Multi-Family Rating 2007 Now in Effect
As of August 3, 2007, a new version of the Multi-Family Rating is in effect for new multi-family projects.
Applicability
The Multi-Family Rating 2007 applies to developments (apartments and condominiums) that are three stories or less in
height. Developments that are a maximum of six stories above ground and include a significant amount of multi-family
units where occupants are primarily permanent may choose to use either the Multi-Family Rating 2007 OR the Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB)
Commercial Rating. Buildings defined as Townhouses by the International Residential Code (IRC) must use the Single
Family Home Rating.
Why a New Version?
The goal of AEGB is to stay at the leading edge of sustainable building.The intent is for rated projects to be significantly
better than buildings built to code. We want to regularly raise the bar as green building processes and techniques
percolate through the building industry and the public mindset. As building practices, codes and federal standards
improve, green building constantly strives to stay ahead of the curve.
Highlights of the Multi-Family Rating 2007
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A One Star Rating is achieved by accomplishing the Basic Requirements. |
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The Basic Requirements are representative measures from each category in the Rating, including Site, Energy, Water, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Materials & Resources. |
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Two, Three, Four, and Five Star Ratings are achieved by completing the Basic Requirements plus a variety of voluntary credits that are available in each category. |
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The Rating provides both a performance and a prescriptive path for achieving credits. |
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Two columns, one for Residential Uses and one for Non-Residential Uses, accommodate mixed-use buildings that include residential uses and allow design teams to use one Rating for the entire building. |
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Calculators are included in the Rating packet to help determine water use reductions (indoor and outdoor), total cost of materials (including the percentage by cost of recycled content and regionally-sourced materials), percentage of
construction waste diverted from the landfill and more. |
The Multi-Family Rating 2007 specifically reflects increasing concerns about energy use and water availability. Meeting the Basic Requirements for a rating means that the project has a more efficient building envelope, has properly sized mechanical systems using Manual J, and has installed EnergyStar compliant, high-efficacy light fixtures and lamps. In addition, the project reduces indoor and outdoor water use through low flow fixtures and water saving appliances, low-water plants are installed with at least 4 inches of mulch, and at least 6 inches of soil is installed below all turf areas.
Several Central Texas landfills will reach capacity very soon; the Multi-Family Rating 2007 focuses on construction waste management by requiring that at least 50% of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste be diverted from the landfill through recycling or re-use.
The new Rating also reflects national trends toward performance testing and commissioning by requiring that projects develop and implement a Testing and Commissioning Plan. The plan must include duct leakage testing and air balancing for at least 25% of the units.
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Year |
Number of Projects |
2000 |
1 |
2001 |
3
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2002 |
7 |
2003 |
6 |
2004 |
10 |
2005 |
8 |
2006 |
9 |
2007 |
3 to date |
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A Brief History of the Multi-Family Program
Austin Energy has one of the few Multi-Family Green Building Programs in the country. AEGB began the Multi-family component of the overall program in February 2000, consulting on a SMART Housing development with approximately 600 units. In 2001, we consulted with 3 projects, pushing the rated units to 5200. The program's strong start has continued with exponential growth over the years. To date, 47 developments have been rated. Currently, in the three story or less category, there are 35 developments in the pipeline: 12 in construction, 23 in various stages of design. An additional 51 developments containing multi-family units (17 in construction, 34 in design) are utilizing the Commercial Rating because of building height or mix of uses.
Stars |
Number of Projects |
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7 |
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23
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14 |
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1 |
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2 |
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Many multi-family developments are required to achieve some level of our green building rating based on their zoning or development agreements. For example, in the new Mueller development, multi-family housing with three or more units must achieve a minimum two-star AEGB rating and/or meet the LEEDŽ Certified criteria. Also, any development in Austin utilizing the SMART Housing policy initiative is required to achieve a one-star rating.
Multi-Family Impacts and Challenges
With approximately 20% of new residential construction classified as multi-family, this is an important industry sector in terms of energy savings and environmental impacts. The ability to reach the multi-family development community also has a major impact on occupant health, operation and maintenance costs.
Mainstreaming green building in the multi-family market can be challenging for a couple of reasons. Unlike single-family homeowners, the development team is rarely the end user who pays the bills in the home. It's much easier to think long term when you are paying utilities and maintenance costs over the life of the building. Similarly, many development groups build with the intent to sell the property in a few years, so the benefits of higher quality installation and materials are not realized by the initial developer.
According to Katie Jensen, Coordinator of the Multi-Family Green Building Program, moving the multi-family market toward greener developments will be helped by:
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Active / knowledgeable sales and marketing teams that understand the value of green building in order to differentiate between developments. |
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Multi-family appraisers who understand the value of green building since properties change hands often. |
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Increased vocal demand in the marketplace for healthy, efficient, high-quality multi-family homes. |
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A multi-family equivalent of the energy efficient mortgage currently available in the single-family market. This would help contractors and design professionals who are poised to make the leap to green, but are limited by funding sources. |
Resources
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