The EarthCraft Program
The EarthCraft green building certification programs, which were first developed in 1999 in a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface, are designed to address the challenging energy, water and climate conditions of the Southeast.
EarthCraft certification helps to ensure that buildings and communities in the region meet strict criteria for saving energy and water, ensuring high indoor air quality, and protecting our land and natural resources. To achieve an EarthCraft certification, a home or building is required to undergo independent third-party verification by a qualified technical advisor to confirm it meets program requirements.
One of these EarthCraft programs might be right for your construction project:
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EarthCraft House was developed in 1999 as a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface. With average energy costs 28 percent lower than the typical new home, all EarthCraft single family homes are also ENERGY STAR® qualified. Beyond energy efficiency, EarthCraft homes are cost effective, durable, comfortable, and both water- and resource-efficient. |
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EarthCraft Renovation provides clear guidelines for renovations or additions to existing homes, with the goal of saving energy and water while improving indoor air quality. EarthCraft Renovation also assists homeowners and builders in identifying the causes of common problems like uncomfortable rooms, high energy bills, poor indoor air quality and combustion safety issues so these can be addressed during the renovation process. |
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EarthCraft Communities was launched in 2005 to assist land developers and local government agencies to create sustainable market-rate and affordable housing communities. It guides projects toward either an urban grid design or a conservation clustered form with emphasis on energy- and water-efficient new homes and buildings; low impact development; walkable design and community connectivity; transit-ready density; effective stormwater management; access to open space; and more. |
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EarthCraft Multifamily is the first multifamily-specific green building program in the nation. The program provides green building certification for new multifamily construction, and also for the renovation of affordable and market-rate multifamily projects. All EarthCraft Multifamily projects require dedicated fresh-air intakes for each unit, while new buildings must also be ENERGY STAR qualified. The program results in energy- , water- and resource-efficient buildings that are also operationally cost-effective. |
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EarthCraft Light Commercial is a cost-effective and environmentally responsible building strategy for commercial buildings sized 15,000 square feet or less. The program provides a prescriptive pathway for achieving certification, which is achieved through independent 3rd party site visits, testing and some documentation, and can be applied to both newly constructed buildings and most major renovations.
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