NeighborWorks America Goes Green

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
As the nation celebrates Earth Day 2010, NeighborWorks(R) America
reaffirms its commitment to help low- and moderate-income communities
across the nation go "green" and become healthy, sustainable places for
people to live and work.

The commitment begins at home with NeighborWorks America's pledge to
reduce its own carbon footprint by 10 percent by 2012 and to offer
training and education on green practices to the nonprofit community
development field at large.

The commitment continues throughout the NeighborWorks network, which is
working hard to promote green practices in communities through green home
design and construction, rehabilitation, weatherization, energy efficient
rental properties, and green jobs training. NeighborWorks America and the
NeighborWorks network are fully committed to working together to create
or rebuild healthy, sustainable communities across the country.

"This is an exciting time for the nonprofit community development field
and its efforts to create healthy, sustainable and affordable housing,"
said Thomas P. Deyo, deputy director of National Initiatives and Applied
Research at NeighborWorks America. "NeighborWorks America is committed to
being a leader in employing and promoting green and sustainable practices
for the long-term benefit of the environment and our nation's
communities, so that all people can live, work, and play in healthy,
ecologically friendly and affordable places."

Just a few of the local NeighborWorks organizations' green initiatives
currently underway include:

-- Argenta Community Development Corporation (Ark.) was awarded a Gold
LEED-H(R) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes)
certification rating for four green homes in its affordable housing
construction initiative: Building Green. These were the first
residential structures in Arkansas to earn this designation from the
U.S. Green Building Council. All of Argenta CDC's Building Green homes
meet the rigorous Energy Star(R) US Environmental Protection Agency
guidelines for energy efficiency and are at least 30 percent more
efficient than traditionally built homes. The energy saving amenities
include gap-proof insulation, tight air and duct sealing and higher
efficiency heating and cooling units. The tight construction of the
homes helps reduce the stress on the central heating and air system,
helps prevent drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pests and to ensure
better indoor air quality. The use of compact fluorescent bulbs in
lighting fixtures, energy efficient windows, ventilation fans and low
flow faucets also contribute to reduced utility bills.

-- Thistle Community Housing (Boulder, Colo.) received the Environmental
Protection Agency's 2009 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in
Affordable Housing for its Blue Vista Development. Green features of
the Blue Vista development include: compact fluorescent light bulbs in
all light fixtures, energy efficient furnace and water heater, Energy
Star(R) windows and appliances, a duct system that is inspected to
have less than a 6 percent leakage, and the homes are engineered to
eliminate wasted framing.

-- Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo (Ohio) recently received $8
million in federal stimulus funding to insulate and efficiently heat
over 1,000 Lucas County, Ohio homes at no cost to the homeowners. When
the weatherization project is complete in 2011, over 1,000 households
will have lower utility bills that result in an average savings of
$400 per year.

-- PathStone Corp. (Rochester, N.Y.) received an $8 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Labor for green jobs training, as part of a
$150 million program from the federal stimulus. The green jobs
training will train participants, which include unemployed individuals
and individuals who have not finished high school, for work in three
energy efficiency and clean energy sub-sectors. Through the program,
participants will earn certifications and receive on-the-job training
that will lead to employment.

In addition to supporting the groundbreaking green and sustainable
energy projects that are piloted and replicated throughout the
NeighborWorks network, NeighborWorks America now offers 15 green and
healthy homes courses through its NeighborWorks Training Institutes and
place-based trainings. Green courses that will be offered during the
upcoming NeighborWorks Training Institute (NTI) in Phoenix, May 3-7,
2010, include Green and Healthy Strategies for Multifamily Properties and
Using Green Strategies for More Livable Neighborhoods.

NeighborWorks America also recently launched its first eLearning green
course -- Fundamentals of Green Affordable Housing, Rehab, and Management
-- which is designed to help local nonprofits and municipalities
understand the key elements that will provide more energy efficient and
healthier homes.

Lastly, more information about NeighborWorks' green efforts can be found
on the NeighborWorks Green Agenda web site: www.nw.org/green. The site
features information about green education and training offered by
NeighborWorks, best green practices of community development nonprofits,
and the latest industry news and research. The Green Agenda is designed
to help the housing and community development industry create "greener"
and healthier housing and communities.

For more information about NeighborWorks America's and the NeighborWorks
network's green activities, visit www.nw.org/green or contact Erin Angell
Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org, or Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360,
drobinson@nw.org.

About NeighborWorks(R) America
NeighborWorks(R) America creates
opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their
communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and
affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2
million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much
of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks
network -- more than 235 community development organizations working in
more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years,
NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in
reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's
leading trainer of community development and affordable housing
professionals.

Contact:
Erin Angell Collins, 202-220-6317, ecollins@nw.org
Doug Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org

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