What Makes Affordable Housing 'Green'?
There’s no one way to determine what makes “green” housing. Here’s a breakdown of the standards and considerations used by the affordable housing industry.
A five-story, beige apartment building with blue balcony railing and zig-zagging red and blue lines decorating its exterior, Zilker Studios, a 110-unit apartment building in Austin’s Zilker neighborhood, is more visually inviting than a lot of other supportive housing. The building has ample outdoor common spaces with lawn chairs and an indoor common area with a splashy floral-themed mural. The building houses people making between $23,190 and $38,650 a year and many of the tenants are seniors who have only recently exited homelessness.
Zilker is also built to a high standard of sustainability. The building’s foundation, walls, and heating and cooling systems are designed to minimize energy use and keep cool air or heat inside.
