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Highlights
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Housing Innovations
Boston Metro Innovations
  |  | | | Contact Information | Sales Office
9 West Broadway
Boston, MA 02127 |
| | Innovation | | Bringing environmental leadership to large-scale residential development. | | | Description | | The MacCallen Building, an 11-story residential living space in South Boston, is one of the first residential buildings in the nation to earn a gold rating from the US Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating requires adherence to strict eco-friendly building codes, including the use of "green" or recycled materials produced within 500 miles of the construction site, reduced use of cars, proximity to public transportation, and a sophisticated water drainage system, among others. The building, designed by the construction firm Pappas Enterprises, demonstrates the ability to incorporate environmentally- friendly building principles into private buildings that are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and profitable. |
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|  | | | Contact Information | Davis Design/Development Corp.
Four Tannery Brook Row, Unit #10
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 718-9245 |
| | Innovation | | Reviving a waterfront site in Chelsea as a showcase for earth-friendly loft housing. | | | Description | | The Forbes Park Redevelopment project in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is aiming to set a precedent for environmentally friendly and energy-smart living. Its many exemplary features include a one million gallon storm-water management reservoir, a community-owned fleet of electric cars, and an on-site wind farm sufficient for the needs of the entire complex. The development will provide 225 residential units and 20,000 square feet of commercial, restaurant and office space on 17 acres of old industrial waterfront property. The units will be the first "eco-lofts" in the Greater Boston market. The project uses environmentally-sensitive design and construction methods that exceed the standards of the state energy code in order to create earth-friendly, mill-style loft units. The wind turbine will produce clean electricity for community use. The single meter for entire site will spin backwards during times of excess electrical production. The sales office opened in May 2007. |
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| | Metamorphosis: A Butterfly Development | |
 | | | Contact Information | Monarch on the Merrimack
250 Merrimack Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
978 452-LOFT |
| | Innovation | | Defining the vanguard in geothermal. | | | Description | | When the massive Wood Worsted Mill was built in 1906, it was hailed by many as the "eighth wonder of the world." Today, that wonder is being transformed into one of the premiere smart growth communities in the Northeast. The $200 million conversion of the historic 1.3-million-square-foot mill in Lawrence, Mass., is creating a residential community known as Monarch Lofts--600 owner-occupied condominiums set to open in October 2007. The mixed-use community was designed with the environment and sustainability as one of its principle tenets. The lofts are heated and cooled principally by geothermal technology (as opposed to traditional fossil fuels), making it the largest geothermal project in New England and possibly the largest such development in the world. In addition to the innovative heating system, the development features energy-efficient windows, a "green" roof, and easy proximity to public transportation. |
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| | Green Dorms for a Livable Future | |
 | | | Contact Information | | no information available |
| | Innovation | | The Ivy League Redefines the Dorm. | | | Description | Although many of the buildings on Boston campuses are as old as the universities themselves, an increasing number of Boston's college students are now enjoying green campus living. University initiatives at MIT, Harvard, and Tufts have led the way in the push for greener, more energy efficient dorms. Tufts University's Sophia Gordon Hall is a perfect example. Green features include solar panels that heat the dorm's hot water, motion detecting sensors for bathroom lights, dual flush toilets, double-paneled windows that reduce heat loss, design features which maximize the use of natural light, and floors made out of recycled materials. The building is just one part of the university's recent green initiatives. Tufts has also committed itself to meeting or exceeding the Kyoto Protocol for reducing emissions that contribute to climate change, and is the only private university member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. The Tufts dorm: - Opened in September of 2006
- Coomprises 126 bedrooms
- Uses 30% less energy and 30% less water than a conventionally designed building
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|  | | | Contact Information | Terreform
180 Varick Street #930,
New York, NY 10014 |
| | Innovation | | Bringing sustainable building design into the age of sci-fi fantasy with homes grown out of living nutrients. | | | Description | | As green living becomes increasingly popular worldwide, two former MIT students, part of the Human Ecology Design Team, took the principles of environmentally-friendly living to the extreme. Enterprising architects Mitchell Joachim and Javier Arbona invented the "Fab Tree Hab" design, which consists of 100 % living nutrients grown from the ground up. Using both the most advanced as well as age-old technology, the design calls for a living, breathing home that is a complete part of the environment. The house's framework will be made of woven wood fibers, grown on site, using a gardening method known as "pleaching". Soy-based plastic windows and other novel attributes with provide the finishing touches. Fantasy? They are working now with Israeli arboriculture firm Plantware to hone their techniques and hope to have the first home "planted" in five years. Not satisfied with one off designs, Mitchell Joachim is also working with architect Micheal Sorkin on urban landscapes grown to order. They have started a nonprofit firm, Terreform, to advance these techniques. |
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| | Ending Family Homelessness | |
 | | | Contact Information | One Family, Inc.
186 South Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-0504 |
| | Innovation | | Ending family homelessness in Massachusetts by shifting the focus away from temporary solutions. | | | Description | One Family is a not-for-profit organization devoted to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts that serves as a nationwide model. One Family brings together elected officials, faith- and community-based organizations, and philanthropic and private leaders to design and implement effective, lasting solutions to family homelessness. By shifting the focus from temporary fixes to permanent solutions, One Family is solving the family homelessness problem, helping to break the cycle of poverty and provide stability for future generations--one family at a time.
• Temporary shelters cost $37,000 a room/year on average
• more than 200 families were rapidly re-housed with $6,000 rental vouchers
• The One Family Scholars Program is a network of educational, mentoring and other support services to help homeless families restore their dignity and self-esteem and achieve economic independence |
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National/International Innovations
|  | | | Contact Information | Good Neighbor Next Door Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, DC 20410
(202) 708-1112 |
| | Innovation | | Using housing incentives to help revitalize marginal neighborhoods. | | | Description | | In an attempt to spur community and economic development in low income "revitalization areas" across the US, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched its so called Good Neighbor Initiative. The project offers a substantial economic incentive--in the form of a 50% discount on the list price of a home--to law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians in return for a commitment to live on a property within a "revitalization area" for 36 months. By integrating these neighbors into local communities, HUD hopes to boost the pace of rejuvenation in economically distressed neighborhoods. |
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| | Home-Scaling Renewable Energy | |
| | Innovation | | Windpower is helping to scale down renewable-energy technology to the individual business and household level. | | | Description | In an enticing bid to help homeowners trim energy bills, companies like Southwest Windpower are now marketing personalized windmills that can harness natural energy in a single backyard. Rather than relying on municipal or large-scale sources of renewable energy, Southwest Windpower has scaled down its windmills to meet the needs of individual families and businesses. The windmills, which weigh less than 200 pounds and range from 34-70 feet in height, make as little noise as an average air conditioner. Designed to provide individuals with their own personal power source, the windmills have the potential to help families become largely energy independent, freeing them from the traditional reliance on municipal power grids. - Southwest Windpower has installed more than 90,000 turbines in the field
- Their latest windmill, the SkyStream 3.7 was developed jointly with the US Department of Energy
- Can work in breezes as low as 8 miles per hour, and costs $10,000 including installation
- The SkyStream was named by Time Magainze as one of the best inventions of 2006
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| | A Massive New Urbanism Infill | |
 | | | Contact Information | Forest City Stapleton, Inc.
7351 East 29th Avenue
Denver, CO 80238
(303) 382-1800 |
| | Innovation | Applying smart growth and New Urbanist principles at a large scale to increase housing options and provide alternatives to suburban sprawl in the Denver area.
| | | Description | | America's largest urban infill development project, located on the 7.5 square mile site of the old Denver Stapleton airport, uses New Urbanist strategies to build a community with mixed-income housing, abundant parks and open space, and neighborhood-oriented development. The goal is for all homes and offices to be within a ten-minute walk of one of five town centers built in the Stapleton area. Thirty percent of the land will become park space or restored natural systems with hiking and biking trails. Denver has approved an extensive affordable housing program and created design standards for the communities, including front porches, garages in the back of homes and tree-lined narrow streets with sidewalks. |
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| | Smart, Healthy, Green Communities | |
.jpg) | | | Contact Information | Green Communities Initiative
The Enterprise Foundation
10227 Wincopin Circle, Suite 500
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 715-7433 |
| | Innovation | | Applying the principles of smart growth, "green" building, and healthy housing to build thousands of affordable housing units in Green Communities throughout the US. | | | Description | The Enterprise Foundation (one of the nation's leading developers of affordable housing) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (a leading environmental organization) have formed a five-year, $550 million partnership to finance the building of 8,500 rental and for-sale homes in Green Communities. Smart growth guidelines will ensure that the homes are built near public transit, enhancing access to jobs and schools, helping combat sprawl and congestion, and saving families money by reducing car dependency. Healthy housing guidelines will ensure that the homes are built with improved ventilation and using less toxic paints and adhesives. And as green buildings, the homes will conserve energy and natural resources. Highlights include: - San Francisco Green Communities - invests at least $100 million worth of incentives to build 600 new homes in San Francisco that promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and provide easy access to jobs, schools and services
- The Florida Green Communities - invests more than $2.7 million worth of incentives to help build or renovate at least 200 homes in Florida that promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and provide easy access to jobs, schools and services
- Michigan Green Communities - invest more than $70 million to build 500 affordable homes in Michigan that promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and provide easy access to jobs, schools and services
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| | A New Material for a New World | |
.jpg) | | | Contact Information | P.O. Box 14587
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 |
| | Innovation | | A new "spray on" concrete offers affordable, quick solutions to the world housing shortage. | | | Description | | Although it has been used for centuries as a basic construction building block, new offshoots of traditional concrete are illuminating the possibilities for cheaper, faster, and more reliable building. A US-based company in Virginia is leading the way in the production of technologically-advanced Grancrete, a cement-like material that can be used to make inexpensive but highly durable "spray on" housing. Grancrete binds to almost any surface, hardens in 20 minutes, and is almost twice as strong as traditional concrete. It is also fire-resistant, waterproof, and non-toxic. Since concrete is the second most widely used material on Earth (behind only water), Grancrete has the potential to revolutionize the way in which housing is constructed, particularly for the 1 billion people who lack it worldwide. And because it is lightweight, it offers new housing solutions to earthquake-prone areas. |
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