named on the exclusive list. The distinction is awarded to developers and builders who achieved LEED certification on more than 75% of their construction in the prior year.
National CORE currently has more than a dozen new housing communities in development and construction, representing thousands of affordable apartment homes. All of our developments currently under construction will be all-electric, near-zero net energy, and anticipated to achieve LEED Homes certification at the Gold level or higher.
“National CORE’s continued presence among the nation’s most-sustainable developers, both affordable and market-rate, is a testament to our team’s commitment to forward-thinking planning, development, and construction,” said National CORE Director of Sustainable Design Tim Kohut. “That commitment is demonstrated each and every year in the work we do.”
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 we build and own. These values, put into action, are making a difference.
Across our existing portfolio, we continue to do our part by prioritizing water conservation and energy efficiency through dedicated maintenance and capital improvements. Since 2013, National CORE has saved approximately 435 million gallons of water through turf removal, irrigation redesign, the installation of drought-tolerant landscape, replacing plumbing fixtures, and the installation of toilet leak sensors. Meanwhile, National CORE has installed nearly 12 megawatts of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on 54 existing communities, dramatically reducing energy use.
Since 2015, the total carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint from National CORE’s common areas has decreased by 1.26 million pounds (57,152 metric tons), even as we built nearly 20 new affordable communities. This carbon reduction is equivalent to planting 40,645 trees or taking 154 vehicles, which drive 12,000 miles per year, off the road.
“Our homes are the most personal spaces we occupy and building more residential projects to LEED can have a profound impact on people and communities,” said Peter Templeton, interim president and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council. “This year’s LEED Homes Award recipients demonstrate that by applying LEED to residential projects, these spaces are transformed, creating sustainable and healthier homes for families.”
To read the full USGBC press release on the 2022 LEED Homes Awards, please visit: U.S. Green Building Council Announces Recipients of 2022 LEED Homes Awards | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
###
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 for the purposes of accelerating the development of critically needed affordable housing. Currently in California, Texas, and Florida, National CORE hopes to double its national footprint over the next five years. 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 wellbeing.
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming the way our buildings are designed, constructed, and operated through LEED — the top third-party verification system for sustainable structures around the world. Every day USGBC is helping advance spaces that are better for the environment and healthier for us to live, work and play in. Through our community network, continuous collaboration with industry experts, market research publications and LEED professional credentials, USGBC remains a key driving force in the green building sector.
About the AIA 2030 Commitment
The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that gives us a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment. The latest climate data tells us that reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must all commit to net zero emissions by 2030—a path that requires strong, immediate action. Since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role. More than 1,000 firms have already committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.
Recent Comments