CHRISTIANSBURG -- A local nonprofit developer today won its first national "green building" award, helped in part by an affordable-housing project the company recently built in Blacksburg.

Community Housing Partners Corp. has won the 2007 Energy Star Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing, which is given annually by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

It recognizes builders dedicated to environmental and economic sustainability in their operations and development projects. Company President Janaka Casper said Wednesday he was glad the company's 30 years of work has been recognized.

"It does say that we're a national leader in affordable green building," he said. "That has been a strategic goal of ours -- to incorporate green building in everything we do."

Community Housing Partners is a nonprofit real estate development firm based in Christiansburg that specializes in building, refurbishing and managing low- to moderate-income housing in Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and North Carolina.

In the past few years, Casper said Community Housing Partners has committed itself to environmentally friendly operations and projects.

The company recently partnered with Blacksburg's housing office to develop a $2.5 million pilot project for affordable housing in the town's historic Roanoke-Lee Street neighborhood. And the design of those homes helped the company win.

The 14 homes were built to be energy-efficient and low-maintenance, as well as affordable for low- to moderate-income buyers. Their construction was subsidized in part by federal funds granted annually to the town. Community Housing Partners quilted together various other state funds to finish the project.

The homes are specially insulated with recycled materials, super-efficient windows and Energy Star-rated appliances, which make each home about 25 percent more efficient than the standard house, architect Colin Arnold said.

Blacksburg Housing Manager Matt Hanratty could not be reached for comment. Maria Vargas of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program could also not be reached for comment.

Casper will officially receive the award at a ceremony on March 21.

On the Web: www.energystar.gov www.communityhousingpartners.org