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Harris County Community Services Department <br /> Affordable Housing Project Design Standards <br /> <br />amountsofnaturalresources(electricity,water,andnaturalgas)andgeneratelargeamounts <br />ofsolidwasteintheUnitedStates.Thesustainabledesignandgreenbuildingpracticeswithin <br />thisdocumentseektocontributetotheeffortstodecreaseenergyandwaterusage,reduce <br />operatingandmaintenancecost,improvetheefficiencyandlongevitytothebuildingsystem. <br />Developmentforbothnewconstructionandrenovation/rehabilitationofexistingbuildingsare <br />encouragedandinsomecasesrequiredtobedesignedandconstructedwithenergysavings <br />methodologiesandrenewableenergyapplications. <br />1.18EnergyStarCertificationRequired <br />TheEnergyStarstandardappliestonewor{’†š©|rehabilitationofexistingbuildingsfor <br />singleormultifamilyunits.HousingunitsshallbedesignedtomeettheNationalEnergyFive <br />Starefficiencyperformancestandards(www.energystar.gov).HarrisCountyrequiresthatall <br />affordablehousingrequestingfederalassistance,ataminimum,meetEnergyStarcertification. <br />CertificationmustbedocumentedbyanindependentHomeEnergyRater(HER)asmeeting <br />guidelinesforenergyefficiencysetbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).Energy <br />Starunitsexceedthe2009InternationalResidentialCode(IRC),andincludeadditionalenergy <br />savingfeaturesthattypicallymakethem2030%moreefficientthanstandardhomes. <br />ApplicantsshouldreviewtheEnergyStarQualifiedHomeversion2.5(after1/1/2012version3 <br />mustbeused)NationalProgramRequirementsandtheEnergyStarReferenceDesignguide. <br />HomesshouldbeconstructedtobeEnergyStarcertifiedthroughacombinationofenergy <br />efficientimprovements,including: <br />EffectiveInsulationSystem <br />HighPerformanceWindows <br />TightConstructionandDucts <br />EfficientHeatingandCoolingEquipment <br />ENERGYSTARQualifiedLightingandAppliances <br />1.19LEEDCertificationEncouraged <br />LeadershipinEnergy&EnvironmentDesign(LEED)isaninternationallyrecognizedgreen <br />buildingcertificationsystem,providingthirdpartyverificationthatabuildingorcommunity <br />wasdesignedandbuiltusingstrategiesintendedtoimproveperformanceinmetricssuchas <br />energysavings,waterefficiency,CO2emissionsreduction,improvedindoorenvironmental <br />quality,andstewardshipofresourcesandsensitivitytotheirimpacts.Whilenotrequired,Harris <br />Countyencouragesandgivesaddedconsiderationtothoseprojectsmeetingthiscriteria. <br />ApplicantsforHCCSDfundsshouldprovideintheirapplicationdocumentationfromthe <br />architectdescribingthesustainabilityapproacheswithintheprojectandhowitwillmeetLEED <br />certification. <br />Harris County Community Services Department 14 <br />Affordable Housing Project Design Standards <br />Revised May 2011 <br /> <br />