Social Responsibility

Three ways KDF achieves balance for its stakeholders

The lack of affordable housing is a significant hardship for low-income households, preventing them from meeting basic needs, such as nutrition, healthcare, or saving for their future. Since 1996 KDF Communities has been an innovator in developing successful affordable multifamily and senior housing solutions upon three important performance criteria: social, environmental and financial. We strive to achieve balance between these on behalf of all stakeholders.

Social Commitment
KDF’s commitment to providing social services to the residents living in their affordable housing communities plays a critical role in the firm’s creation of better housing, better neighborhoods and better lives. Whether it be new construction or rehabilitating multifamily and senior housing, KDF has years of extensive experience of working closely with city, state and local governments to make affordable housing a reality that is on time and on budget.

Environmental Commitment
To make our affordable housing properties part of the energy solution, KDF Communities endorses California’s strict guidelines meant to reduce the amount of energy used.

Included in this process are the following standards:

  • Energy Star rated ceiling fans, whole house fan or mechanically cooled HVAC systems for all bedrooms and living rooms
  • Use of faucet flow restrictors and at least one high efficiency toilet
  • Use of environmentally friendly carpet and paint, as well as formaldehyde free cabinetry, shelving, countertops and insulation
  • Energy Star rated appliances in both common areas and residential units
  • Landscape design that will retain, infiltrate and/or treat the first ½ inch of rainfall
  • Non-smoking building or contiguous sections of buildings
  • Dual glazed, Low E window
  • Retrofitting older properties with solar panels

KDF also endorses those energy efficient features in new construction projects that not only reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, but also improve the quality of living for the homeowner. Below is information on the building processes that are implemented in an Energy Star qualified home.

  • Properly Installed Insulation – to achieve maximum energy efficiency in a home a builder must not only use the correct type of insulation, but also insure that the insulation has been properly installed. Using inadequate insulation, or leaving gaps and holes in an insulated wall, will allow excessive heat gain or loss, which forces air conditioning and heating systems to work overtime.
  • Dual-Pane Windows – to prevent heat from entering the home via sunlight through the window, and cool air from escaping a home, the builder must use Energy Star qualified windows. Benefits of Energy Star windows include helping to reduce utility costs, improve comfort for residents, protect the home’s carpet and furnishings from sun damage, and prevent condensation build up.
  • Tightly Sealed Home – to reduce undesirable heat gain and loss from air conditioning duct systems, the builder must properly seal holes, cracks, and joints. A properly sealed air duct system will improve air quality by reducing pollens, dust, and other pollutants from entering into the home.
  • Heating & Cooling Efficiency – to lower energy use, reduce indoor humidity, and to improve the overall comfort level in the home, the builder should use Energy Star qualified heating and cooling systems.
  • Energy Efficient Products & Fixtures – Energy Star qualified products offer the most advanced energy saving technology and include lighting fixtures, CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs), ventilation fans, and typical home appliances – refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and ovens/stoves.

Financial Commitment
Providing quality, affordable housing with amenities and services appropriate to the property’s tenant population while committing to sustainable building practices costs money. KDF prides itself to finding innovative financial solutions and leveraging its relationships with lenders and investors to make the development of affordable housing a reality. KDF is a recognized leader in the financial structuring of affordable housing developments. KDF thoroughly evaluates various funding sources to find a solution to each specific situation. The type of financing chosen depends heavily on the product type (senior or family), if the project is a new construction project or acquisition rehab, the desired level of affordability and the type of funding available at the time. Identifying a financing plan with the right mix of affordability and certainty of execution requires a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of the many different funding sources available.