The Schochet Cos., a real estate firm based in Boston with properties throughout New England, has received full SPI-HUD accreditation.

SPI-HUD green organizational accreditation is part of the Affordable Green Initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2012. The Sustainable Performance Institute (SPI) recognizes those HUD grantees and affordable housing organizations in achieving portfolio-wide improvements.

“It’s validating to know that the direction we’ve been going in since 2009 is now recognized by HUD,” Ilene Mason of Rethinking Power Management LLC, who serves as Schochet’s chief advisor in sustainability, said in a statement.

Accreditation differentiates organizations that seek to implement green building and operational best practices, build capacity of staff, track and measure building performance effectively over time, realize significant improvements in health and energy efficiency and achieve cost savings.

Twenty-four organizations from across the U.S. were accredited through the pilot.  Of those, 17 achieved full accreditation, meaning they have already implemented most or all of the best practices contained in the accreditation criteria. Seven organizations received provisional accreditation, meaning they have made commitments to the best practices with the intention of implementing them sometime during the accreditation term.