The affordability of cutting edge green buildings has long been a concern for advocates for equity and sustainability. Healthy, environmentally benign buildings are nice — but they’re a lot better if they’re not just reserved for the elite among us.

The International Living Future Institute is attempting to address the residential dimension of that issue with its Living Building Challenge Framework for Affordable Housing. Now, ILFI is seeking to push the framework to its next state of development by work together with project teams “to enable and facilitate regular use of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) in affordable housing.”

Up to 15 participants in the pilot program will receive discounted certification fees, free registration to various programs and “customized technical assistance packages.”

From the ILFI request for proposals on the pilot program:

Because we believe that sustainable, healthy housing is a human right, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is excited to announce the next phase of our Affordable Housing Program.

We are searching for the next group of industry-leading affordable housing project teams to join us in our mission to create equitable, just, and ecologically restorative communities. Working at the forefront of sustainability and equity, ILFI’s Affordable Housing Pilot Projects are building Living Affordable Housing and partnering with ILFI to create a path for future projects to follow.

We are inviting affordable housing teams throughout the nation, of all scales, to apply by September 30 to be an ILFI Affordable Housing Pilot Project and be a part of an innovative network of practitioners.

For more details and to apply, click here.

The Kendeda Fund, which publishes this website, also is a longtime supporting of ILFI.

PHOTO AT TOP: Hunters View III in San Francisco participated in an earlier phase of the ILFI Affordable Housing Program. One of the building’s includes a public library on the first floor. Rendering courtesy of David Baker Architects.