Housing & Community Development Publications
2009 Publications
Brownfields Revitalization Podcast
Successful brownfield revitalization requires cross-cutting expertise—environmental, financial, legal, training, and social service. Listen to our podcast on brownfields, hosted through the International City/County Management Association's (ICMA) initiative for sustainable communities. In the podcast, Charlie Bartsch and other ICF International experts offer insights on the revitalization marketplace and what local governments and other stakeholders can do to keep momentum going, even in tough economic times.
Community Planning
The Community Planning Team combines experience and expertise to help agencies solve complex land use, urban and land planning, development, and environmental challenges. We specialize in providing sustainable, innovative, integrated, "real world" planning solutions that are tailored to each community's needs and conditions.
From Main Street to Green Street: LEED Certification for Sustainable Neighborhoods
Published in Main Street News , April 2009, by Therese Dorau of ICF International. One of the U.S. Green Building Council’s newest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs, LEED for Neighborhoods (ND) combines aspects of green construction practices and community development theories to encourage the creation of mixed-use, livable, environmentally sustainable neighborhoods. This article discusses the LEED-ND certification program and its specific relevance to small businesses and existing “main street” commercial districts. Specific opportunities and challenges of implementing certification are addressed, and the LEED-ND program is seen in action through two case studies.
Rapid Energy Modeling of Existing Buildings: From Digital Pictures to Comprehensive Energy Footprints
ICF International worked with Autodesk to explore rapid energy modeling, a streamlined process to move quickly, and with only the minimal data necessary, from image capture of existing building exteriors through simplified simulation to energy and carbon reduction analysis. Our study included interviews with leading architecture firms and application of Autodesk's workflow on six diverse facilities on three continents. The workflow produced BIM, DOE-2.2, and EnergyPlus models, and delivered results that were close to utility energy use data. ICF found that Rapid Energy Modeling has the potential to be a shortcut to energy use estimation, a stepping stone between quick benchmarking and detailed audits and can help screen high carbon reduction potential buildings, scale up the results across the organization, and stimulate creation of skilled green jobs. It can empower diverse constituencies, from design teams to building owners to tenants, to measure and forecast energy and carbon footprints of existing buildings and invest in energy efficiency measures, within a smaller budget and shorter time frame.
2008 Publications
A New Era for Regional Planning in California: A Look at Senate Bill 375
November 2008. On September 30, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg; Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008) which ushers in a new era for regional planning in California. Senate Bill (SB) 375 is an ambitious bill that combines regional transportation planning with sustainability strategies in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California's urbanized areas. It also establishes new streamlining opportunities for compatible projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The result of 2 years of intensive negotiations among business, development, housing, and environmental groups, this legislation represents a delicately balanced and complex set of compromises. This article summarizes the main provisions of the bill.
Best Practice Upgrades for Energy Efficient New Homes
Prepared by David Meisegeier of ICF International and Glenn Chinery of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Protection Division for the 2008 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 2008. This paper illustrates the energy efficiency impacts of design choices through a discussion on the development of EPA’s Builder Option Packages (BOP) and the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), scores which they specify.
Brownfield Financing: Propelling Brownfield Projects Through Local Governments and Tools
Summer 2008. Redeveloping brownfield sites can be a costly proposition. In many situations, the private development and financial sectors are not able or willing to act on their own to ensure that the full economic potential of site reuse will be achieved. Critical funding gaps are, in fact, the primary deterrent to site and facility reuse. For decades, local governments have used or sponsored public finance mechanisms to stimulate economic activity in certain geographic areas or industries. Now, publicly driven economic development initiatives are reaching into new sectors and incorporating new concerns, such as environmental improvement. Local brownfield reuse strategies and financing techniques are rapidly evolving across the country.
Case Study of State Incentives: Proposals to Make Strategic Investments in Brownfields Redevelopment
January 2008. The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMW) partnered with ICF International to create this study, which advises a state on the potential to modify and expand its brownfields incentives. Many states have rather modest brownfields incentives, usually a grant-loan program to fund site assessments and cleanups, and usually under-funded relative to needs. Some of these states may be considering proposals to improve, expand or modify these incentives in order to get more mileage out of limited funds and accelerate cleanup and redevelopment activity. The report offers program proposals and recommendations, and includes a table detailing current State Brownfields Income Tax Credit Programs.
End of the 110th Congress: How Did Brownfields Fare?
During its two-year term, the 110th Congress did not finalize very much with direct application to the brownfield marketplace. However, Congress continued to fund brownfield programs. In addition, the two bailouts that passed in 2008—the foreclosure assistance and the Wall Street rescue plan—provide opportunities for creative state, local, and private brownfield reuse to promote brownfield revitalization efforts. The Wall Street rescue plan even includes significant new incentives for “green” construction and development that could play a critical role in brownfield projects. One of the 111th Congress’s first major tasks will be to finalize appropriations for FY09, deferred by the outgoing Congress.
Homebuyer Program Guidelines Checklist
This simple checklist helps HOME participating jurisdictions (PJ) ensure that homebuyer programs address important HOME Program requirements and institute effective practices when launching a new homebuyer program or evaluating an existing program. The checklist covers acquisition only programs, as well as acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale programs.
IDIS Tips and Tricks
The Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) can be challenging to navigate, even for experienced users. Our IDIS Tips and Tricks Toolbox provides some help. ICF experts pulled together a number of quick tricks and fixes that will make your IDIS experience simpler and more efficient. The Toolbox provides tips and tricks regarding navigation of IDIS screens, keyboard strokes to avoid, optimal times to use the system, "tweaking" and "resynchronizing" for smooth movement between screens, proper login and logout methods, updates and completion of activities on a timely basis, the copying and pasting of multiple lines into IDIS, efficient printing, and the use of HOME Setup and Completion Forms.
NSP: Stabilizing and Revitalizing Neighborhoods
ICF analyzed the $3.92 billion
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) created under Title III of Division B of the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) and developed this side-by-side comparison of NSP requirements. The document highlights several key program design or implementation questions that grantees will need to consider. NSP grantees are required to submit Action Plans by December 1, 2008, and will need to quickly develop innovative solutions to the foreclosure crisis in their communities, evaluate potential roles for a variety of partners and stakeholders, and complete the Action Plan submission.
The Road to Carbon Neutral: ENERGY STAR for Homes and Beyond
Prepared by David Meisegeier and Dean Gamble of ICF International, along with Sam Rashkin, R.A., and Glenn Chinery of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR for Homes, August 2008. This paper, prepared for the 2008 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, presents an iterative framework for the development of residential energy efficiency specifications, including strategies to promote leading-edge technologies with high energy and carbon savings potentials that are not yet cost-effective or market-ready on a national basis.
2006 Publications
High Density Housing, Mega-Developments: An Assessment of Arizona and Nevada Comparing Central Power to a Distributed Energy Approach
With the populations of Arizona and Nevada projected to more than double from 2000-2035—triple the national growth rate—large “megadevelopment” projects are being considered to meet the demand for housing. Current standard approaches to utility and regional planning may be inadequate to deal with infrastructure changes and the impact on energy supplies, water resources, and the environment. This July 2006 study, prepared for Oak Ridge National Laboratory by
EEA, an ICF International Company , analyzes the expected energy and infrastructure requirements and considers distributed energy resource (DER) strategies as a solution, including gas-powered heat pump (GHP) and combined heat and power (CHP), to meet needs for base-load electricity and heating more efficiently and with lower capital cost and water consumption than would be required with conventional central power stations.
Inclusionary Housing Toolbox
This January 2006 report, written by Melanie Freitas and ICF International's Carole Norris and Shawna LaRue, was produced for the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) to assist state, county, and local government housing agencies in understanding how an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance works, and the steps that must be undertaken to enact these ordinances. The guidebook brings together perspectives from local government’s that have Inclusionary Zoning, along with key steps and decision points a jurisdiction would undertake to determine whether to enact Inclusionary Zoning, and what an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance would cover. It discusses the key legal issues that must be addressed, and provides practical advice about structuring and administering the ordinance, as well as how to effectively use HOME Program funds to enhance affordable housing produced as a result of Inclusionary Zoning.
Rebuilding After the Gulf Coast Hurricane: Sustainable Communities Using Energy Efficiency
In 2005, a Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Buras, Louisiana, bringing 145 mph winds, inundating New Orleans, and leaving a path of destruction the size of the United Kingdom. Within hours, a city dubbed "the Big Easy" was awash in tragedy. As a result, more than 300,000 new single family homes will need to be built in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi in the coming months. Six of those homes are being piloted in Pass Christian, Mississippi. This paper analyzes the incremental costs and payback periods to upgrade these new homes to be energy efficient.
Using an Occupant Energy Index for Achieving Zero Energy Homes
Prepared by Brian Dean, Dean Gamble, Dave Kaiser and David Meisegeier of ICF International for the 15th Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates, May 2006. This paper introduces the concept of the Occupant Energy Index, which defines the full spectrum of influence that occupant behavior exerts on the energy consumption of a home and its implications for the design of Zero Energy Homes.
Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices
Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ICF International, January 2006. To comply with the Clean Water Act, more than 6,000 communities are developing municipal stormwater permitting programs. Many of these communities also are redeveloping vacant properties, promoting transportation options, and facilitating efficient use of land and infrastructure. This report reviews common smart growth techniques and examines how they can be used to prevent or manage stormwater runoff. This publication will help communities meet the new regulatory requirements.
2005 Publications
Commuting Patterns and the Housing Stock
This research study for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was prepared by Kevin Blake and William Cowart of ICF International, in association with Econometrica, and released on November 20, 2005, as part of ICF International's analytical support of the American Housing Survey (AHS). The prime objective of this research was to explore the applicability of transportation and commute-related variables in the AHS to analyze the relationship between the housing stock and commuting patterns. Particular attention was given to analyzing the usefulness of the AHS data in testing the spatial mismatch hypothesis.
Elderly Housing Consumption: Historical Patterns and Projected Trends
This research study for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was prepared by Kevin Blake and Dr. Aleksandra Simic of ICF International, in association with Econometrica, and released on November 20, 2005, as part of ICF International's analytical support of the American Housing Survey (AHS). The study attempts to understand some of the challenges that changing demographics will have on the housing market and what may be the implications for housing policy. The study explores two key issues in the elderly housing consumption research. The study looks at how the housing consumption of the elderly has changed over time and tries to understand what the potential consumption patterns could look like in the future.
Neighborhood Schools and Sidewalk Connections: What Are the Impacts on Travel Mode Choice and Vehicle Emissions?
Published in
Transportation Research News 237 , March-April 2005, pp. 4-10, by William Schroeer of ICF International, Reid Ewing of the University of Maryland, and Christopher V. Forinash of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Copyright, Transportation Research Board (TRB), National Research Council, Washington, D.C. Reproduced with permission of TRB. This article is a condensed version of the
"School Location and Student Travel: Analysis of Factors Affecting Mode Choice" study , which quantifies the relationship between school location, the built environment around schools, student travel to school, and the emissions from that travel. Findings argue for neighborhood schools and improvements to sidewalk networks around schools. Centrally located schools to which students can walk or bike would reduce vehicle emissions significantly. The results have been widely cited because they confirm that the steep decrease in kids walking to school is in large part linked to trends toward giant schools in remote areas. Despite other trends and concerns (increased driving, crime), when kids can walk to school, they do.
Rebuilding After Hurricane Katrina: Smart Energy Choices
October 25, 2005 - ICF International's issue paper suggests energy efficiency thresholds for reconstructing thousands of homes in the Gulf Coast region damaged by Hurricane Katrina. After modeling different levels of energy efficiency using DOE-2 software, ICF International compared the impacts of a mass reconstruction built to minimum building codes versus four increasingly more energy-efficient standards, finding that an initial investment of US$900 million to efficiently rebuild the destroyed homes in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama would have a payback of just 7.5 years—much less than the term of a typical mortgage.
2004 Publications
Analysis of the Proportion of the Mortgage Market that Meets the GSE's Affordable Housing Goals: Issues of Variability and Uncertainty
July 15, 2004. ICF International conducted an independent assessment of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) affordable housing goals, and to estimate the past and project the future size of the conventional conforming mortgage market meeting the affordable housing goals. This analysis illustrates some of the issues relating to the accuracy and reliability of HUD’s estimates. ICF International provides historical estimates and future projections of the goal-qualifying market shares.
Building a Path towards Zero Energy Homes with Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Prepared by Dean Gamble, Brian Dean, and David Meisegeier of ICF International along with Jay Hall of Building Knowledge for the 2004 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 2004. This paper develops an iterative approach to promoting affordable and durable Zero Energy Home construction based on the availability, cost effectiveness, and energy savings potential of various energy efficiency measures, passive solar design, and on-site renewable energy generation.
School Location and Student Travel: Analysis of Factors Affecting Mode Choice
Published in the
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board , No. 1895 , Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 2004, pp. 55-63. Reproduced with permission of TRB. The study, by William Schroeer of ICF International, Reid Ewing of the University of Maryland, and William Greene of New York University, is the first to examine the relationship between mode of travel to school and the full range of factors that might affect mode choice. Students with shorter walk or bike times to school proved significantly more likely to walk or bike. Findings argue for neighborhood schools serving nearby residential areas and for safe routes to school through sidewalk improvements.
2003 Publications
California's Future: It Starts Here—University of California's Contributions to Economic Growth, Health, and Culture
May 2003. The University of California (UC) drew on ICF International's comprehensive report to create a series of fact sheets communicating the importance of UC's contributions to California's economic growth, health, and community resources. The fact sheets outline specifics of the study (broken out by major campus locations), including investment values, spending impacts, 10-year forecast, and research and development productivity gains. The
impact analysis underscores the importance of the University to the state's economic recovery, through direct economic impacts and research that will help generate new businesses and industries. The study also demonstrates the significant return on investment that the state receives for every public dollar invested in the University's mission of teaching, research, and public service.
2002 Publications
Emissions Forecasting for the Southern Appalachian Mountain Initiative
Prepared by Jay Hall and Matt Howes of ICF International, along with Tom Elmore of Land of Sky for the 2002 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 2002. This paper discusses a project funded by the Southern Appalachian Mountain Initiative (SAMI) to assess energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction potentials for commercial and residential buildings in that region. The project evaluated the potential energy and emissions impacts, as well as the cost effectiveness, of various packages of energy efficiency measures and incentive strategies.
2001 Publications
2000 Publications
Best Practice Upgrades for New Energy Efficient Homes in Hot and Humid Climates
Prepared by David Meisegeier and Jay Hall of ICF International for the 12th Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates, May 2000. This paper explains the technical methodology used to develop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prescriptive Builder Option Packages in hot and humid climates and illustrates the energy efficiency implications of design choices.
More Lessons Learned in the ENERGY STAR® Homes Program
by Eric Werling, Blaine Collison, and Jay Hall. Reprinted with permission from American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ©2000, Washington, D.C. Published in Proceedings of the ACEEE 2000 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 2.335-2.246. For information about the ACEEE proceedings, contact
http://www.aceee.org. This paper provides an update on the ENERGY STAR® Homes program, including a description of successes, failures, challenges already faced, and opportunities ahead.
Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality
Prepared for the U.S. EPA Development, Commmunity, and Environment Division, in the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation. EPA 231-R-00-005. November 2000. This report summarizes technical research on the relationship between the built and natural environments, as well as current understanding of the role of development patterns, urban design, and transportation in improving environmental quality. It is a technical reference for analysts in state and local governments, academics, and people studying the implications of development on the natural environment.
Redeveloping Brownfields with Federal Transportation Funds
Prepared for the U.S. EPA Development, Commmunity, and Environment Division, in the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation. November 2000. The guide is intended to assist brownfield developers, transportation planners, economic development professionals, policy analysts, and others interested in achieving better transportation, environmental, and community outcomes.
1999 Publications
1998 Publications
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