The complete Basis of Design website can be viewed here:
CREATING PRODUCT AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Over 15 Basis of Design sections have been researched, developed, and rolled out across Preservation of Affordable Housing's (POAH) portfolio. New sections are always underway based on maintenance and development needs. Each section includes performance requirements, and example products that meet the requirements.
INTEGRATING WITH A BUILDING’S LIFE CYCLE
The Basis of Design is the organization’s central resource for all building-related decisions and it is used throughout a project’s lifecycle. Feedback from building industry professionals is continuously collected, which allows the resource to evolve and grow.
CREATING STANDARDIZED FINISHES FOR EACH HOME
To ensure high quality interiors in all of our homes, we standardized things like cabinetry, counter tops, paint, and flooring. By standardizing the products, POAH is able to negotiate pricing with manufacturers based on long-term purchasing projections.
A well insulated and airtight building enclosure (roof, exterior walls, windows and doors, and foundation) is the most effective way to ensure long-term energy efficiency.
Either heat pump water heaters or high efficiency condensing boilers, equipped with premium efficiency re-circulation pumps.
Centralized VRF heat pump systems with heat recovery (VRF-HR) efficiently provide both heating and cooling throughout the building.
Balanced ventilation that adequately provides fresh air while removing indoor air pollutants ensures long term building durability and improved resident health.
Appliances, if not selected based on efficiency, can use unnecessary amounts of electricity. All appliances must be Energy Star certified.
Using all LED lighting with the correct kelvin temperature ensures energy efficient homes that are comfortable to live in.
POAH pays for water and sewage removal at all its properties, making water savings a critical piece of overall portfolio efficiency. All plumbing fixtures are low-flow.
EDUCATING PROPERTY STAFF AND ENFORCING A NEW STANDARD
After the Basis of Design (BOD) website was published, management staff at each property were trained on the resource. Maintenance supervisors and property managers were informed how to use the Basis of Design and property walkthrough’s were conducted. Purchase data from POAH's largest vendors was collected and reviewed bi-annually in accordance with the BOD, and BOD Report Cards were distributed to each property highlighting opportunities for them to improve their BOD compliance.
Preservation of Affordable Housing owns and manages 10,000 affordable homes across the United States. The organization is continually building new homes and purchasing new properties. With this in mind, Julie Klump and I created the Basis of Design (BOD), a website resource that specifies products and performance criteria based on durability + maintenance requirements, availability, and energy + water efficiency. The BOD is used by development staff, architects, engineers, contractors, and maintenance staff. By using the same resource during new construction, rehab, and on-going maintenance, a standard of quality can be established throughout the portfolio that ensures quality-built homes for all of our residents.
POAH’s Basis of Design website is easily accessible to anyone. This means the information can be viewed by the construction supervisor during an on-site meeting, or by a maintenance technician in the field on a mobile device. Since the information on the website is never downloaded by its users, the issue of version control (outdated iterations) is avoided. The website is always current, and specifications can change over time without rolling out large overhauls.