Playbook for Green Buildings + Neighborhoods | Neighborhoods | HUD’s Leadership on Sustainability Efforts: Listening to What Works

HUD will be setting policies and programs on sustainable communities, but they are most interested in hearing from stakeholders about what works, said Jim Lopez, Senior Advisor to HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims.

“It is incumbent upon HUD to listen to folks on the ground as we develop and implement government policy,” he said. “We are watching public housing authorities because they are acting.”

“We want to ask questions, and hear your input on areas where you see opportunities.”

He said the overarching agenda of HUD’s new Office of Sustainable Communities is to serve as a single point of contact on sustainable issues, policies and best practices.

HUD is spending a lot of time developing interagency agreements, including the recent work to pre-qualify thousands of federally assisted multifamily properties for the $4 billion Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funds from the Recovery Act.

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Source: Council of Large Public Housing Authorities

Residents of walkable communities are 2.4 times more likely to get 30 minutes a week of physical activity than residents of neighborhoods without walkable features.(Ewing & Kreutzer, 2006)