Kimberly Vermeer

Kimberly Vermeer, LEED AP Homes, is a multi-disciplinary green building and sustainability practitioner, with a special focus in the multifamily affordable housing sector. Through her company, Urban Habitat Initiatives Inc., she offers strategic consulting to community development corporations and other affordable housing developers to advance sustainability and climate resilience. Committed to delivering the benefits of green building to vulnerable populations, Kim works with teams to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy, water conservation, healthy housing and climate resilience into their projects. She directs project certification through LEED or Enterprise Green Communities rating systems, as well as the LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) rating system for larger master-planned projects.

Ms. Vermeer is also an experienced teacher and educator, and was recently a Practitioner Scholar at UMass Boston, co-teaching an environmental science capstone course. She has also developed, planned and facilitated many professional education and peer learning events. Her background includes housing finance, policy, and development. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master in City and Regional Planning degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Kim is also the host of the Green in Action podcast: https://urbanhabitatinitiatives.com/podcast-home/

Addressing the Climate Crisis with Green Housing for All

US cities are faced with compounding climate and housing crises. How can communities meet their housing needs while mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change? By creating green housing affordable for all, cities will contribute to the health and well-being of residents, their communities, and the planet. Considering both systemic questions and action-oriented strategies, the speakers will discuss green building processes and principles that can be incorporated into housing design, construction, rehabilitation, and operation.

Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing

Every affordable housing project can achieve the fundamentals of good green building design and practice and contribute to creating sustainable and resilient communities. Kim Vermeer and Walker Wells shared innovative practices, the latest affordable housing financing strategies, and examples of places and projects where these strategies have worked in practice.