#A Local Organization Builds Practical Homes That Fit in with Others Nearby

Over the past two years, this group of affordable two-family homes in Blacksburg, Virginia, won numerous green building awards including 2007 Home Depot Foundation Award of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly and Energy Star Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing. For Community Housing Partners (CHP), a community development corporation in Southwest Virginia, this is just one step in their mission of creating more sustainable opportunities for people in the region.

Respect the built and the natural environment
CHP’s design team, Community Design Studio,LLC used vernacular architectural details to blend the homes seamlessly into their historic neighborhood. The urban infill lots were picked because the convenience of nearby public transportation and other amenities made them as practical as they were affordable.

Because CHP feels that community and sustainability go hand in hand, it set aside 10 percent of the land to build a new town park, installed welcoming front porches on the houses, and connected everything with new sidewalks and footpaths. It curbed some negative impacts of development by preserving mature trees and using permeable paving and rain gardens to absorb storm water runoff. Rain barrels at each house also reduce runoff by collecting water for gardening, and even served as a temporary water source for construction staff.

Affordable to build and to live in
In designing this group of homes, Community Design Studio, LLC referenced Enterprise’s Green Communities criteria, a comprehensive set of strategies to build more durable, healthy, energy efficient and affordable housing with the primary goal of improving peoples’ well-being. The houses were built with methods that conserved resources during construction and that will conserve energy for years to come. Nearly 1000 pounds of packing materials and pallets were recycled, and half of useable wood scraps were given to people in the community.

Advanced framing techniques used less lumber and left more room for insulation. Floor plans based on 2-foot modules led to even more efficient use of building materials. CHP chose cellulose insulation for its low environmental and economic costs and good R-value. Compact fluorescent lights, Energy Star-rated appliances and high SEER electric heat pumps with variable speed indoor air handlers help keep electric bills below average.

Meeting people’s needs
Even though sustainable construction techniques play a big part in its work, Community Housing Partners’ main focus is always serving local residents. Downtown Blacksburg and the adjacent campus of Virginia Tech offer a wide range of jobs, but thriving college towns often drive up real estate prices.

The term “affordable housing” was actually a bit of a stumbling block when this project was proposed, but Community Design Studio, LLC successfully broke the stereotype with these attractive and practical homes. Many of the new residents are able to walk to work and all of them are thrilled that they’re able to finally own a home in a community they’ve enjoyed for years.