Initially, EarthCraft House focused on single-family and multi-family buildings with limited attention to site development issues. However, in 2003, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Urban Land Institute, and Southface initiated a pilot program to develop broad sustainable community development guidelines. The pilot process brought together policy leaders, land developers, environmental groups, and other stakeholders to address low impact development issues around site selection, land disturbance, water quality, storm water management, energy, water and transportation infrastructure, community design, open space, green space preservation, pedestrian design, transportation, and other related issues. Five communities representing a diversity of development models in north and middle Georgia participated in the EarthCraft Community pilot program to help test the criteria for applicability and relevance. Since the pilot communities, the program continues to expand across the region.
Given the success of the EarthCraft Piedmont Communities program, alongside development pressures on the coast of Georgia, Southface engaged in a second round of stakeholder meetings in 2005; this time focused on the specific hydrology, climate, and consumer preferences of the coastal areas. With the input of local stakeholders, unique coastal development issues were integrated into the existing EarthCraft Piedmont Communities structure and have resulted in a unique set of development criteria- EarthCraft Coastal Communities.
The EarthCraft Communities program, both Piedmont and Coastal, is a voluntary market-driven initiative that rewards responsible developers with a well-known and trusted certification for green development.
How would you know one if you saw it?
A number of important features separate an EarthCraft Community from conventional developments. These include an emphasis on walkability, which creates interaction within the community and its surroundings and bikability, which encourages a healthier lifestyle for residents. Also, EarthCraft Communities utilize native landscaping, focus on water conservation and quality and preserve greenspaces and trees. Collectively, these practices create a community that respects and reflects the natural topography and resources of the land.
Also, a major tenet of all EarthCraft programs is the implementation of integrated planning, the process of bringing all decision makers and stakeholders, to the table during the design process. EarthCraft Communities expands this practice by emphasizing the importance of community input into the community designs. Again, like all EarthCraft programs, from single family houses to the multifamily program, developers of EarthCraft Communities submit their project to third-party verification which ensures that the highest standards are met on all areas of the development.
Application and Certification Process
To be certified, participating development projects must be building at least 35 residential units, certify all residential structures as EarthCraft, and meet the mandatory threshold requirements as set forth in the EarthCraft Piedmont Communities or EarthCraft Coastal Communities guidelines respectively. The program awards a total of 35 points for meeting these required thresholds; communities must then gather an additional 65 points from a list of criteria in order to be certified with a total score of 100 or higher.
The application and certification is an ongoing process from the conceptual stages of planning through to the building of the last EarthCraft House and involves:
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An initial planning and design meeting with EarthCraft Community staff in which the development plans are discussed in the context of pursuing EarthCraft Community certification.
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Contractual agreement to pursue EarthCraft Community certification.
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Pre-development site visit with the EarthCraft staff; followed by ongoing site visits at major phases of the development.
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Development and submission of an initial application with ongoing assistance from EarthCraft Community staff, which includes the initial narratives, site plans and project information requested in the worksheet.
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Receive designation as a “Certified EarthCraft Community.”
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Submit additional documentation required of the worksheet as the site design is developed and construction is commenced and submit to additional site visits and annual design charrette with the development team and EarthCraft Community staff.
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Receive “Certified EarthCraft Community” plaque upon completion of all infrastructure and the transference of the last residential lot to an EarthCraft House builder.
The certification support provided by EarthCraft Communities also includes an integrated design charrette for the entire project team with the EarthCraft Communities staff, ongoing technical assistance to identify strategies and provide resources appropriate to attain EarthCraft Communities certification, multiple site visits by EarthCraft Communities staff and an EarthCraft House builder training or Realtor training.
Program fees begin at $15,000 and vary depending on the size, geography, location, building schedule and complexity of the project.
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