Richmond, VA – April 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Jim Chandler, Director of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program at the Virginia Housing Development Authority, recently received the Visionary Award from EarthCraft Virginia. The award recognizes the outstanding efforts of organizations and individuals for their leadership in sustainable housing.
Chandler was recognized for his efforts in helping to change Virginia’s Qualified Allocation Plan to provide tax credit incentives to increase the use of green building methods in the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing developments. As a result of these changes, more than 17,000 apartments in Virginia have been or soon will be EarthCraft-certified as energy efficient housing.
The benefits of these QAP changes were supported by a year-long study conducted by Housing Virginia and the Virginia Tech Center for Housing Research. The study found that apartments designed, built and certified with the EarthCraft Multifamily green building program outperform standard new housing by more than 40% with respect to energy consumption – therefore making the units more affordable – and also provide benefits to residents including increased comfort and improved indoor air quality.
Chandler received the award during EarthCraft Virginia’s 6th Annual Sustainable Leadership Awards program. Each year, EarthCraft Virginia presents awards in a variety of categories to builders, developers and other stakeholders throughout the region who demonstrate superior dedication to the advancement of sustainable housing.
About EarthCraft Virginia
EarthCraft Virginia, a 501c3 non-profit, was established in 2006 in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Virginia and Southface Energy Institute with assistance from the Virginia Community Development Corporation. The EarthCraft program, originally founded in 1999 by non-profit Southface and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, serves as a blueprint for energy and resource efficient homes built in the Southeast. Throughout the Southeast, the program has certified over 8,000 homes and 25,000 multifamily dwelling units. For more information on EarthCraft or EarthCraft Virginia, please visit www.earthcraftvirginia.org.
About VHDA
VHDA is a self-supporting, not-for-profit organization created by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1972, to help Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. VHDA provides mortgages, primarily for first-time homebuyers and developers of quality rental housing.
We use no state taxpayer dollars, but raise money in the capital markets to fund our loans. We also teach free homeownership classes, and help people with disabilities and the elderly make their homes more livable. VHDA works with lenders, developers, local governments, community service organizations and others to help put quality housing within the reach of every Virginian.
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CONTACT: Brian Matt
2015 804-343-5520, (c) 804-652-8341
Brian.Matt (at) vhda (dot) com
