What is EarthCraft Certification?
EarthCraft Multifamily was the first multifamily specific green building program in the nation. The program provides certifications for low-rise and mid-rise multifamily projects, including new construction and renovation. The multifamily standards address a wide range of sustainability considerations, including:
- High-Performance Building
- Health
- Comfort
- Environment
The EarthCraft Certification program addresses these concerns both at the unit level and for the structure as a whole.
Key Benefits of EarthCraft
- Lower Operating Costs
- Reduced Long-Term Risk from Design & Construction Support
- Clear Standards
- Training & Technical Support
- Market Differentiation without High-Cost Premiums
- Project-Specific Efficiency Measures
- Lower Utility Bills
- Healthier Indoor Air
- Improved Comfort and Durability
EarthCraft Multifamily Services
Southern Energy Management provides EarthCraft Technical Advisor services that will work with your design and project teams to ensure compliance with the desired certification level. EarthCraft is required for Georgia Housing Finance Agency Tax Credit (Affordable Housing).
Design Review, Energy Modeling, and Setting Objectives
Working with single-family, multifamily, mixed-use, new construction, and renovation projects
Team Onboarding and Education
Onsite training for general contractors and sub-contractors
Onsite Third-Party Verification
Insulation grading, performance testing including blower door, Duct leakage testing
Documentation & Submission
We are your EarthCraft Technical Advisors who will provide everything from documentation & checklist management to clarification on all your project specification questions
Marketing & Sales Support
Once your project is certified, we can support with signage, talking points, sales team training, and more!
How to Achieve EarthCraft Certification
Certification requires a project to go through registration, design review, mid-construction review, and final review, with a third-party EarthCraft Technical Advisor (that’s us!) overseeing the process and verification to ensure the building meets the program’s criteria for energy efficiency and performance.
1. Discovery Call
Not sure which EarthCraft track is right for your project? We'll help you figure that out. Early conversations with our team mean your project is set up for success from day one—with a clear understanding of requirements and a path to maximize efficiency.
2. Kick Off & Registration
Once we’ve determined the right certification track, we’ll get all the ducks, and paperwork, in a row to get your project officially registered with EarthCraft.
3. Design Review
This is where the plan comes together. We'll meet with your team to walk through the EarthCraft worksheet, clarify requirements, and make sure everyone knows their role. The goal: no surprises down the road and a design that's optimized for certification.
4. Mid-Construction Review
👷♂️ Inspection Point
We'll visit the site during construction to verify that work is on track and documentation is in order. This checkpoint helps catch issues early, before they become costly problems, and keeps your project moving toward certification.
5. Final Review
👷♂️ Inspection Point
The finish line. We'll complete a final site assessment and run all required diagnostic testing to confirm your project meets EarthCraft standards. We’ll submit documentation, then an EarthCraft Program Administrator will review the project for certification.
6. Certification!
Once everything checks out, you're certified and your building's performance is verified – Congrats! You’re ready to tell the world about this achievement and we are here to support with data, sales team training, or creating a custom marketing piece to get the word out.
Recent EarthCraft Project Samples
The Riley Overbrook
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Developer: Schaumber Development
- Certification: EarthCraft Multifamily, ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC)
- EarthCraft Fact: Features high efficiency lighting with automatic controls and low flow water fixtures
The Summit at Sawyer
- Location: Raleigh, NC
- Developer: Solstice Partners
- Certification: EarthCraft Multifamily, ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC)
- EarthCraft Fact: Features Low or Zero VOC materials to improve indoor air quality
Miller’s Rest Phase II
- Location: Lynchburg, VA
- Developer: Lawson Companies
- Certification: EarthCraft Multifamily, ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC)
- EarthCraft Fact: Within Walking Distance to Buses, Bike paths, and public green spaces to promote sustainable and healthy living
Frequently Asked Questions
To achieve EarthCraft certification, your project must complete four key stages: registration, design review, mid-construction review, and final review. Throughout this process, a third-party EarthCraft Technical Advisor (like our team at SEM) provides oversight and verification to confirm your building meets the program’s energy efficiency and performance standards.
- Certified
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
EarthCraft Multifamily certification delivers real value for both residents and property owners. Compared to standard code-built multifamily buildings, EarthCraft-certified properties achieve measurable improvements in energy and water efficiency. Residents benefit from lower utility bills from day one, while owners gain increased property value and reduced operating costs over time.
Best of all, incorporating EarthCraft Multifamily standards into your development has an average marginal cost that is 5% less expensive per square foot compared to conventional developments —meaning you can deliver superior performance while staying on budget.
Once a building achieves EarthCraft certification, there are no recertification requirements.
Yes! EarthCraft Multifamily certification isn’t just for new construction. We can help you certify:
- Multifamily buildings – Any property with stacked units sharing floors or ceilings qualifies, whether you’re developing apartments for rent or condos for sale.
- Adaptive reuse projects – Converting a warehouse, hotel, gym, school building, or other non-residential structure into multifamily housing? These transformations are eligible for certification, including historic adaptive reuse projects.
- Renovations – Existing multifamily properties undergoing significant renovations can also achieve EarthCraft certification.
If you’re wondering whether your project qualifies, reach out to our team. We’ll help you determine the best path forward for certification.
The cost of EarthCraft certification depends on the pathway pursued and the size of the building. For a full quote on your project, please contact us and we will outline both the verification and EarthCraft Certification fees.
Have more questions? Our EarthCraft Technical Advisors are happy to help!
Schedule a meeting →
Certification Comparison Tool
This chart provides a quick overview of multifamily & commercial green building certification features, requirements, and complementary programs.
PDF Guide
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Schedule a meeting with our green building specialists to review your project goals and challenges.
About Us
North Carolina’s solar power and building performance expert. Founded in 2001, we’ve worked for 20+ years to improve the way people make and use energy.
