Below is a list of activities that we have accomplished or are currently undertaking to meet the goals of Green HUE.

Establish standards for new construction at Urban Edge

• Established a Working Group. Urban Edge assembled a Working Group comprised of staff members from the Property Management, Maintenance, and Real Estate Development departments. The Working Group met bi-weekly with a sustainability consultant from HFMH Architects, Inc to develop and implement our goals, objectives, and strategies for organizational change.
• Conducted a preliminary investigation of existing Urban Edge maintenance and development practices. In order to understand Urban Edge’s existing maintenance and development practices, we selected a sample of four properties and conducted a detailed inventory of products and materials used in the maintenance of and construction of those units in July 2004.
  We collected information about make and models of various items such as faucets, sinks, toilets stoves, ovens, flooring, and siding. We also collected data on operating and maintenance expenses by tracking initial purchasing costs, utility expenses (over a three-year period), and repair costs.
• Identified key systems and products to review performance based on initial and life cycle costs, quality, and environmental and health impacts. After our preliminary baseline investigation, we analyzed the data and identified systems and components that had the most significant environmental or financial impact on the organization.
  We conducted further research on these items to develop green standards based on cost, quality, maintenance and environmental performance. For each product or system, we also identified concerns that were relevant to residents and property management, maintenance and development staff.
• Conducted Energy modeling and lifecycle analysis for systems and products identified. HMFH helped us conduct lifecycle cost analyses for several systems and products. Click here to learn more about life cycle cost analysis.
  

Develop high visibility green standards

• Developed Green Housing Toolbox
  In order to disseminate our information to staff, residents, and other community development corporations, we compiled our information into this web-based tool that could be easily distributed and updated.
• Implemented Green Cleaning Initiative
  As part of our efforts to implement more environmentally-responsible practices, we recognized a need to focus on the health and safety of our residents, janitorial staff and other users of our buildings. In August 2005, we worked with Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) to implement a green cleaning initiative. Click here to learn more about this initiative.
  

Educate Urban Edge staff and residents

• Conducted presentations with Urban Edge Development Committee to establish initiative goals and objectives. In order to educate board members about Green HUE, Real Estate development staff members held a presentation with board members to discuss the purpose and goals of the imitative. 
•  Working Group attended workshop about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards (LEED). HMFH conducted a workshop to educate Urban Edge staff about the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED standards. This workshop provided staff with a framework for understanding important issues related to green building development. Click here for a link to the USGBC’s LEED site.
• Working Group attended workshop on strategies for developing a Green Development team. HMFH conducted a training for the real estate development staff on the Green Team selection process. Staff learned about the key issues to consider when selecting design teams. Download the Power Point presentation:

GreenTeamSelction32206.ppt (6.2 MB)

•  Reviewed agency forms and procedures such as the Resident Move-In Guide and Unit Inspection forms to incorporate green elements. We implemented several activities to inform residents about green procedures and policies. We distributed a poster to new residents at the new Egleston Crossing developments with instructions on caring for hardwood floors. We have also made revisions to the resident move-in guide to incorporate green issues, asthma prevention checkpoints, and recycling instructions.
  
•  Educate other Community Development Corporations (CDCs). In order to educate other CDCs about Urban Edge’s experience with Green HUE, New Ecology Inc. (NEI) will conduct a series of five professional development workshops to CDCs across Massachusetts, in Spring 2006. The goal of the workshops will be to help CDCs implement sustainable development practices for their organizations.