What will change at DHCD?
Residential buildings
Beginning with the November 2007 RFP, DHCD will require that all residential projects submitted for financing consideration conduct an integrated design charrette to explore the most cost-effective ways to incorporate green building standards. The integrated design charrette is a mandatory element of the Green Communities Criteria, the new standard which residential projects will be required to meet. More information on the Green Communities Criteria is available online at www.greencommunitiesonline.org.
To facilitate the transition to green building, DHCD has partnered with the DC Green Communities Initiative (Enterprise Community Partners and GreenHOME) to offer up to $5,000 in grant funds to conduct integrated design charrettes for non-profit sponsored affordable housing projects. See announcement.
Non-residential buildings
All non-residential projects other than public schools will be required to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard, available online at www.usgbc.org.
The following additional standards also apply:
New construction - Energy Star Target Finder Tool minimum score (75) and annual benchmarking with Energy Star Portfolio Manager (See Energy Star websites in “Additional Information” below.)
Rehabilitation of existing buildings - exempt from Target Finder minimum score requirement. However, benchmarking with the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and the Energy Star Target Finder scoring, are still mandated. DHCD will be conducting outreach and education sessions, in concert with our local partners, to ensure that the transition to green building is as smooth as possible. | 
