State and Local
Climate and Energy Program
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE AND ENERGY STRATEGY SERIES
Energy Efficiency
in Affordable
Housing
A Guide to Developing and Implementing
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
2011
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EPA's Local Government Climate and Energy
Strategy Series
The Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series provides a comprehensive, straightforward overview of green-
house gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies for local governments. Topics include energy efficiency, transportation,
community planning and design, solid waste and materials management, and renewable energy. City, county, territorial,
tribal, and regional government staff, and elected officials can use these guides to plan, implement, and evaluate their
climate change mitigation and energy projects.
Each guide provides an overview of project benefits, policy mechanisms, investments, key stakeholders, and other imple-
mentation considerations. Examples and case studies highlighting achievable results from programs implemented in
communities across the United States are incorporated throughout the guides.
While each guide stands on its own, the entire series contains many interrelated strategies that can be combined to create
comprehensive, cost-effective programs that generate multiple benefits. For example, efforts to improve energy efficiency
can be combined with transportation and community planning programs to reduce GHG emissions, decrease energy and
transportation costs, improve air quality and public health, and enhance quality of life.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE AND ENERGY STRATEGY SERIES
All documents are available at: www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/resources/strategy-guides.html.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy Efficiency in Local Government Operations
1 Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing
1 Energy-Efficient Product Procurement
Combined Heat and Power
Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Control Measures
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DESIGN
Smart Growth
SOLID WASTE AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Resource Conservation and Recovery
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Green Power Procurement
On-Site Renewable Energy Generation
Landfill Gas Energy
Please note: All Web addresses in this document were working as of the time of publication, but links may break over time
as sites are reorganized and content is moved.
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements _v
Executive Summary vii
Developing and Implementing Energy Efficiency Programs vii
Energy Efficiency in
Affordable Housing ._ vii
Relationships to Other Guides
in the Series viii
1. Overview __1
2. Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing __2
3. Planning and Design Approaches for Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing __4
Improving Energy Efficiency in Existing Affordable Housing ._ 8
Evaluate Home Energy Consumption _ 8
Develop an Action Plan to Improve Energy Efficiency _ 10
Energy Efficiency in
New Affordable Housing 11
Energy-Efficient New Home Features 12
Planning and Designing Energy-Efficient New Affordable Housing 12
Energy Efficiency in
Green Affordable Housing ._ 13
4. Key Participants 15
5. Foundations for Program Development 18
6. Strategies for Effective Program Implementation 21
Strategies for Working with Developers and
Other Affordable Housing Stakeholders in the Community 21
Strategies for Working with National, State, and Local Government Agencies _ 23
7. Investment and Financing Opportunities 24
Investment __25
Financing 27
Financial Vehicles 27
Funding Sources 29
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8. Federal, State, and Other Program Resources 32
Federal Programs __32
State Programs 33
Other Programs __34
9. Case Studies 36
Philadelphia Housing Authority—Conserve Energy-Preserve Public Housing _ 36
Program Initiation __36
Program Features __36
Program Results _ 37
Boston, Massachusetts—Green Affordable Housing Program _. 37
Program Initiation ._ 37
10. Additional Examples and Information Resources 38
Program Features __38
Program Results _ ._ 38
11. References 44
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Acknowledgements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would like to acknowledge the many individuals who contributed
their time and expertise to the development and review of this guide for the Local Government Climate and Energy
Strategy Series. The following contributors provided significant assistance in bringing this document to fruition:
EPA—Brian Ng, Mark Simons, Megan Susman, and Emma Zinsmeister.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—Audrey Buehring, Michael Freedberg, Regina Gray,
Richard Santangelo, and Edwin Stromberg.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Developing and Implementing
Energy Efficiency Programs
Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements
can cost less than generating, transmitting, and distrib-
uting energy from power plants, and provides multiple
economic and environmental benefits. As President
Obama said in June 2009, "By bringing more energy effi-
cient technologies to American homes and businesses,
we won't just significantly reduce our energy demand-
we'll put more money back in the pockets of hardwork-
ing Americans." Energy efficiency also helps reduce
air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improves
energy security and independence, and creates jobs.
Local governments can promote energy efficiency in
their jurisdictions by developing and implementing
strategies that improve the efficiency of municipal
facilities and operations and/or encourage energy
efficiency improvements in residential, commercial,
and industrial sectors. The energy efficiency guides
in this series describe the process of developing and
implementing strategies, using real-world examples, for
improving energy efficiency in local government opera-
tions (see the guides on local government operations,
K-12 schools, energy-efficient product procurement,
combined heat and power, and water and wastewater
facilities), as well as in the community.
Energy Efficiency in
Affordable Housing
With the help of local governments, many low-income
households are reducing housing costs and GHG emis-
sions by improving their energy efficiency. Energy costs
can contribute substantially to the overall financial
burden of housing, and can make housing unafford-
able for many families. This guide describes how local
governments have planned and implemented programs
to reduce the energy-cost burden on low-income
households while also generating other energy, environ-
mental, and economic benefits for the local community
and region. It is designed to be used by public housing
authorities, other public and private entities that provide
affordable housing assistance, local government staff,
elected officials, and citizen groups.
RELATED GUIDES IN THIS SERIES
1 Community Planning and Design: Smart Growth
Smart growth involves development that benefits the
economy, the community, the environment, and public
health. Smart growth principles favor the strategic
location of transit services, residences, and commercial
development, which can reduce the transportation costs
of low-income households and improve
housing affordability.
1 Community Planning and Design:
Urban Heat Island Reduction
Dark-colored buildings, paved surfaces, and reduced tree
cover in urban areas create "islands" of warmth, with
impacts on air quality, energy use, and public health.
Low-income residents are among the most vulnerable to
these impacts, and measures to reduce urban heat islands
can help reduce home energy use while providing other
environmental and health benefits.
1 Transportation: Transportation Control Measures
Transportation control measures are strategies that reduce
vehicle miles traveled and improve roadway operations to
reduce air pollution, GHG emissions, and fuel use from
transportation. Measures such as public transportation
improvements and expanded commuter choices can
provide additional reductions in the energy-cost burden
of low-income households.
1 Energy Efficiency: Combined Heat and Power
Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as
cogeneration, refers to the simultaneous production
of electricity and thermal energy from a single fuel
source. Utilizing CHP systems in affordable housing can
significantly improve home energy efficiency and help to
reduce GHG emissions.
1 Energy Efficiency: Energy-Efficient
Product Procurement
Many local governments are saving energy by requiring
that the energy-using products they purchase meet energy
efficiency criteria. By promoting the use of energy-efficient
products in affordable housing, local governments can help
reduce energy loads and increase the cost-effectiveness
of other energy efficiency activities, benefiting both
low-income residents and building owners.
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Readers of the guide should come away with an under-
standing of options for improving energy efficiency in
affordable housing, a clear idea of the steps and consid-
erations involved in developing and implementing the
various options, and an awareness of expected invest-
ment and funding opportunities.
The guide describes energy, environmental, and
economic benefits of energy efficiency in affordable
housing (Section 2); planning and design approaches
(Section 3); key participants and their roles (Section 4);
policy mechanisms that local governments have used
to support programs for energy efficiency in afford-
able housing (Section 5); implementation strategies for
effective programs (Section 6); investment and financ-
ing opportunities (Section 7); federal, state, and other
programs that may be able to help local governments
with information or financial and technical assistance
(Section 8); and finally, two case studies of success-
ful local government programs for improving energy
efficiency in affordable housing (Section 9). Additional
examples of successful implementation are provided
throughout the guide.
Relationships to Other Guides
in the Series
Local governments can use other guides in this series
to develop robust climate and energy programs that
incorporate complementary strategies. For example,
local governments can combine energy efficiency
improvements in affordable housing with smart
growth strategies, urban heat island reduction
techniques, and transportation control measures to
develop integrated plans for community development
that maximize improvements to the economic and
social well-being of low-income residents while reduc-
ing GHG emissions and air pollution. Local govern-
ments can also integrate combined heat and power
systems and energy efficient products into affordable
housing to ensure ongoing energy and costs savings
and to promote climate change mitigation.
See the box on page vii for more information about
strategies that complement energy efficiency improve-
ments in affordable housing. Additional connections to
related strategies are highlighted in the guide.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
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1. OVERVIEW
Households across the nation spend more than $160
billion on energy to heat, cool, light, and live in their
homes each year, and residential energy consumption
accounts for more than 20 percent of the nation's total
energy consumption (U.S. EPA, 2006b). These energy
costs contribute to the overall financial burden of
housing, and can make housing unaffordable for many
families. In 2006, close to 40 million households spent
30 percent or more of their incomes on housing—the
threshold used by the U.S. Department Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to identify affordability (see
text box at right) (Brennan and Lipman, 2008). To help
make housing more affordable, HUD and other public
and private entities administer a number of assistance
programs. For example, in 2008, HUD provided support
to approximately 5 million low-income households
through its public housing, rental assistance, and other
housing assistance programs (U.S. HUD, 2008a).
Improving energy efficiency in housing can help make
homes more affordable by reducing the energy cost
burden on low-income households. Approaching
efficiency improvements from a comprehensive, whole-
house, systems perspective can generate other energy,
environmental, and economic benefits for the local
community and region, such as increased employment
and reduced demand for federal assistance program
resources. Combining energy efficiency improvements
and green building techniques, while taking an approach
that views housing as integrated with surrounding land
uses, can help maximize these benefits.
Local governments can work with a range of stakehold-
ers to improve energy efficiency in affordable hous-
ing. Some local governments own and develop their
own affordable housing, and can take direct action to
implement energy efficiency projects in this housing.
However, most local governments do not own affordable
housing units. These governments can take advantage of
relationships with developers, homeowners, and other
public and private organizations to leverage efforts to
improve energy efficiency in existing affordable housing
and design new affordable housing to achieve superior
energy performance.
This guide is designed to encourage local governments
to take an active role in improving energy efficiency
in affordable housing units they own and develop, and
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The affordable housing market is an amalgamation
of different programs operated by various federal
and state agencies and government-sponsored
enterprises, each with its own set of rules,
including income limits. Specifically, HUD defines
affordability as meaning that no more than 30% of
a household's annual income is spent on housing
(U.S. HUD, 2007b).
Affordable housing is promoted using a variety of
instruments including competitive and formula
grants, interest subsidies, rental assistance, and
mortgage guarantees. It spans all climate zones,
rural and urban locations, and all building types
from single family detached to high-rise elevator
structures to mixed use developments.
This guide specifically looks at affordable housing
that is subsidized, including units owned and
developed by:
• Local governments;
• Community development corporations;
• Public housing authorities (PHAs); and
• Other public and private entities.
promoting energy efficiency in affordable housing owned
and developed by other public and private entities, such
as community development corporations and public
housing authorities (PHA).i It provides information on
the benefits of improving energy efficiency in affordable
housing, expected investment and funding opportunities,
and case studies. Additional examples and sources for
more information are provided in Section 10, Additional
Examples and Information Resources.
Local governments can combine energy efficiency
improvements in affordable housing with other strate-
gies covered in the Local Government Climate and
Energy Strategy Series to develop comprehensive, robust
programs that provide integrated social and environ-
mental benefits. For example, local governments can
integrate their efforts in affordable housing with smart
growth strategies and transportation control measures
(TCMs) to put development in locations that are well
connected to the region by public transit, take advantage
of existing infrastructure, and are affordable for resi-
dents with a range of incomes. The cost of living in these
1 This guide refers to these various stakeholders generally as "developers."
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
1. OVERVIEW
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locations is lower because they offer more transportation
options and are closer to housing, jobs, and services.
Development in these locations allows people to drive
less, which reduces GHG emissions and air pollution.
Please see the guides on smart growth and TCMs for
more information on these complementary strategies.
2. BENEFITS OF ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
Improving energy efficiency in affordable housing can
have many energy, environmental, and economic bene-
fits. These benefits generally accrue to the homeowner
or renter, but can also extend to the local community
and region. Local governments can promote energy
efficiency in affordable housing to:
Reduce GHG emissions and other environmental
impacts. Improving energy efficiency in affordable
housing can help reduce emissions of GHGs and criteria
air pollutants by decreasing consumption of fossil-fuel-
based energy. Fossil fuel combustion for electricity
generation accounts for 40 percent of the nations carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions, a principal GHG, and 67
percent and 23 percent of the nation's sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, respectively,
which can lead to smog, acid rain, and trace amounts
of airborne particulate matter that can cause respira-
tory problems for many people (U.S. EPA, 2008x; U.S.
EPA, 2008a). An ENERGY STAR labeled new home can
achieve GHG emissions reductions of up to 2 metric
tons each year (U.S. EPA, 2008o).2
The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) in
Colorado has contracted with an energy
service company (ESCO) to implement ener-
gy efficiency projects in its affordable housing
units. DHA expects to reduce its annual energy
consumption by 25 percent and annual CO2 emis-
sions by approximately 2,540 metric tons. DHA's
efforts are contributing to the city's overall goal of
reducing GHG emissions by 10 percent by 2012
(Honeywell, 2007).
2 Energy use in the residential sector accounts for 20 percent of all U.S. GHG
emissions from fossil fuel combustion (U.S. EPA, 2008x).
Reducing energy consumption can also contribute
to other local government environmental objec-
tives, such as resource conservation and pollution
prevention. For example, purchasing an ENERGY
STAR labeled energy-efficient clothes washer to
reduce energy costs can also help reduce water
utility bills and decrease the amount of used water
that enters the wastewater system (U.S. EPA and
U.S. DOE, 2008).
Reduce energy costs. According to HUD, energy
costs consume 19 percent of total annual income for
single, elderly, poor, and disabled persons living on
social security (compared with a national average of
only 4 percent) (U.S. HUD, 2007h). Reducing ener-
gy costs is an effective way to ensure that housing
remains affordable for these individuals. The federal
government's Partnership for Home Energy Effi-
ciency (PHEE), a collaborative effort between EPA,
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and HUD,
estimates that many households can save between
20 and 30 percent on energy costs by improving
energy efficiency (Energy Savers, 2007). Accord-
ing to EPA, an ENERGY STAR labeled new home
is at least 15 percent more energy efficient than a
home built to the 2004 International Residential
Code (IRC) and includes additional energy-saving
measures that typically make it 20-30 percent more
energy efficient than standard homes (U.S. EPA,
COST SAVINGS BENEFITS ARE ACCRUING TO
RESIDENTS AND BUILDING OWNERS
A study conducted by New Ecology, Inc. found that
both residents and building owners can reap direct
benefits from reduced utility costs in new, green,
affordable multiple-family housing developments
that incorporate energy efficiency.*
The study found that resident utility cost savings
averaged more than $12,600 per home over
a 30-year building life-cycle. In addition, the
study found that approximately half of the
building owners studied were also achieving cost
savings, with the average building owner saving
approximately $2,700 in reduced utility costs over
a 30-year building life-cycle, typically as a result of
reduced energy consumption in common areas in
each building.
* In the developments included in the study, affordable
housing residents pay their own utility bills.
Source: New Ecology, Inc., 2006.
2. BENEFITS
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
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2008p). An ENERGY STAR home can save homeowners
between $200 and $400 per year on their utility bills on
average (U.S. EPA, 2008d).s
In rented affordable housing units, energy cost savings
can accrue to the renter or the building owner (Shafer,
2003).4 In some affordable housing units, utility costs
are embedded in rent payments, whereby the building
owner will reap the direct benefits of energy efficiency
improvements, with the resident benefiting indirectly
from a lower risk of rent increase. In such cases, resi-
dents may have no obvious incentive to reduce their
energy use and education is critical. When residents pay
utility bills directly, they are the direct beneficiaries of
much of the energy cost savings; building owners can
still benefit directly from reduced energy consumption
in building common areas and indirectly from reduced
utility allowances and energy assistance program costs.
Increase economic benefits through job creation and
market development. Investing in energy efficiency can
stimulate the local economy and encourage develop-
ment of energy efficiency service markets. Across the
nation, energy efficiency technologies and services
are estimated to have created 8.5 million jobs in 2006
(ASES, 2007). In addition, incentives for affordable
housing developers can encourage businesses to relocate
to the region, bringing increased tax revenues and jobs
(Nebraska BED, 2007).
Demonstrate leadership. Promoting energy efficiency
in affordable housing can help raise public awareness
about the energy conservation, environmental, health
and wellness, economic, and other benefits of energy
efficiency by making these benefits tangible for afford-
able housing residents. Increased awareness of the
benefits of energy efficiency can lead to broader adop-
tion of energy-efficient and green practices throughout
the community.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority in Penn-
sylvania has initiated a campaign to replace
every light bulb in its affordable housing units
with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light
bulbs (CFLs) with a goal of encouraging "other
government agencies and the general public [to]
follow the example" (PHA, 2006a).
3 The average household utility bill is approximately $1,900per year (U.S.
EPA, 2008d).
4 Some PHAs provide subsidies to private landowners to develop and manage
public affordable housing units.
In addition, by providing incentives for developers to
incorporate energy efficiency in affordable housing
design and renovation, local governments promote
broader use of energy-efficient practices by local busi-
nesses, including developers, architects, contractors,
property management firms, and retailers. Businesses
may look to differentiate themselves by enhancing their
energy efficiency expertise, which can result in acceler-
ated development of the market and delivery infrastruc-
ture for energy-efficient products and services (AHEE,
2007). For more information on how local governments
can lead by example through energy-efficient product
procurement, see EPAs Energy-Efficient Product Procure-
ment guide in the Local Government Climate and Energy
Strategy Series.
Improve indoor air quality. Improving energy effi-
ciency in affordable housing can have the indirect
effect of enhancing indoor air quality when adequate
ventilation systems are in use. Properly installing
insulation and sealing air leaks in a home's envelope
and duct system, for example, can reduce heating and
cooling energy costs and improve indoor air quality by
ensuring an adequate supply of fresh air, minimizing
infiltration of dust and pollen from attics and base-
ments into living areas, and reducing noise and odor
intrusion from the outside environment (U.S. EPA,
2008f). These benefits can be especially significant for
seniors or other populations particularly susceptible to
poor air quality. One review of building performance
found that improving air quality in buildings can
reduce the incidence of colds and flu by 51 percent, on
average (Carnegie Mellon, 2005).
Increase comfort. Improving energy efficiency in
affordable housing can increase indoor comfort for resi-
dents by mitigating several conditions that contribute to
poor indoor comfort, including:
Damp basements, which are caused by moisture
migrating through the foundation. Damp base-
ments can result in increased indoor humidity,
structural damage, and mold proliferation.
Improving home energy efficiency through
proper insulation, proper duct sealing, and other
measures helps to control the air entering and
exiting the home, thereby controlling moisture
levels and ensuring better air quality.
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
2. BENEFITS
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Cold floors and drafty rooms in the winter, which
can be the result of insufficient insulation, unwanted
air infiltration, or poor duct performance.
>• Moisture on windows, which can result from
having inefficient windows or high indoor
humidity levels. Moisture on windows can lead to
mold growth and damage to window sills
(U.S. EPA, 2008f).
Increase home value. Implementing energy efficiency
projects in affordable housing can increase home value.
An energy-efficient home often commands a higher
sale price on the market, due to an anticipation of
reduced utility costs for prospective buyers. In addi-
tion, energy-efficient features can often mitigate struc-
tural damage, preserving a home's value. For example,
sealing and insulating a home can reduce energy costs
and prevent the formation of ice dams. Ice dams,
which can cause damage to roof drainage systems, are
formed when warm air inside the home leaks into the
attic, warming the underside of the roof and causing
snow and ice to melt and refreeze as it runs off the roof
(U.S. EPA, 20080-
Reduce reliance on energy assistance programs.
Improving energy efficiency in affordable housing can
have the indirect benefit of reducing residents' reliance
on energy assistance programs offered by utilities and
state and federal government authorities. As a result,
improved energy efficiency can reduce residents' vulner-
ability to changes in assistance program terms, and can
increase the assisting authorities' ability to fund other
programs. For example, utility costs comprise 23 percent
of the typical PHA's annual operating expenses, causing
HUD's annual energy costs for public housing units to
exceed $1.2 billion. Savings in this area could be used
to increase allocations to other housing and economic
and community development programs (U.S. HUD,
2007g; 2007k). Overall, HUD spends approximately
$4 billion annually (10 percent of its budget) on utility
costs through subsidies to state and local governments,
renters, private firms, and not-for-profit organizations,
in addition to PHAs (U.S. EPA, 2006a).
Reduce risk of eviction. Reducing the energy cost
burden on affordable housing residents can help reduce
a resident's risk of eviction. According to HUD, 26
percent of evictions in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1997 were
precipitated by electric and gas utility service termina-
tion (U.S. HUD, 2004).
Preserve affordability. Utility costs, in addition to
rent, are an important factor in determining a home's
affordability, meaning that building low-cost homes
is not necessarily the same as building affordable
homes (AHEE, 2007). Reducing energy costs can
help to ensure that low-rent housing remains afford-
able. According to one report, a 25 percent reduction in
energy costs can reduce combined rent and energy costs
in the average housing unit by 8 percent. This reduction
could potentially bring nearly 1.2 million additional
housing units within the national standard for affordabil-
ity (U.S. HUD, 2007k).
The Kitsap County, Washington, Consoli-
dated Housing Authority's Rehabilitation
Program was created to ensure that public
housing in the county remains affordable by help-
ing tenants reduce their energy and water bills
(KCCHA, 2000).
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
APPROACHES FOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
This section describes approaches to improving
energy efficiency in existing affordable housing units
and incorporating energy efficiency in new affordable
housing designs (including green homes). While most
local governments do not own or develop affordable
housing, many work closely with the developers who
do. Consequently, these local governments can be key
contributors in efforts to improve energy efficiency
in affordable housing, and can use the approaches
outlined in this section as a reference when collaborat-
ing with other affordable housing stakeholders (e.g.,
developers, community-based outreach agencies and
non-profits, and other organizations) to improve
energy efficiency in affordable housing.
EPA's ENERGY STAR program has developed a
number of resources and tools that can be helpful
to local governments as they plan and implement
programs to improve energy efficiency in affordable
housing. These resources and tools are summarized in
Table I, ENERGY STAR Program Resources.
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
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It is advisable to plan and design a comprehensive,
whole-house approach to energy efficiency in affordable
housing. While a single energy efficiency improvement,
such as upgrading to a more efficient HVAC system,
can have a positive effect, the maximum benefits of
the investment may not be realized if, for example, the
duct work is leaky or the windows and doors are drafty.
At the same time, incorporating energy modeling or
diagnostic tools into the planning process can help
identify the most cost-effective and complementary
opportunities for investment. A whole-house approach
may have the added benefit of helping to provide green
jobs in the community for home energy auditors, equip-
ment installers, and those responsible for measuring
and verifying that the work is done properly. The Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR
New Homes programs both feature a whole-house
approach to energy efficiency for existing homes and
new construction, respectively.
PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA, REQUIRES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEW CONSTRUCTION TO
MEET ENERGY STAR SPECIFICATIONS
The Pinellas County Department of Community
Development (PCDCD) promotes the production
of energy efficient affordable housing through
its Model Homes program. With zero-interest
construction loans and access to low-cost infill land
as incentives, participating builders and non-profits
construct and certify new homes to meet ENERGY
STAR specifications. The PCDCD partners with the
local utility. Progress Energy, to provide no-cost
inspections and testing, and also reimburses builders
for certification costs.
Homes include energy efficient HVAC systems,
properly installed insulation, energy-efficient
windows, ENERGY STAR labeled appliances, and
compact fluorescent lighting. The utility costs for a
Model Homes Program house is estimated at $60-
$100 per month, around half of the county average.
Source: U.S. EPA, 2007g.
TABLE 1.
ENERGY STAR PROGRAM RESOURCES
Title/Description
ENERGY STAR Tools and Guidance for Existing Homes
Web Site
Home Improvement with ENERGY STAR. This Web site provides information and resources on the
benefits of, and approaches to, improving energy efficiency in homes.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_
improvem en t_in dex
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. EPA and DOE's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
program provides a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency.
Through this program, participating contractors offer whole-home diagnoses and develop home-
specific recommendations for improving energy efficiency.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=hpwes_profiles.
showSplash
ENERGY STAR Home Advisor. The Home Advisor tool can provide homeowners with
recommended projects to improve energy efficiency based on where the home is located, how
the home is cooled and heated, and what type of water heater it has.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_advisor.
showCetlnput
ENERGY STAR Yardstick. This tool can be used to compare a home's energy efficiency to similar
homes across the country. It can also provide recommendations for energy efficiency upgrades.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=HOME_ENERGY_
YARDSTICK.showGetStarted
ENERGY STAR Labeled Products. EPA develops energy efficiency specifications for more than 60
product categories. Relative to conventional products, ENERGY STAR labeled products typically
use 10-75% less energy and can offer consumers energy cost savings of as much as 75%.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm ?fuseaction=find_a_product.
ENERGY STAR Common Home Problems. EPA has compiled a list of common home problems that
can be addressed by improving energy efficiency.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_
improvem ent_solutions
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Title/Description Web Site
ENERGY STAR Tips for Selecting Contractors. EPA has developed a set of tips for selecting a
heating and cooling contractor.
ENERGY STAR Home Energy Raters. EPA has compiled a list of certified home energy raters that
can help developers and homeowners ensure their homes perform as intended.
http://www.energystar.gov/
index.cfm?c=heat_cooipr_
contractors_10tips
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=new_homes_partners.
showHomesSearch
ENERGY STAR Tools and Guidance for New Homes
ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes. EPA has developed specifications for labeled new homes.
Meeting these specifications can save a household between 20% and 30% on energy costs, and
earn a new home the ENERGY STAR label for superior energy performance.
Features of ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes. This Web site provides information on the six
features of ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes, and includes links to fact sheets about each
feature.
ENERGY STAR Indoor Air Package. EPA developed the ENERGY STAR Indoor Air Package as a
resource to help builders meet homeowner demands for improved indoor air quality and energy
efficiency. Implementing the requirements in this package is the second step in developing green
homes, after achieving the ENERGY STAR label.
Green Building Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue. This Web site provides information on how to
incorporate energy efficiency into green home designs.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=new_homes.hm_index
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm ?c=bldrs_lenders_ra ters.nh_
features
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/
partners/bldrs_lenders_raters/
downloads/I 'APConsm508.pdf
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=new_homes.nh_greenbuilding
ENERGY STAR Resources for Affordable Housing
ENERGY STAR for Affordable Housing. This Web site provides information on improving energy
efficiency in affordable housing, including several examples, external resources, and funding
programs.
ENERGY STAR and Affordable Housing. This Web site provides links to tools resources that can be
useful when planning energy efficiency improvements in affordable housing.
ENERGY STAR in Affordable Housing Success Stories. EPA has collected a series of case studies on
affordable housing programs that provide helpful information on how developers have improved
energy efficiency in existing affordable housing and incorporated energy efficiency in new
affordable housing designs.
ENERGY STAR for Habitat for Humanity. This Web site provides information on ENERGY STAR'S
relationship with Habitat for Humanity. ENERGY STAR'S residential construction guidelines are part
of Habitat for Humanity's construction guidelines in the United States.
Funding Sources for Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing. EPA has compiled a list of
sources that can provide the funding necessary to pay for energy efficiency improvements in
affordable housing.
White Paper on Utility Opportunities to Promote Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing. This
white paper describes opportunities for utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency
programs to support affordable housing.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_
a ffordable_housing
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_
a ffordable_housing_ tools_res
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_
affordable_housing_success_stories
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_
affordable_housing_hab_hum
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_
a ffordable_housing_ funding
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/
bldrs_lenders_raters/downloads/
Utility_White_Paper_102206.pdf
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Title/Description Web Site
ENERGY STAR Financial Calculators
Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator. This tool can be used to determine how much new energy-
efficient equipment can be purchased based on estimated cost savings; determine whether
equipment should be purchased now using financing, or if it is better to wait and use cash from a
future year's budget; and determine whether money is being lost by waiting for lower interest rates.
Financial Value Calculator. This tool presents energy efficiency investment opportunities in terms
of key financial metrics. It can be used to determine how energy efficiency improvements can
affect organizational profit margins and returns on investments.
Building Upgrade Value Calculator. This calculator can be used to estimate the financial benefits
of improving energy efficiency in office buildings.
Savings Calculators. These calculators can be used to estimate the life-cycle and annual costs and
savings of a variety of ENERGY STAR labeled products.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=assess_value.financial_tools
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=assess_value.financial_tools
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=assess_value.financial_tools
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bulk_purchasing.bus_purchasing
Additional ENERGY STAR Resources and Tools
ENERGY STAR for Government. This Web site provides resources for state and local governments
to use as they plan energy efficiency activities, including energy management guidelines,
information on financing options, and tools and resources to measure and track energy use.
The ENERGY STAR Challenge. The ENERGY STAR Chattenge-Build a Better World 10% at a Time
program calls on governments, schools, and businesses across the country to identify energy
efficiency improvements in their facilities and improve energy efficiency by 10% or more. EPA
estimates that if each building owner accepts this challenge, by 2015 Americans would save about
$10 billion and reduce GHG emissions by more than 20 million metric tons of carbon equivalent-
equivalent to the emissions from 15 million vehicles.
Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Campaign. This campaign encourages participants
across the country to replace energy-inefficient lights with efficient ones, and to achieve
additional benefits by implementing other household measures. Many affordable housing
developers are participating in this campaign.
ENERGY STAR Partner Finder. This tool can be used to locate home builders and developers that
have experience developing ENERGY STAR labeled new homes. It can also be used to locate
lenders that offer energy-efficient mortgages, utilities that offer incentives to homebuyers, and
home energy raters.
ENERGY STAR Bulk Purchasing. This Web site provides purchasing organizations with contact
information for ENERGY STAR product suppliers that offer energy-efficient products in bulk.
ENERGY STAR Free Online Training. EPA offers free online training sessions on a variety of energy
performance topics.
Off the Charts. Off the Charts is EPA's ENERGY STAR e-newsletter on energy management
developments and activities.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=government.bus_government
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=challenge.bus_challenge
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.
showPledgeHome
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=new_homes_partners.
locator
http://www.quantityquotes.net/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=business.bus_internet_
presentations
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/
business/guidelines/assess_value/Off_
the_Charts_Summer_2007.pdf
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Improving Energy Efficiency in
Existing Affordable Housing
The most effective way to achieve the benefits
described in Section 2, Benefits of Energy Efficiency
in Affordable Housing, is to engage in a systematic
approach for improving energy efficiency in afford-
able housing that involves evaluating how energy is
used and developing an action plan that considers the
interactions of a home's energy-using systems. This
subsection, which is based on the recommendations of
EPA's ENERGY STAR Home Improvement program,
describes such an approach.
Affordable housing units come in various sizes and
layouts, which can result in varying energy consump-
tion characteristics. For example, a four-story,
multiple-family affordable housing building will have
different energy demands than a single-story, single-
family home. While the information provided in this
subsection is directed primarily at improving energy
efficiency in smaller single-family affordable homes,
many of the basic concepts of the approach described
below are relevant to improving energy efficiency in
large multiple-family buildings.
In addition, because large multiple-family buildings
sometimes exhibit energy consumption characteristics
similar to those of commercial buildings, local govern-
ments and affordable housing developers can consider
the steps outlined in EPA's ENERGY STAR Guidelines
for Energy Management. While these guidelines
describe a systematic approach for achieving superior
energy management in commercial buildings, many
of the concepts addressed are appropriate for large,
multiple-family residential buildings.5 EPA's Energy
Efficiency in Local Government Operations guide in the
Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
describes how local government have planned and
implemented activities to improve energy efficiency in
their facilities and operations, and includes an over-
view of how local governments can apply the ENERGY
STAR guidelines.
5 See http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_indexfor more information on
ENERGY STAR resources for buildings and plants.
EVALUATE HOME ENERGY CONSUMPTION
The first step in improving energy efficiency in afford-
able housing is to gather energy consumption informa-
tion. This subsection provides information that local
governments can consider when working with afford-
able housing homeowners or renters to evaluate energy
consumption in their homes, or when collaborating with
other affordable housing stakeholders (e.g., low-income
assistance organizations) that work directly with home-
owners and renters. Figures 1 and 2 on page 9 show how
energy is consumed by different end uses in a typical
single-family and multiple-family building, respectively.
Assistance for do-it-yourself evaluations. Local
governments can work with homeowners and renters, or
collaborate with other stakeholders who do, to provide
them with the information and tools to perform do-it-
yourself energy evaluations, including:
ENERGY STAR Yardstick. Homeowners can use
this tool to compare a home's energy efficiency to
similar homes across the country. In addition, the
Yardstick provides homeowners with customized
recommendations for energy efficiency upgrades
based on a home's unique features, such as energy
fuel source, location, occupancy, and square foot-
age. See http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=HOME_ENERGY_YARDSTICK.
showGetStarted for more information on this tool.
ENERGY STAR Home Advisor. The ENERGY STAR
Home Advisor is another resource that homeowners
can use to improve energy efficiency in their homes.
The Home Advisor tool can provide homeowners with
recommended projects with product and system speci-
fications, based on where the home is, how the home
is cooled and heated, and what type of water heater it
has. The recommendations include links to additional
information resources. Additional information on this
tool is available at http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_advisor.showGet!nput.
Comprehensive energy audits. While a simple do-it-
yourself approach to evaluating energy consumption can
help identify opportunities to reduce energy consump-
tion, a comprehensive energy audit conducted by a
professional auditor can reveal additional opportunities
to enhance the benefits of energy efficiency improve-
ments. These auditors use a variety of techniques and
advanced equipment to identify even small leaks in a
home's envelope that can lead to wasted energy.
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FIGURE 1. BREAKDOWN OF ENERGY
CONSUMPTION IN A TYPICAL SINGLE-
FAMILY BUILDING
Other Appliances
and Lighting
25%
Water Heating
20%
Refrigerators
Air Conditioning 5%
9%
Source: U.S. EIA, 2008
FIGURE 2. BREAKDOWN OF ENERGY
CONSUMPTION IN A TYPICAL MULTI-
FAMILY BUILDING
Other Appliances
and Lighting
20%
Water Heating
21%
Refrigerators
Air Conditioning 5%
11%
Source: U.S. EIA, 2008
A number of local governments have established home
energy assistance programs through which they work
directly with homeowners and renters or indirectly
through other stakeholders to conduct comprehensive
home energy evaluations. These programs are often
funded by DOE's Weatherization Program, which
provides funding and technical guidance to state
agencies, which in turn allocate the funding to local
governments, non-profit organizations, and develop-
ers, according to their own rules.
The Seattle, Washington, Office of Housing
administers a HomeWise program that offers a
free home energy audit to residents who meet
certain low-income qualifications. Following the
energy audit, the city will implement a weatheriza-
tion package of energy efficiency projects to improve
home insulation, venting, and envelope sealing. The
program receives its funding from the DOE Weath-
erization Assistance Program through the Washing-
ton Department of Community, Trade, and Econom-
ic Development (Seattle, 2008).
In addition to government-funded audits through
weatherization programs, local governments and
developers can often obtain assistance from the many
municipally owned utilities that offer free or discounted
home energy audits.6
In Tallahassee, Florida, the Your Own Utilities
program offers free energy audits to all local
utility customers. Customers can use the
information gathered through the free energy audit
as the basis for energy efficiency projects, many of
which can be funded through a variety of rebates
and financial incentives the utility offers. The
program is administered by the local utility, which
is owned and operated by city employees and is
responsive to the city's publicly elected governing
body (Tallahassee, 2008).
One highly effective way to evaluate energy consump-
tion is to work with the Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR program. This EPA and DOE program
provides a comprehensive, whole-house approach to
improving energy efficiency. Through this program,
6 See htip://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_auditsfor
information on ENERGY STAR-approved auditors.
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
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participating contractors offer whole-home diagnoses
and develop home-specific recommendations for
improving energy efficiency. The quality of these
diagnoses and recommendations are guaranteed by
program sponsors (often state energy offices, utilities,
or non-profit energy efficiency organizations). These
sponsors often provide training for participating
contractors and conduct inspections to verify that
contractors' work meets ENERGY STAR standards.7
DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
After evaluating home energy consumption, the next
step is to develop and implement an energy efficiency
action plan for existing homes using recommended
practices, such as those outlined by ENERGY STAR.
This subsection provides information that local
governments can consider when working directly with
homeowners and renters to implement projects in
their homes, or when collaborating with other stake-
holders who work with homeowners and renters.
A comprehensive action plan considers the interactions
of a home's energy-using systems (e.g., lighting, air
distribution, heating, and cooling systems). Because
the interactions are complicated, a best option for local
governments might be to help homeowners, and other
stakeholders who work with homeowners, access certi-
fied home energy raters who have energy efficiency
expertise and can ensure that energy efficiency projects
achieve the intended results. In addition, local govern-
ments can encourage homeowners, renters, and other
stakeholders to participate in the Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR program when planning energy
efficiency projects.
The ENERGY STAR approach to improving energy
efficiency in homes generally involves the following
practices:
Purchase energy-efficient equipment and appli-
ances. Through ENERGY STAR, EPA develops
energy efficiency specifications for more than 60
product categories. Relative to conventional products,
ENERGY STAR labeled products typically use 10 to
75 percent less energy and can offer consumer energy
cost savings of as much as 75 percent (U.S. EPA,
2009; U.S. EPA, 2008v). Energy-efficient products can
7 ENERGY STAR has collected a list of local program sponsors, available athttp://www.
energystar.gov/index.cfmtc=nome_tmprovement.nm_tmprovement_hpwes_partners.
also reduce energy costs indirectly during the warmer
months of the year, since they do not generate as much
unwanted heat as conventional products, thus lowering
cooling energy loads.
Seal and insulate efficiently. Sealing and insulating a
home's envelope is often the most cost-effective way to
improve energy efficiency. Steps for sealing and insulat-
ing involve:
1. Seal air leaks through the home to stop drafts.
2. Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and
heat gain in summer.
3. Install ENERGY STAR labeled windows when
replacing windows.
EPA estimates that following this approach to sealing
and insulating a home's envelope can lead to heating and
cooling energy cost savings of up to 20 percent (approxi-
mately 10 percent of a home's total annual energy bill)
(U.S. EPA, 2008b).
Heat and cool efficiently. Heating and cooling demand
accounts for up to 50 percent of a home's energy
consumption. EPA has identified the following steps
for improving energy efficiency of heating and cooling
systems once a home has been sealed and insulated effi-
ciently (U.S. EPA, 2008J):
1. Change air filters regularly. Air filters should be
checked monthly and changed at least every three
months, since dirty filters restrict air flow and
force heating and cooling systems to work harder.
2. Tune up HVAC equipment yearly. Heating and
cooling contractors can identify opportunities to
improve HVAC system performance, which can
reduce energy costs. EPA has collected a set of
tips for selecting a heating and cooling contrac-
tor, available at http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_contractors_10tips.
3. Install a programmable thermostat. A thermostat
that can be programmed to increase or decrease
home temperatures in sync with the times that
the home is occupied can save as much as $180 in
energy costs annually (U.S. EPA, 2008J).
10 3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
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4. Seal heating and cooling ducts. Leaks in heating
and cooling ducts can lead to significant wasted
energy. It is important to focus on sealing ducts
that run through the attic, crawlspaces, unheated
basements, and garages first before wrapping the
ducts in insulation. These areas are unconditioned
spaces where residents of the home spend little
time, making leaks in these areas especially waste-
ful. Ducts inside the homes should be sealed and
insulated next.
5. Install ENERGY STAR labeled heating and cool-
ing equipment. HVAC contractors can help home-
owners identify appropriate heating and cooling
equipment that is "right-sized" for the home (i.e.,
sized to meet the homes energy demands exactly).
Local governments can refer homeowners and renters
and other affordable housing stakeholders to additional
information sources for guidance on improving energy
efficiency in affordable housing units, including:
U.S. DOE programs. DOE s Energy Savers program
offers homeowners guidance on reducing energy costs
in homes through various energy efficiency and conser-
vation measures. These measures include actions that
homeowners can take in the short term (e.g., behavioral
changes to reduce energy costs in the winter), and
long-term energy efficiency investments that can lead to
significant energy cost savings over several years (U.S.
DOE, 2008a).
KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY-
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
Since 2002, the King County Housing Authority (KCHA)
has invested more than $2 million in weatherizing
and repairing affordable housing units in King County,
Washington. Weatherization can improve comfort and
significantly reduce wasted energy. Weatherization
measures include adding insulation, retrofitting HVAC
systems, and weather-stripping exterior doors.
One of these Weatherization and repair projects, a solar
power demonstration project at its 300-unit Coronado
Springs affordable housing development, was financed
using funds from DOE, the Washington Community
and Economic Development Department, and the
Seattle City Light program.
Source: KCHA, 2008.
The DOE Weatherization Assistance Program
enables low-income families to reduce their utility
bills by improving energy efficiency in their homes.
Since 1976, the program has provided Weatherization
assistance to more than 6.3 million families. This
assistance, on average, has reduced gas space heating
by 32 percent (U.S. DOE, 2008c).
U.S. HUD energy programs. HUD's energy
programs aim to reduce energy costs in HUD-
assisted housing, including public housing and
affordable housing in many areas. These programs
provide new homeowners with guidance on improv-
ing energy efficiency, and identify opportunities for
HUD-assisted housing units to incorporate ENERGY
STAR products and services (U.S. HUD, 2008b).
HUD has developed several energy-saving guidance
documents for public affordable housing, available at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/phecc/
resources, c/m.
HUD's Mark to Market (M2) Green Initiative for
Affordable Multifamily Housing is a nationwide pilot
initiative to encourage owners and purchasers of
affordable, multifamily properties to rehabilitate and
operate their properties using sustainable Green Build-
ing principles. These principles comprise sustainability,
energy efficiency, recycling, and indoor air quality,
and incorporate the "Healthy Housing" approach
pioneered by HUD. The Green Initiative focuses on
properties within HUD's Section 8 portfolio, specifi-
cally properties in the M2M Program administered
by the Office of Affordable Housing Preservation
(OAHP). Additional information maybe accessed
at http://www.solutionsforremodeling.com/2009/05/
huds-mark-to-market-m2m-green.html
Energy Efficiency in
New Affordable Housing
In addition to working directly with homeowners
and renters—and indirectly through other stake-
holders—to improve energy efficiency in existing
affordable housing, many local governments work
with affordable housing developers to encourage
energy efficiency in new affordable housing. This
subsection describes an approach to incorporating
energy efficiency in new affordable housing that
local governments can refer to when developing
new affordable housing on their own, or when
collaborating with developers to encourage energy
efficiency in their buildings.
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
11
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HUD-DOE AGREEMENT TO STREAMLINE
WEATHERIZATION PROCESS
In 2009, HUD and DOE established a partnership
to support coordination of the use of $16 billion
in funds appropriated by Congress through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This partnership included a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) aimed at lowering
barriers that have historically existed to the use
of weatherization funds in public and assisted
multifamily housing. The MOU is intended to
streamline the weatherization eligibility process
for residents in approximately 1.1 million public
housing units, another 1.2 million privately
owned federally assisted units, and some 950,000
units financed with Low Income Housing Tax
Credits. The new process will help minimize the
administrative barriers and simplify the process
for residents of HUD public and assisted housing
that are seeking to increase the energy efficiency
of their homes through DOE's Weatherization
Assistance Program.
Sources: U.S. HUD and U.S. DOE, 2009; U.S. DOE, 2010.
ENERGY-EFFICIENT NEW HOME FEATURES
Energy-efficient new homes include six principal
energy-efficient features, including:
Effective insulation. Effectively insulating a home's
floors, walls, and attic ensures consistent tempera-
tures throughout the building and prevents unwanted
heat loss/gain, which can increase energy costs
(U.S. EPA, 2008h).
High-performance windows. Installing high-perfor-
mance windows that include advanced energy efficiency
technologies, such as protective coatings and tight-
sealing frames, can keep heat in during the winter and
prevent unwanted heat from entering the home in the
summer (U.S. EPA, 2008r).
Tight construction and ducts. Sealing holes and seams
in the building's envelope and heating and cooling
systems can help reduce heating and cooling loads
and thus decrease the amount of energy required for
these loads. Tight construction and ducts will enable
homeowners to purchase smaller heating and cooling
equipment, while still meeting heating and cooling loads
(U.S. EPA, 2008i).
Energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment.
Energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment can
be quieter than conventional equipment and reduce
indoor humidity, in addition to reducing the amount
of energy required to heat and cool a home (U.S.
EPA, 2008k; 2008g; 2008n). Using combined heat and
power (CHP) systems that produce heat and electricity
from a single fuel source can be an additional way to
efficiently meet energy demands in multiple-family
housing developments. (See the text box below and
EPA's Combined Heat and Power guide in the Local
Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series for
more information on CHP technologies.)
1 Energy-efficient products. Purchasing and installing ener-
gy-efficient products helps to reduce a home's supplemental
energy loads. ENERGY STAR offers a range of products for
residential use, including lighting fixtures, ventilation fans,
and common household appliances (U.S. EPA, 2008q).
Third-party verification. Independent home energy
raters can provide energy-efficient design guidance and
conduct on-site testing and inspections to verify that
energy-efficient products and systems achieve function
as intended (U.S. EPA, 20081).
PLANNING AND DESIGNING ENERGY-
EFFICIENT NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The features described above will achieve the greatest
benefits when integrated in a comprehensive fashion
COMBINED HEAT AND POWER
Multiple-family affordable housing units can
achieve improved energy efficiency by installing
CHP systems that produce heat and electricity
from a single fuel source. In conventional
electricity and heat production systems, byproduct
heat from electricity production is wasted and
heat needs are met using a separate fuel source.
By capturing byproduct heat, CHP systems achieve
overall efficiencies 50% greater than separate heat
and power production.
HUD and DOE have developed two guide books
describing opportunities for CHP in multiple-
family housing and a screening tool to evaluate
the potential for CHP systems in multiple-family
housing, http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/library/
energy/index.cfm
Sources: U.S. EPA, 2007b; U.S. HUD, 2007L
12
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
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that accounts for all the interactions between a home's
energy-using systems. Affordable housing develop-
ers can obtain guidance on using a comprehensive,
systematic approach to designing new homes for energy
efficiency from several sources, including:
ENERGY STAR. EPA has developed resources to
guide developers through the process of designing and
constructing energy-efficient new homes. Through
the ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes8 program,
EPA has issued energy efficiency standards that specify
that homes be built to exceed the 2004 IRC energy
efficiency requirements by 15 percent. Homes built to
ENERGY STAR standards typically produce energy
cost savings of approximately 20 to 30 percent (U.S.
EPA, 2008p). Across the nation, more than 840,000
homes have been designed to meet these standards.
When purchasing affordable housing units, local
governments and other affordable housing stakehold-
ers can give priority to homes that have either earned
the ENERGY STAR label, or have been Designed to
Earn the ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA, 2008c). For more
information on the ENERGY STAR Labeled New
Homes standards, see the text box below.
tin 2007, Springfield, Illinois, completed three
new affordable housing units designed to
meet ENERGY STAR standards as part of its
ENERGY STAR Affordable Housing Initiative
demonstration (U.S. HUD, 2007e).
1 DOE's Building Technologies Program, Through its Build-
ing Technologies Program, DOE provides information on
best practices for building homes that achieve energy savings
ranging as high as 30 percent compared with conventional
homes. DOE's guidelines are based on the findings of the
Rebuild America program, and cover all steps in the home
building process, from planning and designing to operations
and maintenance (U.S. DOE, 2008b).
Energy Efficiency in
Green Affordable Housing
The new and renovated home planning, design, and
construction processes offer opportunities to inte-
grate energy efficiency with other "green" features
(e.g., lowering GHG emissions, improving indoor air
quality, and sustainable site selection) that provide
ENERGY STAR LABELED NEW HOMES
ENERGY STAR labeled homes are at least 15% more energy efficient in southern climates than the 2004 International Residential
Code (IRC) requires, and 20% more energy efficient in northern climates. ENERGY STAR uses the Home Energy Rating System
(HERS) to determine whether a home meets this requirement. This system produces a HERS Index score between 0 and 100 and
uses computer software to evaluate the energy efficiency of a home compared with a computer reference home of identical size
and shape. The computer reference home, which is assumed to meet the minimum requirements of the 2006 International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC),* is assigned a HERS Index score of 100. For every percent reduction in energy consumption compared
to the reference home, the evaluated home receives a one point decrease in its HERS Index score, with a score of 0 being assigned
to a home that uses no energy. The 15% and 20% requirements established by ENERGY STAR correspond to HERS Index scores of
85 and 80, respectively. Other ENERGY STAR labeled home guideline requirements include:
• Completion of a thermal bypass inspection checklist;
• Incorporation of energy-efficient duct systems that restrict leakage to no more than six cubic feet per minute per 100 square
feet; and
• Inclusion of either ENERGY STAR labeled heating and cooling equipment, ENERGY STAR labeled windows, or a combination of
five or more ENERGY STAR labeled light fixtures, appliances, ceiling fans equipped with lighting fixtures, and/or ventilation fans.
EPA is developing new guidelines for ENERGY STAR labeled homes to ensure that ENERGY STAR continues to deliver homes that
are high-quality and meaningfully more energy efficient than standard new construction. The new specification is planned to be
launched in 2011.
*The IECC is similar to the energy-related components of the IRC, and is referenced in the IRC, but the two are not identical. The IRC
is a stand-alone residential code that addresses plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and other home features in addition to energy.
Sources: U.S. EPA, 2008p; 2008y; 2008m.
8 Homes eligible for ENERGY STAR qualification include single-family residences and multiple-
family residences of three stories or less.
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
3. PLANNING AND DESIGN
13
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"GREEN BUILDINGS"
Many terms are used to describe buildings
that incorporate energy efficiency and other
environmental features, including green buildings,
high performance buildings, and sustainable
buildings. Regardless of the definitions, there is
often a public perception that energy efficiency
and "green" are interchangeable, and that green
buildings are energy efficient. However, this is not
always the case; some "green" buildings do not
adequately incorporate energy efficiency.
This section uses the term "green building" as an
all-encompassing description of buildings that
incorporate energy efficiency plus other energy
and environmental features where cost-effective
and practical, including:
• Renewable energy supply
• Combined Heat and Power
• Sustainable site design that minimizes stress on
the local landscape
• Water efficiency and quality
• Green materials and resources that minimize
consumption and waste
• Indoor air quality
additional environmental, resource conservation, and
health benefits. In addition to enhancing a home's
environmental profile, incorporating energy efficiency
can improve the cost-effectiveness of green building.
Because of this, energy efficiency is often considered
first in green building design.
An energy-efficient green home design should first of all
incorporate the same six features as new energy-efficient
homes (as described on page 12). The second step in
designing energy-efficient green homes is to ensure
an adequate indoor air environment. EPA's Indoor
Air Package addresses both the energy efficiency and
indoor air quality components of green buildings. These
specifications require that a building first be labeled as
ENERGY STAR compliant, and then meet
60 additional home design and construction features
that help to control moisture and improve ventilation
and filtration, among other things (U.S. EPA, 2008m).
Once energy efficiency and indoor air quality are incor-
porated into a green home design, developers can look
to other green building programs to add additional envi-
ronmental features, including water efficiency, recycling,
and site sustainability (U.S. EPA, 2008t). Such programs
include the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating
system for homes, EarthCraft Affordable Housing Initia-
tive, Enterprise Green Communities, and the National
Association of Home Builder's Green Building Program
(U.S. GBC, 2008; EarthCraft House, 2008; Enterprise
Green Communities, 2010; NAHB, 2008). For more
information on these programs see Section 8, Federal,
State, and Other Program Resources.
In Boston, Massachusetts, the city's Department
of Neighborhood Development (DND) has
issued development design standards for new
housing construction. The design standards require
that new homes of three stories or less that receive
DND funding or assistance be designed to meet both
ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes standards and
the LEED-Silver rating for homes (Boston, 2008).
RECYCLING-ENERGY RELATIONSHIP
• Recycling one pound of steel saves 5,450 Btu of
energy, enough to light a 60-watt bulb for more
than 26 hours.
• Recycling one ton of glass saves the equivalent
of nine gallons of fuel oil.
• Recycling aluminum cans requires only 5% of
the energy needed to produce aluminum from
bauxite. Recycling just one can saves enough
electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for 3V2 hours.
Source: Pennsylvania, 2007.
EPA WATERSENSE LABEL
The EPA WaterSense label is for products that are
independently tested to meet water efficiency
and performance criteria. Labeling criteria have
been established for plumbing fixtures
(toilets, faucets, showerheads, and
urinals), new homes, and training
programs for irrigation professionals.
In general, products that receive
the WaterSense label are 20% more
water-efficient than conventional
products. In addition to conserving water, these
products can reduce the amount of energy
required to deliver and treat water.
Source: U.S. EPA, 2007e.
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4. KEY PARTICIPANTS
Local governments work with a range of participants to
plan and implement programs to improve energy efficien-
cy in affordable housing. This section provides informa-
tion on the types of participants who are involved in these
programs, and includes descriptions and examples of how
each can contribute unique authority or expertise. Addi-
tional information on how many of these participants
have been involved in initiating programs for improving
energy efficiency in affordable housing is provided in
Section 5, Foundations for Program Development.
Mayor or county executives. Many affordable hous-
ing energy-efficiency programs are initiated by a local
government executive. In some localities, the executive
has the authority to appoint members to the local PHA's
board and can work with these members to promote
energy efficiency in public affordable housing.
The mayor of Schenectady, New York,
announced in 2006 that the city would be
using $1 million of its HUD HOME funds
to pay for the costs of replacing old affordable
housing units with new, energy-efficient ones
(Schenectady, 2006).
City or county councils. A number of city and county
councils have been responsible for adopting local energy
efficiency standards for the design and renovation of
affordable housing. Like local executives, these represen-
tative bodies can have the authority to appoint members
to the local PHAs board, facilitating coordination
between the local government and the PHA, including
collaboration on energy efficiency activities.
Local and regional planning organizations. Local
governments often involve staff from a variety of
government agencies when planning and implementing
programs to improve energy efficiency in affordable
housing. Staff from energy, environment, and commu-
nity planning and development departments, in particu-
lar, can contribute their expertise on the issues involved
in improving energy efficiency in affordable housing,
including working with local developers, communicat-
ing environmental benefits to homeowners and the
public, and collaborating with electric and gas utilities.
Local government planners, who are responsible for
creating the plans that determine how and where devel-
opment occurs, often serve as advisors to the policy
makers who develop local energy efficiency policies,
especially when such policies involve code amendments.
Planners can directly affect housing energy consump-
tion through developing energy-efficient building stan-
dards, enforcing local energy efficiency ordinances, and
developing long-term plans that address clean energy
and climate action issues, including action steps for
improving energy efficiency in affordable housing.
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are regional
transportation planning bodies in urbanized areas that
can play an important role in helping local govern-
ments develop integrated approaches to energy-efficient
affordable housing and public transportation. MPOs are
composed of local officials in the metropolitan region
and are responsible for coordinating with state and local
governments, transit agencies, and the public to fulfill
specific regional transportation planning requirements
(established by federal law) in the provision of transporta-
tion facilities and services. Local governments should
ensure that the siting of new and redeveloped affordable
housing is considered by MPOs to increase the efficiency
of transportation options, thus maximizing affordability
Private developers and non-profit organizations. By
working with private developers that develop and own
affordable housing, local governments can use these
firms' resources and technical expertise to maximize
the effectiveness of energy efficiency improvements
and achieve substantial economic benefits for the entire
community. In addition, many local governments also
work closely with non-profit organizations that develop
and manage affordable housing—such as community
development corporations (CDCs)—to ensure that local
affordable housing needs are met.
The Community Corporation of Santa Moni-
ca, California, has installed motion sensors to
reduce the amount of electricity wasted from
leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms in its 44-unit
Colorado Court complex (U.S. DOE, 2007b).
Local governments use a variety of mechanisms to establish
energy efficiency standards for affordable housing and
to encourage stakeholders to include energy efficiency
features in affordable housing (e.g., providing subsidies for
projects that meet certain energy efficiency criteria). For
more information on mechanisms to encourage private
developers and other organizations to incorporate energy
efficiency into affordable housing that they own and devel-
op, see Section 5, Foundations for Program Development.
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4. KEY PARTICIPANTS
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BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY PARTNERS WITH
NON-PROFIT ESCO ASSOCIATION
In 1999, the Boston Housing Authority initiated two
energy performance contracts to improve energy
efficiency in its affordable housing. The improvements
were funded in part using assistance from the Rebuild
Boston Energy Initiative. Rebuild Boston is a non-profit
association that seeks to encourage energy efficiency
investments in public housing. The association
includes partners from the housing authority, city
government, the New England Energy Efficiency
council, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and
Community Development, the Massachusetts Division
of Energy Resources, as well as a group of ESCOs.
Combined, both performance contracts provided $17
million in much-needed capital improvements, financed
entirely through the energy and water savings resulting
from the enhanced performance of the new systems. In
2001, through a partnership with area utilities and the
Department of Housing and Community Development,
BHA released the "Energy and Water Efficiency Master
Report," which identified $52 million in savings achieved
through upgrades to 33 properties.
BHA has since embarked on a third energy performance
contract, which will touch 13 communities. A fourth
contract is also under consideration.
Source: BHA, 2010.
PHA executive directors and board members. These indi-
viduals can provide high-level support for energy efficiency
improvements in PHAs that can be critical for mobilizing
resources, sustaining momentum, and creating links to
other local government clean energy activities.
In 2006, the executive director of the Philadel-
phia Housing Authority in Pennsylvania initi-
ated a campaign to replace every incandescent
light bulb in more than 1,600 PHA units with CFLs
(PHA, 2006a; 2007b).
State Housing Finance Authorities (HFAs). HFAs are
state-chartered entities that are responsible for ensuring
adequate affordable housing in their states by distribut-
ing federal funds, usually obtained from HUD. Most
HFAs are headed by a board of directors appointed by
the state, but otherwise operate independently of state
government. Other HFAs exist as agencies or depart-
ments within the state government. Many HFAs offer
incentive programs for local governments and provide
opportunities for qualifying PHAs to obtain funds for
energy efficiency improvements. (For more information
on funding opportunities available through HFAs, see
Section 7, Investment and Financing Opportunities^)
• State energy offices and public utility commissions.
State energy offices and public utility commissions can
help local governments and developers evaluate the cost-
effectiveness of energy efficiency programs for affordable
housing. These agencies can also assist affordable housing
developers by offering energy efficiency rebates and low-
cost energy financing opportunities, and providing target-
ed technical assistance that links state government energy
efficiency decisions and housing operations programs.
U.S. HUD. Federal government agencies provide
numerous technical and financial resources to afford-
able housing developers and owners, including local
governments, private developers, and PHAs, for improv-
ing energy efficiency in affordable housing. HUD, in
particular, administers a broad range of programs to
assist low-income affordable housing residents and to
encourage private affordable housing developers to use
energy-efficient practices. These programs sometimes
provide direct assistance to private affordable housing
developers, but more often, HUD's programs are imple-
mented through state and local governments, PHAs, and
HFAs. HUD also offers a number of energy efficiency
guidance documents for developers, including a guide
to Incorporating Energy Efficiency into HOME-Funded
Affordable Housing Development (for more information,
see the text box below).
INCORPORATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY INTO HOME-
FUNDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
The HUD manual. Incorporating Energy
Efficiency into HOME-Funded Affordable
Housing Development, provides developers and
jurisdictions participating in the HOME program
with technical and operational information
assistance for incorporating energy efficiency
into affordable housing. The manual includes
strategies and approaches for incorporating energy
efficiency into existing and new affordable housing
developments and provides information on how
local governments can require or encourage these
strategies and approaches.
The manual can be accessed at http://www.icfi.
com/Markets/Community_Development/doc_
files/energy-efficiency-HOME.pdf
For more information on HUD's HOME program, see
Section 7, Investment and Financing Opportunities.
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4. KEY PARTICIPANTS
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Certified home energy raters. Certified home energy
raters are trained to provide independent, quality
verification of home energy performance. These profes-
sionals can also provide technical assistance on selec-
tion of design measures in the planning phase. Once
construction or renovation is nearly completed, home
energy raters can be employed to perform a final energy
efficiency inspection to determine whether a new home
meets energy efficiency criteria, such as ENERGY
STAR's labeled new homes standard.
Energy service companies (ESCOs). Many affordable
housing developers and owners have worked with ESCOs
to improve energy efficiency in affordable housing. These
companies provide technical expertise on energy efficiency
projects and often offer performance contracting options.
These contracts can include a performance guarantee that
payments not exceed the savings generated.9 (For more
information on energy performance contracting, see
Section 7, Investment and Financing Opportunities)
The Boulder Housing Authority in Colorado
entered into a six-year performance contract
with an ESCO that produced greater than
$3,000 in energy cost savings annually. The cost of
the project ($12,000) was paid off in less than five
years (ESC, 2007).
BURLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
REQUIRES ESCO COMMISSIONING
When the Burlington (Vermont) Housing Authority used
an energy performance contract to retrofit 51 affordable
housing units, it required the ESCO to build during a
specified degree-day (12°F). Requiring that building take
place in such low temperatures enabled the ESCO to
ensure that building systems would operate efficiently,
even in extreme conditions. Ultimately, the performance
of the homes met expectations and the investor was
able to return a profit. The housing authority is investing
the savings from reduced energy use in new energy
improvements, such as solar thermal technologies.
Source: ORNL, 2000, 2010.
9 HUD regulations govern how and when a federally funded PHA may ente
into a performance contract with an ESCO.
Utilities and other energy efficiency program adminis-
trators. Many investor-owned utilities and other energy
efficiency program administrators (e.g., independent
or non-profit energy services providers) offer technical
and financial assistance (such as free energy audits and
energy-efficient product rebates) to customers through
programs that promote investments in energy efficiency.
In addition, affordable housing developers sometimes
work with utilities to obtain technical assistance on incor-
porating energy-efficient features into housing designs.
The gas and electric utility in Madison,
Wisconsin, administers a Neighborhood Revi-
talization program through which it works
with local organizations to assist low-income resi-
dents in reducing energy costs (MGE, 2008).
Partnering with the New York Power Author-
ity, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority
replaced 900 refrigerators in affordable hous-
ing units with smaller, energy-efficient ones. The
new refrigerators use about one-third as much
energy as the older models, and are expected to save
the PHA about $30,000 in annual energy costs. The
activity is expected to cost the PHA approximately
$370,000 and will be paid for over a 10-year period
using energy savings (NYPA, 2003).
In addition, a number of municipally owned utilities
provide energy efficiency assistance to affordable hous-
ing residents. Local governments and developers can
often work with these utilities to provide information
to affordable housing renters and owners on rebates or
other incentives for energy efficiency investments in
residential buildings.
PHILADELPHIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
PARTNERS WITH UTILITY
The Philadelphia Housing Authority worked with the
Philadelphia Electric and Gas Company to conduct
energy conservation seminars and training sessions for
affordable housing residents and maintenance staff.
Seminar attendees learned how to lower energy use,
and how to access utility energy assistance programs
such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP).
Sources: Pennsylvania PUC, 2003.
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4. KEY PARTICIPANTS
17
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Property management companies. Affordable hous-
ing owners sometimes contract with private firms
that manage housing developments. Because property
management companies are responsible for ensuring
proper operations and maintenance, it is important
to involve these companies in discussions of planned
energy efficiency improvements and to educate
company staff in how to ensure that energy efficiency
measures remain effective. Training maintenance
personnel can be a particularly helpful strategy for
ensuring that energy efficiency investments continue to
produce the intended results.
Professional services firms. Nearly all affordable
housing projects require the expertise of professional
service providers, such as licensed architects, engi-
neers, contractors, and specialized consultants. These
participants can assist in selecting energy efficiency
features, and can provide guidance on ensuring that
energy efficiency performance goals are met. Involving
professional service firms can have the added benefit of
contributing to regional employment.
When developing the city's Home Investment
Partnership program in 1998, staff from the
Lubbock, Texas, Community Development
department, including the senior building inspec-
tor, coordinated with building industry representa-
tives to discuss potential energy-efficient designs for
affordable housing units. Over the past several
years, 30 inefficient homes have been demolished,
and many have been replaced with new energy-effi-
cient homes that are achieving between 30 and 50
percent energy savings (PATH, 2006b).
5. FOUNDATIONS FOR
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Local governments have employed a variety of
mechanisms to initiate programs for improving energy
efficiency in affordable housing. This section provides
information on several of these mechanisms, including
descriptions and examples of how participants have used
them to motivate the creation or development of afford-
able housing energy efficiency programs and policies.
Executive initiatives. Some affordable housing energy
efficiency programs have been initiated by the mayor or
county executive. Making energy efficiency an integral
part of a mayor or county executive's affordable hous-
ing priorities can be an effective method for mobilizing
resources and sustaining momentum.
In Chicago, Illinois, the mayor issued an ordi-
nance that approved the use of $3.5 million in
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation
grant funds to improve energy efficiency in the city
Green Bungalow Blocks affordable housing devel-
opment (Chicago, 2003).
SAN FRANCISCO ADOPTS GREEN STANDARD
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In 2005, the mayor of San Francisco announced that
the city would be the first in the country to use a green
construction standard for all new affordable housing
units. The standard chosen was the Green Communities
Criteria established by the Enterprise Foundation's
Green Communities organization, which provided a
$300,000 grant to local non-profit developers. The
first development constructed using the guidelines, the
nine-story Plaza Apartments, was designed to exceed
California's Title 24 energy code by 18%.
Sources: Design Advisor, Undated; Enterprise, 2006.
Local government resolutions. City and county councils
are often involved in initiating energy efficiency in afford-
able housing programs, especially when additional local
funds must be allocated to fund these programs. In some
localities, council resolutions have mandated energy-effi-
cient design and/or performance for affordable housing.
The city council of Aspen, Colorado estab-
1 [I] f lished the Aspen Pitkin Efficient Building
'—' (APEB) Program in 2003. The program was
designed with flexibility to promote a range of
green building alternatives, such as renewable
resources, energy efficient building technology and
practices, water conservation, indoor air quality,
and the reduction of construction waste. The
program's guidelines for new city/county-supported
facilities prescribe specific energy efficiency criteria
for affordable housing units, including require-
ments that units exceed the existing local energy
code and be built to achieve Colorado E-Star energy
rating certification, and that crawlspaces be
designed to meet ASHRAE ventilation standards
(Aspen, 2003; 2010).
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5. FOUNDATIONS
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Local development agency standards or requirements.
A number of local government development or commu-
nity planning departments have initiated improvements
in energy efficiency in affordable housing by adopting
design standards or requirements for new construction
and major renovation to affordable housing that include
energy efficiency specifications.
The Denver, Colorado, Office of Economic
Development adopted the Enterprise Green
Communities standard for city-funded afford-
able housing in 2007. The criteria in this standard
are based on the LEED for Homes rating system and
include specifications for energy efficiency, as well
as site location and neighborhood fabric consider-
ations that maximize affordability by reducing the
need to use personal vehicles (Denver, 2007).
North Miami, Florida, has adopted Green
Housing Rehabilitation Guidelines for devel-
opers. These guidelines require that 100
percent of funds received by local developers
through the HUD-sponsored Community Develop-
ment Block Grant Program and Home Ownership
Opportunities Program, and the Florida State
Housing Initiatives Program, must be used for
rehabilitation, redevelopment, or construction proj-
ects that meet energy-efficient and green standards.
For example, the guidelines require that incandes-
cent bulbs be replaced with ENERGY STAR labeled
fluorescent bulbs (North Miami, 2008).
PHA resolutions. Some PHAs have adopted resolutions
or similar measures that establish energy efficiency
programs or require energy-efficient practices in public
affordable housing units.
The board members of the Chicago Housing
Authority in Illinois issued a resolution
directing the PHA chief executive officer to
develop a list of pre-qualified ESCOs and to arrange
energy performance contracts to implement energy
efficiency measures, including retrofits for lighting,
water, building envelope, and HVAC systems in the
PHAs residences (CHA, 2003).
WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS-STANDARD
OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In 2006, the Wyandotte County Division of Housing and
Community Development began a pilot project to study
the costs, construction practices, and products required
to construct energy-efficient affordable housing. The
division aimed to test multiple construction options to
determine the most efficient home design.
The pilot project provided local builders with an
understanding of energy-efficient building techniques
and resulted in the construction of three ENERGY
STAR labeled affordable homes. These homes
consume an average of 22% less energy, and produce
an average of 24% fewer GHGs, than a home built to
the 2004 IECC standard.
Following the pilot project, the division established a
standard for construction and renovation of affordable
housing that requires residential construction and
renovation projects funded through the divisions
programs to meet ENERGY STAR qualification.
Source: Wyandotte County, 2007
Local government planning processes. Many local
governments have used the planning process to establish
goals or requirements for improving energy efficiency
in affordable housing. These goals and requirements
are sometimes incorporated into broader plans, such
as local climate action plans and smart growth plans,
which may include mixed-use transit-oriented develop-
ment to reduce personal vehicle use.
The city council of Urbana, Illinois, for exam-
ple, included in its Comprehensive Plan a goal
for the city to contract with a local developer to
construct a model affordable housing development
on city-owned property that uses 10 percent of the
energy of a conventionally designed development
(Urbana, 2006).
In its Strategy for Achieving Sustainability,
Fresno, California, established a goal of
designing 20 percent of city-sponsored afford-
able housing units in accordance with a green
design standard to be determined by city staff
(Fresno, 2007).
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5. FOUNDATIONS
19
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1 Incentives for developers. Many local governments
have established incentives to encourage developers to
incorporate energy efficiency in their designs for afford-
able housing. These incentives typically fall within the
following categories:
Conditional land donations. Some local govern-
ments have offered to donate land to developers in
return for the developers incorporating advanced
energy efficiency features into their designs.
In 2007, the city council in Issaquah, Wash-
ington, authorized the city to request devel-
oper qualifications for a sustainable affordable
housing project in the Issaquah Highlands commu-
nity that will include 146 energy-efficient affordable
housing units, a community center, a childcare
center serving 150 children, and the YWCA region-
al offices and education center. As an incentive to
developers, the city not only offered the land for no
cost, but offered to forgo any permit-related fees for
both land use and building permit. Construction
began on the community in early 2010. Through
comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable
energy measures, the homes are planned to achieve
about 27 percent energy savings, with potential for
up to 47 percent. (Handy, 2010).
In 2005, New York City donated land to a
non-profit organization for an affordable
housing development in the Bronx that was
designed to include a variety of energy efficiency
and environmental features, including energy-effi-
cient elevators and an 11 kW combination green/
solar roof funded by the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority (Green
Buildings NYC, 2007).
Specialized grants and loans. A number of local
governments offer specialized grants and loans to
developers who design affordable housing units
to achieve superior energy efficiency. Other local
governments, such as Asheville, North Carolina,
include credits for meeting energy efficiency criteria
when scoring and selecting development design
proposals to receive low-interest loans from the
local government (Asheville, 2007).
Portland, Oregon, has used its five-year, $2.5
million Green Investment Fund to provide
grants for demonstration affordable housing
units that incorporate energy efficiency and envi-
ronmental features (Portland OSD, 2002).
Fee waivers. Some local governments have elected
to waive permit review fees and other costs for
affordable housing projects if developers meet
certain energy efficiency, environmental, or transit-
oriented development criteria.
tin Chicago, Illinois, the Department of
Construction and Permits offers developers
consultant review fee rebates of up to
$25,000 and expedited permitting for affordable
housing developments that meet the Chicago
Green Homes certification, an evaluation that
includes specific energy efficiency requirements
(Chicago DCAP, 2007).
Colorado Springs, Colorado, waives develop-
ment plan review fees if affordable housing
plans meet energy efficiency requirements for
insulation, water heater and furnace efficiency, and
water efficiency (U.S. HUD, 2002).
The City of Austin, Texas, has created a special
program to promote both affordable housing
and transit-oriented development. The
S.M.A.R.T. (Safe, Mixed-income, Accessible,
Reasonably priced, Transit-oriented) Housing
program provides developers with sliding-scale fee
waivers and expedited permit reviews for projects
with affordable homes. Multi-family homes must be
within a quarter-mile of a bus route, or the devel-
oper must provide a strategy for alternative trans-
portation (Austin, 2008).
>• Local ordinance variances. Many local govern-
ments have adopted zoning ordinances that allow
zoning exemptions for housing developments that
include affordable units. These exemptions, which
typically include density bonuses and increased
design flexibility, are sometimes contingent on the
development meeting specific energy efficiency
requirements.
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5. FOUNDATIONS
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In Seattle, Washington, an ordinance was
passed in 2006 that allows height and density
bonuses to be awarded for residential develop-
ments that are affordable and achieve LEED-Silver
certification (which includes energy efficiency spec-
ifications) (Seattle, 2007).
6. STRATEGIES FOR
EFFECTIVE PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION
Once programs and policies to improve energy effi-
ciency in affordable housing have been initiated via
the mechanisms described in Section 5, Foundations
for Program Development, local governments can use
a variety of strategies to ensure that their programs are
effectively and efficiently implemented.
These strategies can help local governments and
developers overcome the numerous barriers that can
potentially hinder effective implementation of energy
efficiency projects, including:
• Higher upfront costs for energy-efficient equipment and
appliances;
Uncertainty about the credibility of benefits claims;
Insufficient information about product-specific incre-
mental benefits;
Split incentives when the developer or landlord does not
have a stake in the home's eventual energy performance;
Lack of information about financing opportunities; and
Lack of availability of energy-efficient products or
services (U.S. EPA, 2005).
This section provides examples of various implementa-
tion strategies that local governments have used to
address these barriers and to enhance the benefits of
their energy efficiency programs. These strategies are
categorized as 1) strategies for developing and enhanc-
ing energy efficiency programs by working with local
developers and other local stakeholders in the immedi-
ate community, and 2) strategies that involve working
with federal, state, and local government agencies. Strat-
egies to help overcome financial obstacles are discussed
in Section 7, Investment and Financing Opportunities.
Strategies for Working with
Developers and Other Affordable
Housing Stakeholders in the
Community
In addition to the strategies described below, a number
of organizations and programs offer criteria, expertise,
and in some cases funding to help local agencies work
with developers to improve energy efficiency in afford-
able housing. Please see Section 8, Federal, State and
Other Program Resources, for more information.
Use a team approach. Many local governments have
helped improve energy efficiency in affordable housing
by bringing together a team of interested stakehold-
ers. By taking advantage of existing relationships with
federal and state government agencies, private develop-
ers, utilities, and other organizations, local governments
can create linkages between these parties that can lead to
better decisions when it comes to incorporating energy
efficiency in existing and new affordable homes.
Provide guidelines to developers. Several local govern-
ments have adopted guidelines for developers to aid
them in incorporating energy efficiency and green
features in affordable housing. Guidelines can provide
information on additional sources of assistance and
funding opportunities. For example, local governments
can provide developers with information on state and
local financial incentives for purchasing ENERGY STAR
labeled equipment and appliances (see EPAs ENERGY
STAR product rebate finder at http://www.energystar.
gov/index.cftn?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator).
Guidelines for developers can also serve as communica-
tions material to inform the public of the local govern-
ments efforts to improve energy efficiency in local
affordable housing.
In 2002, Seattle, Washington, developed a
green affordable housing guide that included
resources and information on energy efficien-
cy and other green features that can be used to
reduce operational costs in city-funded affordable
housing. Since that time, the city has developed
additional technical resources for affordable hous-
ing managers to support cost-effective "green"
building maintenance and operations, including a
Green Operations and Maintenance Plan template
and video (Seattle, 2010).
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6. STRATEGIES
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The Portland, Oregon, Office of Sustainable
Development has created green affordable
housing guidelines for the local Development
Commission to be distributed to prospective devel-
opers, as well as other green building publications
and case studies posted on its website: http://www.
portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=48817. The
case studies include residential, commercial, and
non-profit green buildings projects, and provide
details on costs and benefits, operations, construc-
tion, design, overview, and keys to success in each
phase (Portland, 2002,2010).
Obtain third-party verification. Home Energy Rating
System (HERS)10 raters can provide independent veri-
fication of home energy efficiency for homeowners and
renters, and can help affordable housing developers
during the design and construction phases by performing
plan reviews, recommending energy efficiency measures,
conducting onsite energy efficiency testing, and ensuring
that homes meet ENERGY STARs standards (U.S. EPA,
2008p). Obtaining a HERS rating is a requirement for the
ENERGY STAR label for new homes.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority in Penn-
sylvania earned the ENERGY STAR label for
60 new units after a third-party rater conduct-
ed onsite testing to verify that they achieved the
required HERS rating of 85 (PHA, 2007a).
Purchase energy-efficient products in bulk. Afford-
able housing developers often purchase products on an
as-needed basis in small quantities from retailers. Howev-
er, many have found that they can often save money by
purchasing products directly from product manufacturers
or wholesalers, some of which offer discounts on bulk
purchases (U.S. HUD, Undated). DOE provides infor-
mation on manufacturers and retailers that offer bulk
purchase discounts at http://www.quantityquotes.net/.
Sponsor or coordinate training sessions for develop-
ers, agency staff, and maintenance teams. A number
of local governments have sponsored or coordinated
training sessions to provide local contractors, housing
organizations, and local government staff with infor-
mation on energy efficiency features for homes and
overall approaches to improving energy efficiency in
affordable housing.
10 Standards for HERS ratings are developed by the Residential Energy Services
Network (RESNET). For more information, see www.resnet.us.
Many affordable housing developers rely on facility
management teams to ensure that energy efficiency
measures in multiple-family affordable housing develop-
ments continue to produce results. Some local govern-
ments, private developers, and PHAs provide these
teams with training in maintaining and operating equip-
ment and systems in an energy-efficient manner.
Lubbock, Texas, sponsored a three-day train-
ing session for building professionals on how
to use energy-efficient insulating concrete
forms when constructing affordable homes
(PATH, 2006a).
The local government in North Miami,
Florida, arranged for several staff members
from its Community Planning and Develop-
ment department to participate in a HUD-coordi-
nated Energy Broadcast Program training session
(North Miami, 2008).
CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY PROVIDES
TRAINING TO STAFF
As part of its energy efficiency improvements in 1997,
the Chicago Housing Authority provided energy
efficiency training to its engineering staff. Staff attended
a workshop on preventive maintenance, operations
efficiencies, and boiler water treatments at a DOE
national laboratory. This training resulted in an estimate
operational cost savings of 5 to 6%.
Source: Terries ef a/., 2000.
Become a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
sponsor. EPA and DOE's Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR program provides a comprehensive,
whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency.
Through this program, participating contractors offer
homeowners and renters whole-home diagnoses and
develop home-specific recommendations for improving
energy efficiency. Local governments can become local
program sponsors, meaning they take responsibility for
ensuring that contractors are providing quality services
to homeowners, often through training sessions and site
inspections. Some municipally owned utilities, including
Austin Energy in Austin, Texas, and Anaheim Public
Utilities in Anaheim, California, serve as local sponsors
(U.S. EPA, 2008u).
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6. STRATEGIES
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Engage affordable housing residents. Local govern-
ments, affordable housing developers, building owners,
and other stakeholders can help homeowners and rent-
ers maximize the benefits of energy efficiency improve-
ments by offering educational opportunities on how
to properly operate a home to minimize utility costs.
This approach is especially critical for influencing the
behavior of residents whose energy costs are paid by the
building owner, since the renters themselves have little
financial incentive to use less energy.
In Wilmington, Delaware, the Wilmington
Housing Authority organizes semi-annual
energy efficiency seminars for its resident
councils. These seminars are expected to help
lower operating costs, and along with the installa-
tion of energy-efficient heat-pumps, refrigerators,
lighting, toilets, insulation, and thermostats, are
expected to save more than $2 million in federal
energy grant funds and energy costs over 12 years
(Ameresco, 2002).
Engage the public. Affordable housing developers can
use outreach events to educate the public about the
benefits of improving energy efficiency in affordable
housing and the benefits of energy efficiency and GHG
emission reductions (U.S. EPA, 2005). Design charrettes
provide an effective means of bringing together multiple
stakeholders, including the public, in the planning
and design processes, and can serve as a forum for
discussing goals, concerns, and strategies, and produce
buildings that are energy-efficient and consistent with
stakeholder interests.
The New Iberia, Louisiana, PHA comple-
mented an information session on energy
efficiency in affordable housing with enter-
tainment for residents. The event celebrated the
completion of a series of energy efficiency
improvements (including installation of water-effi-
cient plumbing fixtures, new HVAC systems, and
efficient lighting) to 200 units that will save the
authority nearly $200,000 annually (Water & Ener-
gy Savings Corporation, 2005).
The Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Housing
Authority used a design charrette for an ener-
gy-efficient affordable housing development
that included the PHA, an architectural firm, the
mechanical contractors, and representatives from
the state energy office (LMHA, 2006).
Coordinate energy efficiency programs with broader
energy and environmental goals. Many local govern-
ments are taking active roles in developing climate
policy by committing to reduce GHG emissions.
Incorporating energy efficiency in affordable housing
into climate policies can help local governments meet
their GHG emission reduction commitments and may
reduce the costs of doing so. In addition, by making the
link between climate change and energy efficiency, local
governments are in a better position to gain support for
both programs.
In addition, investing in energy efficiency in affordable
housing can contribute to community smart growth
initiatives. Creating a range of housing opportunities
and choices is considered one of the principles of smart
growth, and the affordability of housing can have a
significant impact on how communities grow. Afford-
ability can be improved further by ensuring that housing
is sited with access to a variety of transportation options
(another principle of smart growth). Housing that is not
constructed and sited for energy efficiency and access to
public transportation can drain community resources,
such as water, in addition to increasing homeowners'
and renters' utility and transportation payments (U.S.
EPA, 2008w). For more information on how local
governments have implemented activities that encour-
age smart growth in their communities, see EPA's Smart
Growth guide in the Local Government Climate and
Energy Strategy Series.
Strategies for Working with
National, State, and Local
Government Agencies
Participate in national campaigns. Local governments
can help developers and other stakeholders enhance
the visibility of energy efficiency in affordable housing
programs, and obtain additional informational and
funding resources, by encouraging them to participate
in national campaigns to reduce energy consumption.
A number of local governments, developers, and other
organizations associated with affordable housing are
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6. STRATEGIES
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participating in ENERGY STAR's Change the World
(formerly the Change a Light campaign) outreach
campaign, which encourages participants to pledge to
replace energy-inefficient products with energy-efficient
ones (U.S. EPA, 2008e).
In 2007, the mayor of Miami, Florida,
announced a collaborative initiative between
the city, HUD, and a local energy-efficient
product retailer, with the purpose of encouraging
local residents to participate in the ENERGY STAR
Change a Light campaign. To kick off the initiative,
the city handed out 2,000 CFL bulbs to local resi-
dents (Miami, 2007).
Form alliances with state agencies. Local governments
can maximize the effectiveness of their energy efficiency
activities by partnering with state agencies, such as
public utilities commissions, state energy offices, and
departments of transportation, and state HFAs that
can offer additional expertise and can often help local
governments provide developers with information on
available incentives.
Prince George's County and Montgomery
County, Maryland, conducted pilot projects to
improve energy efficiency in affordable hous-
ing through a joint project initiated by the Mary-
land Energy Administration (MEA) and the Mary-
land Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD). DHCD used a $250,000
grant from MEA to provide financial incentives for
affordable homes that qualify for the ENERGY
STAR label (MEA, 2007).
Work with other local governments. Working with
other local governments can increase the regional
benefits of improving energy efficiency in affordable
housing. For example, increased regional demand for
energy-efficient products and services can lead to busi-
ness and employment growth. In addition, working with
other local governments can increase implementation
effectiveness by facilitating information-sharing on a
number of topics, including energy efficiency measures,
behavioral factors affecting energy efficiency retrofits,
costs, and funding opportunities.
The Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Housing
Authority has shared information with the
Lexington Housing Authority in Massachu-
setts on using ENERGY STAR labeling for new
energy-efficient affordable housing units
(LMHA, 2006).
Schenectady, New York, which joined with
Troy and Colonie, New York to apply for HUD
HOME funds, committed $1 million of its
HOME funds to contract with CDCs to develop
new energy-efficiency affordable homes
(Schenectady, 2006).
BOULDER COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY-
ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM
The Boulder County (Colorado) Housing Authority
has partnered with the cities of Longmont, Boulder,
and Fort Collins; the state Division of Housing; and
the federal Department of Health and Human Services
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Crisis Intervention Program to establish the Longs Peak
Energy Conservation Program for weatherization and
home rehabilitation. This program offers opportunities
for adding insulation, furnace tune-ups, duct sealing,
lighting retrofits, appliance replacements, and hot water
heater replacements. The program is funded with a
grant administered by the Colorado Office of Energy
Management and Conservation that combines funds
from DOE, LIHEAP, and Xcel Energy.
Source: Boulder County Housing Authority, 2004.
7. INVESTMENT AND
FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES
This section provides information on the size and
payback periods associated with investments in energy
efficiency improvements in affordable housing. It also
identifies several financing opportunities that can help
local governments and developers manage the costs of
these investments.
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Investment
Improving energy efficiency in local government facili-
ties and operations is an investment that earns a return
over time. The size and payback period (the length of
time required to recoup upfront costs) of this invest-
ment varies depending on the extensiveness of the
upgrade and the resources required. While some energy
efficiency improvements require substantial upfront
investment, the costs can often be quickly recovered.
Using life-cycle cost analysis, which measures the life-
time costs of design and construction, maintenance and
replacement, and other environmental impacts, reveals
the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency upgrades.
Life-cycle cost analyses can reveal short payback periods
for many energy efficiency investments. Incorporating
investments with short payback periods into a compre-
hensive energy efficiency upgrade can help reduce the
overall payback period for the entire project (Zobler and
Hatcher, 2008). For example, purchasing energy-efficient
products, which have short payback periods, can gener-
ate significant energy cost savings that can shorten the
payback period for the building upgrade as a whole. Simi-
larly, behavioral adjustments, such as setting thermostats
at lower temperatures in the winter, can often be imple-
mented at no cost yet produce significant savings and
reduce the payback period of a comprehensive upgrade.
Table 2, ENERGY STAR Specification Overviews: Energy
Savings and Payback Periods demonstrates how purchas-
ing many ENERGY STAR labeled products requires no
cost premium compared with conventional products.
More extensive energy efficiency projects (e.g., design-
ing new energy-efficient developments) often require
greater upfront spending, but costs can vary consider-
ably. According to a study by New Ecology, Inc., the
cost premium associated with developing new energy-
efficient green affordable housing units can range from
about 18 percent less than a conventional affordable
home to 9 percent more, with a mean of 1.7 percent
more than a conventional home (New Ecology, Inc.,
2006). An analysis conducted by Gregory H. Kats for the
state of California found that the average cost premium
for building green over just building to code is less than
2 percent, but on average, results in life cycle savings of
20 percent of total construction costs (UMass Lowell's
Center for Family, Work & Community, 2006).
New York City partnered with two developers
to construct energy-efficient affordable hous-
ing units at no additional cost compared with
conventional homes (the units had an average
construction cost of $121 per square foot)
(New Ecology, Inc., 2006).
In addition to the ENERGY STAR tools available to
evaluate the investment required for priority energy
efficiency projects, as listed in Table I, ENERGY STAR
Program Resources, a number of tools exist that can
help local governments and developers calculate the
estimated investment required for specific energy
efficiency projects. Typically, these tools can also be
used to calculate the projected energy cost savings and
simple payback period associated with an energy effi-
ciency project, which can be useful when identifying
priority investments and making the case for energy
efficiency (e.g., if a local government wants to encour-
age private developers to incorporate energy efficiency
into affordable housing developments). These tools
include the following:
U.S. HUD Rehab Advisor. HUD s Rehab Advisor is an
online tool that provides users with recommended energy
efficiency measures for a specific building. The tool also
includes estimates of the costs of recommended energy
efficiency measures, the estimated energy cost savings that
can result from the measures, and the anticipated payback
period. The recommendations are based on ENERGY
STAR specifications, and are tailored to a building s unique
characteristics and geographic location (PATH, 2008).
U.S. DOE Home Energy Saver Cost Calculator. The
Home Energy Saver Cost Calculator was developed by
DOE's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to provide users
with recommended energy efficiency measures and
estimated costs, savings, payback periods, and rates of
return for energy efficiency investments. Users obtain
either basic results, by entering their zip code, or more
detailed, customized results (i.e., a more tailored suite of
recommendations and an overall investment strategy)
by entering specific building energy use and design
characteristics (LBNL, 2007).
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TABLE 2.
ENERGY STAR SPECIFICATION OVERVIEWS: ENERGY SAVINGS AND PAYBACK PERIODS
Percent Energy Savings Compared with
Product Category Conventional Product Payback Period
Appliances
Dehumidifiers 15%
Dishwashers 30%
Refrigerators and freezers 20% (refrige
10% (freez
Room air cleaners 40%
Room air conditioners 10%
0 years (typically no retail cost
2 years
ators) 3 years
ers)
0 years (typically no retail cost
premium)
premium)
Varies Regionally
Electronics
Battery charging systems 30%
Combination units 60%
Cordless phones 55%
DVD products 35%
External power adapters 5%
Home audio systems 30%
Televisions 15%
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
Envelope
Roof products NA
Windows, doors, and skylights 7-24%
< 4 years
Varies Regionally
Lighting
Compact fluorescent lamps 75%
Residential-style light fixtures 75%
< lyear
< 2 years
Office Products
Computers 30%
Copiers 10%
Monitors 20%
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
Multifunction Devices 15-30% (laser v. inkjet) 0 years (typically no retail cost
Printers, fax machines, and mailing 10%
machines
Scanners 10%
0 years (typically no retail cost
0 years (typically no retail cost
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
premium)
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Product Category
Percent Energy Savings Compared with
Conventional Product
Payback Period
Heating and Cooling
Air source heat pumps
Boilers
Ceiling fans
Furnaces
Geothermal heat pumps
Light commercial HVAC
Ventilating fans
10%
5%
45% (with light kit)
10% (fan only)
15%
30%
5%
70%
Varies Regionally
< 5 years
< 4 years
< 3 years
Varies Regionally
Varies Regionally
0 years (typically no retail cost premium)
Other
Water coolers
Vending machines
45%
40%
0 years (typically no retail cost premium)
0 years (typically no retail cost premium)
a ENERGY STAR develops performance-based specifications to determine the most energy-efficient products in a particular product category. These
specifications, which are used as the basis for ENERGY STAR labeling, are developed using a systematic process that relies on market, engineering, and
pollution savings research and input from industry stakeholders. Specifications are revised periodically to be more stringent, which has the effect of
increasing overall market energy efficiency (U.S. EPA, 2007d). EPA and DOE screen all of the specifications annually to determine if any require reassessment.
These assessments may lead to a specification revision, a specification being sunset, or no action being taken depending on market readiness for the next
level. To view current ENERGY STAR criteria, please visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=product_specs.pt_product_ specs. To view specifications
that are under review or revision, please visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=prod_development.prod_development_index.
Source: U.S. EPA, 2008v; 2009.
Financing
Upfront costs can present a barrier to improving ener-
gy efficiency in affordable housing. However, delaying
cost-effective energy efficiency improvements can also
be costly since an activity not undertaken can result in
increased utility bills (Zobler and Hatcher, 2008). This
subsection describes a variety of financing vehicles
and funding sources that can be accessed to address
financial barriers.
FINANCIAL VEHICLES
Financing refers to accessing new funds through means
such as loans, bonds, energy performance contracts,
lease-purchase agreements, and grants to pay for energy
efficiency upgrades. Financial vehicles that can be used
to finance energy efficiency improvements in affordable
housing are described below.
Energy performance contracting. Many affordable
housing developers and owners have used energy
performance contracts with ESCOs to improve energy
efficiency in affordable housing at no upfront cost. An
energy performance contract is an arrangement with
an ESCO or energy service provider that allows a local
government to finance energy-saving capital improve-
ments—usually over a 7-15 year term—with no initial
capital investment, by using money saved through
reduced utility expenditures. Energy performance
contracts bundle energy-saving investments (e.g., energy
audits, design and specification of new equipment,
ongoing maintenance, measurement and verification of
product performance, indoor air quality management,
and personnel training) and typically offer financing.
An ESCO often provides a guarantee that energy cost
savings will meet or exceed annual payments covering
all activity costs. Such guaranteed savings agreements
are the most common type of performance contract in
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the public sector.nlf the savings do not occur, the ESCO
pays the difference. Some performance contracts include
a reserve fund to cover potential shortfalls, while others
provide security enhancements in the form of perfor-
mance bonds or letters of credit. In some instances,
performance insurance maybe available (Zobler and
Hatcher, 2008).
ESCOs often offer financing as part of the performance
contract. However, because ESCOs are private sector
firms that typically borrow at taxable, commercial rates, it
is often possible for a public sector entity to secure better
financing arrangements by taking advantage of lower, tax-
exempt interest rates available to government entities.
In 2006, the nation's PHAs invested an estimated $350
million in energy performance contracts, saving a total
of approximately $37 million. According to HUD, the
number of PHAs that have used energy performance
contracts since 2000 has increased by 24 percent
(U.S. HUD, 2007J).
In 2009, the Minneapolis Public Housing
Authority (MPHA) in Minnesota financed an
energy efficiency retrofit program for more
than 40 high-rise buildings and 700 single-family
residences through a 20-year energy performance
contract with an ESCO that is guaranteeing energy
savings. The $33.6 million program will help the
housing authority improve its infrastructure, reduce
its impact on the environment, and save more than
$3.7 million in utility costs per year by replacing old,
inefficient boilers; adding caulking and weather-
stripping; and properly sealing doors, windows, and
seams. The program is anticipated to reduce MPHA's
annual electricity consumption by approximately 3.3
million kilowatt-hours, enough energy to power 310
homes per year on average. It is also expected to
reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 7,890 metric
tons annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of
nearly 1,600 cars. The work is expected to pay for
itself over the course of the contract (MPHA, 2009).
Energy-efficient mortgages. An energy-efficient mort-
gage is a mortgage that gives borrowers the opportunity
to finance cost-effective energy efficiency improvements
in their homes as part of a single mortgage. This type of
11 Another type of agreement is an "own-operate" agreement, in which the
ESCO maintains ownership of the facility, and sells back its "output" to the local
government entity.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS FOR PHAS
When PHAs enter into energy performance
contracts with ESCOs for energy efficiency
improvements to affordable housing, they can
negotiate to have the ESCO propose multiple
packages of energy conservation measures. This
allows the PHA to review a range of cost estimates
and make energy efficiency investment decisions
based on available resources and the relative
potential benefits of each proposed package.
Source: ORNL, 2000.
mortgage helps borrowers expand their debt-to-income
qualifying ratios on loans, which can enable them to qual-
ify for larger loan amounts that can lead to more exten-
sive energy efficiency improvements. One common type
of energy-efficient mortgage enables lenders to increase
the borrower's annual income (and therefore the size of
the loan they are eligible for) by adding the dollar amount
of the expected energy savings. While these mortgages
are often used to purchase new, energy-efficient homes,
energy-efficient mortgages often include mortgages to
improve energy efficiency in existing homes (sometimes
called energy improvement mortgages) (U.S. EPA, 2007f).
Federal home loans. The Federal Housing Finance
Board requires its 12 district banks to allocate 10
percent of their income to fund the Board's Affordable
Housing Program. This program provides targeted
grants and interest rate subsidies to developers through
district banks (FHFB, Undated). The funds appropri-
ated through this program can be used to preserve
affordable housing or to help pay for reconstruction and
rehabilitation costs. The district banks can also assist
in encouraging energy-efficient affordable housing
design. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, for
example, awards points for compliance with ENERGY
STAR design guidelines when scoring candidate projects
(FHLBBoston, 2007).
In 2006, the Burlington Housing Authority in
Vermont received a $519,940 subsidy and an
$800,000 advance from the Federal Home
Loan Bank of Boston, as well as additional funds
from the Vermont Residential Energy Efficiency
Program, to create 11 new affordable housing units
that incorporate high-performance energy-efficient
features (FHLBBoston, 2006).
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Federal government grants. Affordable housing
stakeholders can apply for a variety of grants from
federal government agencies, including DOE and HUD.
(Information on these grants is provided in the follow-
ing subsection on funding sources.) In June 2009, EPA,
HUD, and the Department of Transportation (DOT)
formed the Partnership for Sustainable Communities
to help improve access to affordable housing, more
transportation options, and lower transportation
costs while protecting the environment in communi-
ties nationwide. Through a set of guiding livability
principles and a partnership agreement that will guide
the agencies' efforts, this partnership will coordinate
funding for federal housing, transportation, and other
infrastructure investments to protect the environment,
promote equitable development, and help to address the
challenges of climate change. One funding opportunity
arising through this partnership is HUD's Sustainable
Communities Regional Planning Grant Program, which
will offer $100 million in competitive challenge grants
to support regional planning efforts that integrate hous-
ing, land use, economic and workforce development,
transportation, and infrastructure investments in a
manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the
interdependent challenges of economic competitiveness
and revitalization; social equity, inclusion, and access to
opportunity; energy use and climate change; as well as
public health and environmental impacts. Additional
funding opportunities for energy efficiency in affordable
housing may arise through this partnership.
(See Section 8, Federal, State, and Other Program
Resources for more information on the partnership.)
On-bill financing. On-bill financing offers a means for
home or building owners to overcome the high upfront
capital costs of making energy efficiency upgrades,
which can be both a financial as well as a psychologi-
cal barrier to making investments in energy efficiency.
Capital used to cover the costs of one or more efficiency
measures is then paid back through charges added to
monthly utility or annual property tax bills. On-bill
financing tools that can help address barriers faced by
low- and moderate-income home owners and renters
include tariffed installation programs (TIPs) and clean
energy municipal financing (CEMF). In these programs,
capital is raised through bond issue, public funds, utili-
ties, or other private funds rather than issuing lines of
credit to home owners and tenants directly (U.S. HUD,
2009; UC Berkeley, 2009).
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.
PACE financing is a way of financing energy efficiency
investments through loans from the local government.
The loan can be repaid through special assessments
on property taxes, or through other locally collected
taxes or bills, such as utility, water, or sewer bills. Only
participants in the program are subject to a special
assessment, and the investments made are linked to the
property rather than the occupant. If a property owner
or tenant participating in a PACE program moves, the
repayment obligation transfers to the new owner or
tenant (DSIRE, 2009).
In November 2008, voters in Boulder County,
Colorado, approved a ballot issue that estab-
lished a PACE financing program by granting
the county authority to issue bonds to be used to
provide special financing options for energy effi-
ciency and renewable energy investments. Cities
within the county provide loans to homeowners,
which are repaid through a special assessment of
their property tax bills. Income qualifying loans are
available for those making up to 115 percent of area
median income. Recipients of these loans receive
lower interest rates and annual assessments (Boul-
der County, Undated).
FUNDING SOURCES
Many sources are available to fund energy efficiency
improvements in affordable housing. These sources of
funding can be accessed through the financial vehicles
described above, to provide the capital for energy effi-
ciency upgrades.
HUD programs. A number of HUD programs that
provide funding to support affordable housing can be
used to improve energy efficiency in affordable housing.
HOME. The HUD HOME Program, the nation's
largest block grant to state and local govern-
ments for creating affordable housing, allocates
approximately $2 billion annually for the purchase
and rehabilitation of affordable housing units by
state and local governments (called "participating
jurisdictions"). The participating jurisdictions can
then set their own program requirements for how
these funds are distributed. State and local grantees
often make these funds available to developers for
new construction, rehabilitation, rental assistance,
administration costs, and other uses associated with
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affordable housing. Participating jurisdictions must
meet a minimum eligibility of $500,000 (based on
HUD's grant formula) in order to receive alloca-
tions. Jurisdictions that do not meet the $500,000
threshold can partner with neighboring localities
(U.S. HUD, 2007d). Housing constructed using
HOME funds must meet the 2004 IECC, but HUD
permits and encourages jurisdictions to adopt more
stringent standards, such as ENERGY STAR, for
HOME-funded housing (U.S. HUD, 2007f).12
Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program
(SHOP). The SHOP provides funds for non-profit
organizations and consortia to purchase and develop
or improve affordable housing. The funds are intended
to provide homeownership opportunities to low-
income populations that would otherwise be unable to
purchase a home. Eligible homebuyers apply through
SHOP grantees and are expected to contribute time
and effort during construction in lieu of financial
payment. Many local governments have worked with
SHOP grantees to promote affordable housing. Local
governments can also work with SHOP grantees to
encourage use of energy-efficient design.
HUD HOPE VI PROGRAM
The HUD HOPE VI program is one of the
department's key tools for improving public
housing stock. HOPE VI grants are provided
to any PHA that has severely distressed public
housing units. A portion of the HOPE VI Program
funds are reserved for Revitalization grants that
provide funding for major rehabilitation, new
construction, and other building improvements
in severely distressed PHAs. Applicants gain
additional points for proposals that incorporate
energy efficiency.
The program requirements state that PHA's using
Revitalization funds for building projects must
meet certain energy efficiency standards. These
standards include incorporating new energy-
efficient technologies, complying with the
2006 IECC, and following ENERGY STAR design
guidelines where feasible.
Source: U.S. HUD, 2007a; U.S. HUD, 2007c.
12 More information on promoting ENERGY STAR in HOME-funded afford-
able housing developments can be found at http://www.hud.gov/energystar/
home.cfm.
In Yonkers, New York, the city donated land to
f the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a
'—' SHOP grantee, for the construction of six afford-
able homes that included a number of energy efficien-
cy measures, including low-emissivity windows, high-
efficiency direct-vent boilers, and 1.2 kW photovoltaic
systems on each home (SWA, 2003).
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Habitat for Humanity incorporates energy efficiency
and other environmental features into many of the
affordable homes it constructs. Between 1997 and
2007, the organization constructed more than 2,500
ENERGY STAR labeled homes.
The organization's Denver, Colorado, chapter
incorporates a range of energy efficiency measures
in each of its new homes, including energy-efficient
building insulation, programmable thermostats, right-
sized energy-efficient furnaces, and CFL lighting.
Source: U.S. EPA, 2007c; Habitat, 2007.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
program. This program provides funding to local
governments to address a range of community
development needs. Funds are appropriated directly
to certain local governments, called "entitlement
communities," or are appropriated to states, which
then allocate funds to local governments. No less
than 70 percent of a local government's allocation
must be used to support low- and moderate-income
populations. Funds from the CDBG program can be
used to finance energy efficiency improvements.
HFAs and other state agencies. Developers of afford-
able housing can obtain funding from HFAs through
a number of programs, many of which are funded
through HUD. For example, through the federal Low-
Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, HFAs
receive an annual allocation of housing tax credits from
the Internal Revenue Service. HFAs award these tax
credits to affordable housing projects that meet qualify-
ing criteria determined by the state, but which must
include specific federal requirements. The tax credits
are then sold by awardees to raise equity, thus reducing
the debt they would otherwise incur. This use of equity
translates into lower rents for low-income residents.
Many HFAs administer their own programs.
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7. INVESTMENT AND FINANCING
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The California HFA has established the Hous-
ing Enabled by Local Partnerships Program to
provide local government entities with low-
interest loans to develop new affordable housing
units and rehabilitate existing ones (CalHFA, 2006).
In some states, such as Delaware and Utah, HFA fund-
ing is contingent on the affordable housing project
meeting energy efficiency criteria (Delaware State Hous-
ing Authority, 2008; U.S. EPA, 2006b). For example, in
order for affordable housing units in the state of Utah
to receive funding through the Olene Walker Housing
Loan Fund, which manages $6.9 million per year in
HUD and state funds, the units must be ENERGY STAR
labeled (U.S. EPA, 2006b).
Local governments and developers can also obtain fund-
ing for energy efficiency projects in affordable housing
from other state agencies, including state energy and
planning agencies. Many state agencies administer
energy efficiency programs that often include affordable
housing components.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity administers an Ener-
gy-Efficient Affordable Housing Construction
Program that provides grants to developers for
incorporating energy efficiency into new and reno-
vated affordable housing developments. The
program, which has generated energy cost savings
in excess of $12 million since 1988, enables develop-
ers to build affordable housing developments that
typically use between 50 and 75 percent less energy
than conventional developments (Illinois, 2008).
Affordable housing trust funds. Affordable housing
trust funds have been established by a number of state
and local governments to provide financing for affordable
housing. Allocation of funds is sometimes contingent on
projects meeting specific energy efficiency requirements.
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and
f Community Development established a state
'—' Affordable Housing Trust Fund to provide funds
to affordable housing projects that incorporate energy
efficiency measures (Massachusetts DHCD, 2006).
With funding from this fund, the City of Boston, the
Enterprise Foundation, and other sources, the Nuestra
Communidad CDC in Roxbury, Massachusetts, began
construction in late 2009 on a $22 million mixed-use
development project at the site of the former Kasanof
Bakery in Roxbury. The development, with 48 units of
affordable rental housing, will meet ENERGY STAR
standards and include photovoltaic power, geothermal
heat pumps, and green construction practices (Massa-
chusetts DHCD, 2007).
Asheville, North Carolina, has established a
Housing Trust Fund to provide a source of
funding to assist in the development of afford-
able housing. During project scoring and selection,
applicants receive credits for participating in exter-
nally monitored energy performance programs,
such as ENERGY STAR (Asheville, 2007).
U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture offers several programs that
distribute federal funds to rural communities. These
programs are available for various affordable housing
development and rehabilitation projects (U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Undated). The Department's
Multifamily Housing Direct Loan Program, for example,
awards points to new construction and revitalization
proposals that include energy-efficiency improvements
through the use of the ENERGY STAR program (U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 2007a; 2007b).
Federal tax incentives. The Internal Revenue Service
Code includes a number of tax incentives for energy
efficiency investments. For example, the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 authorizes several financial incentives to
promote energy efficiency in residential buildings,
including the Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit.
This tax credit provides homeowners with up to 10
percent of the cost of upgrading a facility's envelope
and up to 100 percent for certain qualified investments,
with maximum limits. EPA's ENERGY STAR Web site
includes a summary of tax credits for energy efficiency
for homeowners, at http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm ?c=tax_cr edits. tx_index.
Non-profit organizations. Affordable housing develop-
ers and homeowners can obtain funding for energy
efficiency in homes from non-profit organizations.
Local governments that have existing relationships
with such organizations can facilitate collaborative
projects involving non-profits and developers. Habitat
for Humanity, for example, administers a grant program
funded through a partnership with the Home Depot
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7. INVESTMENT AND FINANCING
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Foundation, which awards affiliates $2,000 for each
ENERGY STAR home they build, plus an additional
$2,000 if the home is also built to meet green standards
(e.g., Enterprise Green Communities, NAHB, or LEED)
(Habitat, 2008).
The Energy Trust of Oregon assists homeown-
ers in improving energy efficiency in their
homes by promoting a range of ENERGY
STAR tools and resources, along with several cash
incentives and rebates for residential energy effi-
ciency projects. In 2005, the local government in
Portland, Oregon, worked with the Energy Trust to
develop the $2.5 million, five-year Green Invest-
ment Fund to help local residents and businesses
improve energy efficiency and reduce other envi-
ronmental impacts. Among the first projects to
receive grants were three multiple-family affordable
housing units (Portland OSD, 2010).
Other federal grant opportunities. Several federal
government agencies, including DOE and HUD,
offer grant programs to organizations (including local
governments) that provide funds that can be used for
energy efficiency programs (U.S. EPA, 2008s).
8. FEDERAL, STATE,
AND OTHER PROGRAM
RESOURCES
Many local governments and affordable housing develop-
ers work with federal, state, and regional agencies and
organizations when planning and developing programs for
improving energy efficiency in existing and new affordable
housing. These agencies and organizations can provide
information resources and financial and technical assis-
tance for energy efficiency programs, as described below.
Federal Programs
Building America. This DOE initiative is a private-
public partnership that encourages energy efficiency in
new and existing homes across the country. Building
America has developed best practices guides based on a
home's particular climate zone.
Web site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
building_america/
ENERGY STAR. A number of ENERGY STAR
programs provide technical assistance and guidance
on improving energy efficiency in affordable housing.
The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR initiative
encourages use of ENERGY STAR standards to facilitate
whole-building energy efficiency improvements in exist-
ing residences. The initiative's Web site includes infor-
mation on whole-building design, home energy inspec-
tions, diagnostic testing and installation, and quality
assurance inspections. In addition, Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR offers tools, such as the Home
Energy Yardstick and the Home Energy Advisor, which
can be used to compare home energy performance with
other homes and to develop a list of recommended
energy efficiency measures.
The ENERGY STAR Label for Homes program provides
certification for new energy-efficient homes, including
multiple-family residential buildings. Labeled homes
are at least 15 percent more energy-efficient than homes
built in accordance with the 2004 IRC. For more infor-
mation and on ENERGY STAR resources for energy
efficiency in affordable housing, see Table 1, ENERGY
STAR Program Resources.
Web site: http://www.energystar.gov/index.
cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_affordal)le_housing
(ENERGY STAR for Affordable Housing)
1 Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency (PHEE).
Along with EPA and DOE, HUD has established PHEE
with a goal of reducing energy consumption in U.S.
households by 10 percent by 2015. PHEE's activities
include building awareness of the benefits of using
ENERGY STAR products; developing energy efficiency
services for homeowners; providing energy efficiency
opportunities to low-income housing residents; and
investing in new building technologies, practices, and
policies (U.S. DOE, U.S. HUD, and U.S. EPA 2006).
Web site: http://www.energysavers.gov/
Partnership for Sustainable Communities. In June
2009, EPA, DOT, and HUD formed this partnership to
coordinate their funding and better support sustain-
able communities. EPA, DOT, and HUD will work to
assure that their programs maximize the benefits of
their combined investments in communities for livabil-
ity, affordability, environmental excellence, and the
promotion of green jobs of the future. HUD and DOT
will work together to identify opportunities to better
coordinate their programs and encourage location
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8. RESOURCES
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efficiency in housing and transportation choices. HUD,
DOT, and EPA will also share information and review
processes to facilitate better-informed decisions and
coordinate investments.
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partner-
ship/index.html.
U.S. DOE Weatherization Assistance Program. This
program enables low-income families to reduce their
utility bills by improving energy efficiency in their
homes. Over the last 30 years, the program has provided
weatherization assistance to more than 5.6 million fami-
lies. This assistance, on average, has reduced gas space
heating by 32 percent.
Web site: http://appsl.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/
1 U.S. EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program.
This program assists state, local, and tribal governments
in meeting their climate change and clean energy efforts
by providing technical assistance, analytical tools, and
outreach support. It includes two programs:
The Local Climate and Energy Program helps local
and tribal governments meet multiple sustainability
goals with cost-effective climate change mitigation
and clean energy strategies. EPA provides local and
tribal governments with peer exchange training
opportunities and financial assistance along with plan-
ning, policy, technical, and analytical information that
support reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The State Climate and Energy Program helps
states develop policies and programs that can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs,
improve air quality and public health, and help
achieve economic development goals. EPA provides
states with and advises them on proven, cost-
effective best practices, peer exchange opportunities,
and analytical tools.
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/
1 U.S. HUD. HUD administers a broad range of
programs to support the nation's supply of affordable
housing and to provide assistance to affordable hous-
ing residents. In addition to the funding programs
described in Section 7, Investment and Financing
Opportunities, HUD administers a variety of programs
to disseminate information on energy efficiency and
affordable housing, including:
> The Public Housing Energy Conservation Clearing-
house (PHECC). PHECC is a source of information
on energy conservation practices that can be imple-
mented in multiple-family affordable housing units
(U.S. HUD, 2007J).
Web site: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/
ph/phecc/
Energy Performance Contracting. Through its
Energy Performance Contracting program, HUD
provides PHAs with information about working
with ESCOs to improve energy efficiency in public
affordable housing. The program offers educational
materials and information on training sessions for
PHA staff.
Web site: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/
ph/phecc/eperformance. cfm
ENERGY STAR and HUD. HUD has collected
information on how ENERGY STAR programs can
be integrated with HUD programs. This Web site
has specific information on using ENERGY STAR
for HUD's HOME, CBDG, and HOPE VI programs.
Web site: http://www.hud.gov/energy/
State Programs
HFAs. A number of HFAs administer energy effi-
ciency programs that PHAs can rely on as a source of
information. The Greater Minnesota Housing Fund,
for example, has partnered with two state agencies to
develop a state Green Affordable Housing Guide to
assist policy makers, developers, building designers,
and homeowners (University of Minnesota, 2004).
ENERGY STAR has collected a list of state programs
that can provide funding for energy efficiency improve-
ments in affordable housing, available at http://www.
energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.
pt_affordable_housing_funding#hfa.
Public Utility Commissions (PUCs). Affordable hous-
ing developers can work with state PUCs to improve
energy efficiency in affordable housing. Affordable hous-
ing developers can also benefit from PUC programs that
provide direct assistance to affordable housing residents.
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8. RESOURCES
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The California PUC partnered with an inves-
tor-owned utility to develop the Affordable
Housing Energy Efficiency Alliance, which
serves as an energy efficiency information clear-
inghouse for housing authorities and affordable
housing developers. The initiative provides train-
ing sessions and technical design assistance for
new construction and rehabilitation projects
(AHEE, 2007).
The Maine PUC has partnered with the
Maine HFA to administer a Low Income
Appliance Replacement Program that replac-
es inefficient refrigerators and installs CFLs in
low-income households, reducing energy costs for
both residents and building owners
(Efficiency Maine, Undated).
State Energy Offices. Affordable housing developers can
work with state energy offices to tailor energy efficiency
activities to synchronize with state energy efficiency
programs, develop training materials for residence
maintenance staff, and organize information sessions for
local residents.
ALABAMA PROGRAM FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN
NEW HOMES
The Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs is collaborating with the Home
Builders Association of Alabama and Southface
Energy Institute to develop the technical elements of
a program for developers that provides certification
for energy-efficient homes in Alabama. The Energy
Key Homes program includes three levels of energy
efficiency standards:
• Level 1: Advantage Energy Key, which is equivalent
to the 2006 IRC/2006 IECC for energy efficiency.
• Level 2: Star Energy Key, the requirements of which
are identical to those of the ENERGY STAR Qualified
New Home program.
• Level 3: Green Energy Key, which includes the same
requirements as the Star Energy Key certification,
plus additional green features that will make it more
environmentally sustainable.
Developers are required to complete an initial four-hour
training course for levels 1 and 2 in order to be certified
as Energy Key Builders. For level 3, they must complete
an additional two-hour training course.
Source: U.S. DOE, 2007a.
The Delaware Energy Office, for example,
partnered with the State Housing Authority to
facilitate a brainstorming conference for state
and local housing staff and other stakeholders
(Delaware State Housing Authority, 2005).
In Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office
offered free training sessions on energy
performance contracting to public housing
authorities across the state (SECO, Undated).
Other Programs
Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Alliance. The
Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Alliance serves
as a clearinghouse for information on improving energy
efficiency in affordable housing. The program offers train-
ing sessions and design assistance, and has developed a
handbook for energy efficiency in affordable housing.
Web site: http://www.h-m-g.com/multifamily/AHEEA/
default.htm
EarthCraft House Affordable Housing Initiative.
EarthCraft House is a green building program developed
by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and
Southface. More than 1,500 units have been built through
the program in partnership with affordable housing agen-
cies such as Habitat for Humanity. EarthCraft provides
technical services such as design reviews and charrettes,
energy modeling, HVAC load calculations, pressure test-
ing of building envelopes and duct systems, energy audit-
ing and rate analysis, mold and moisture assessment, and
ENERGY STAR facilitation and certification.
Web site: http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/'About/
affordable.htm
Green Communities. The Green Communities initia-
tive is a project by the Enterprise organization to build
more than 8,500 environmentally sustainable and
energy-efficient homes for low-income families over a
five-year period. Green Communities provides fund-
ing and technical assistance for local projects, and has
developed the Green Communities Criteria, a frame-
work of environmental and energy efficiency standards
for home design.
Web site: http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/
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8. RESOURCES
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Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a non-
profit organization that has constructed nearly 300,000
affordable homes around the world for 1.5 million residents
since 1976. Through its Environmental Initiative, Habitat
promotes cost-effective construction methods that incor-
porate energy and environmental features and that raise
awareness of energy and environmental benefits. Habitat
has developed a series of energy bulletins, ENERGY STAR
resources, and other technical information relating to
incorporating energy efficiency in new Habitat homes.
Web site: http://www.habitat.org/env/energyj3ulle-
tins.aspx
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).
ICLEI is a membership association of local governments
that have committed to adopting sustainable approaches
for addressing climate change and other environmental
threats through a range of activities, including energy
efficiency. ICLEI members receive access to a suite of
tools and resources for planning and implementing
their energy efficiency programs, including software
with training, technical and communications assistance,
information-sharing, best practices, and opportunities
for recognition.
Web site: http://www.icleiusa.org/
Local Initiatives Support Coalition. The Local Initia-
tives Support Coalition (LISC) is a non-profit organiza-
tion that focuses on assisting communities in revitaliz-
ing distressed neighborhoods by promoting sustainable
objectives, such as improving energy efficiency in afford-
able housing. LISC can help local governments and
community members obtain access to loans, grants, and
other funding sources and technical and informational
assistance for neighborhood revitalization projects.
Web site: http://www.lisc.org/
National Association of Counties (NACo) Green
Government Initiative. Through its Green Govern-
ment Initiative, NACo provides local governments with
resources on energy and other environmental issues
related to government facilities and operations. NACo
facilitates information sharing between governments
and promotes collaboration with the private sector. In
addition to other publications and information resources,
NACo administers a Green Government Database of case
studies on specific topics. NACo has also developed an
information packet on county green building programs in
the residential sector, including information on resources
for green affordable housing programs.
Web site: http://www.naco.org/programs/csd/pages/
greengovernmentinitiative.aspx
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
NAHB has created a green building program to promote
green building practices in the home building industry.
The program has developed a number of resources for
home builders, including Model Green Home Building
Guidelines and a National Green Building Standard
based on these guidelines. Developers can also use the
program's Green Scoring Tool to assess building designs.
Web site: http://www.nahbgreen.org/
• Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods. The
Playbook is an online resource developed by a team of
local governments, non-profit organizations, and federal
government agencies that provides local governments
with information, strategies, and tools for building green
buildings, neighborhoods, and infrastructure. The Play-
book provides information to assist local governments in
the information gathering, planning, and implementation
stages of each of these three subject areas.
Web site: http://www.greenplaybook.org/
Regional Initiatives. A number of local governments
have used multiple-jurisdiction initiatives to mobilize
resources for improving energy efficiency in afford-
able housing.
In southern California the Building Industry
Institute's Community Energy Efficiency
Program (CEEP) encourages local govern-
ments and private developers to work together to
exceed local building code requirements by more
than 15 percent. The program allows local govern-
ments to share technical knowledge, marketing
materials, and briefing papers.
The Cape Light Compact, which represents 21
towns in the Cape Cod, Massachusetts region,
has helped facilitate plans for the development
of more than 60 affordable housing units for both
public and private landowners. These units are to be
developed in accordance with both LEED and ENER-
GY STAR standards (Cape Light Compact, 2007).
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8. RESOURCES
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U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The USCM
Climate Protection Agreement commits mayors
to reduce GHG emissions in their cities to at least
7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. The Climate
Protection Center provides guidance to mayors on
leading their cities' efforts to reduce GHG emissions
linked to climate change, and publishes best practices,
including examples of cities that are taking the lead
in this effort by improving energy efficiency in their
buildings and operations.
Web site: http://www.usmayors.org/dimateprotection/
U.S. Green Building Council. The U.S. Green Build-
ing Council administers a LEED for Homes Initiative
for Affordable Housing that is developing building
guidance materials for the affordable housing market,
as well as offering educational opportunities and
technical assistance.
Web site: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.
aspx?CMSPageID=147#afford
9. CASE STUDIES
The following case studies provide descriptions of two
local government programs for improving energy effi-
ciency in affordable housing. Each case study describes
the program's initiation, other features, and benefits.
Philadelphia Housing
Authority—Conserve Energy-
Preserve Public Housing
The Philadelphia Housing Authority's Conserve Energy-
Preserve Public Housing program is focused on using
energy efficiency to reduce the housing authority's oper-
ating costs to ensure that present and future affordable
housing needs continue to be met.
PROGRAM INITIATION
In an effort to challenge rising energy costs in public
housing units, the Philadelphia Housing Authority's
executive director announced the authority's commit-
ment to a campaign to Conserve Energy-Preserve Public
Housing on Earth Day in 2006. The purpose of the
campaign is to reduce the energy costs borne by the
housing authority, which completely or partially subsi-
dizes the energy consumption of approximately 80,000
residents. Addressing rising operating costs in this way
has been used as a strategy for ensuring that affordable
housing needs can be met without reducing the amount
of affordable housing or dramatically increasing rent
(PHA, 2006b).
PROFILE: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Area: 135 square miles
Population: 84,000 residents in public
affordable housing
Structure: The PHA is the fourth largest housing
authority in the United States and is the largest
landlord in Pennsylvania. It is governed by a Board
of Commissioners, with two members appointed
by the Mayor of Philadelphia, two appointed by the
Philadelphia City Controller, and one appointed by
other members of the Board.
Program Scope: The Conserve Energy campaign
involves the PHA's entire affordable housing portfolio,
consisting of approximately 16,000 units. The PHA
plans to install CFLs in each unit.
Program Creation: The PHA director announced the
creation of the Conserve Energy campaign in April 2006.
Program Results: Recently developed ENERGY
STAR qualified units save more than $500 per unit
annually. The PHA received the 2007 ENERGY STAR for
Excellence in Affordable Housing.
PROGRAM FEATURES
The Philadelphia Housing Authority established a goal
of reducing energy consumption in its units by 3 to 5
percent. To achieve this goal, the housing authority has
begun to implement a number of measures, including:
Installing energy-efficient equipment. The housing
authority has installed more than 1,000 water-efficient
toilets in its affordable housing units. In addition, the
PHA developed a plan to replace every light bulb in each
of its units with CFLs (PHA, 2006a). Through 2006, the
PHA had installed over 4,000 CFLs in common areas at
20 of its affordable housing developments (PHA, 2006b).
Conducting energy education classes for housing
residents and staff. The Housing Authority developed
a resident education plan focused on energy reduction.
Partnering with PECO Energy and the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission, the housing authority
has conducted seminars for residents on the use of
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TRAINING DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE STAFF
The Philadelphia Housing Authority partnered with
its electric utility, a non-profit organization, the
state PUC, and the Drexel School of Engineering to
train its staff and design team and builders on the
ENERGY STAR Homes guidelines. Its staff, design
team, and builders learned how to meet certification
requirements for site-built and modular construction.
ENERGY STAR Homes criteria were then incorporated
into the design layout and specifications of new units
completed under the PHA's ENERGY STAR Homes
demonstration project.
Source: U.S. EPA, 2007a.
programmable thermostats at two of its developments.
Additionally, PECO has trained housing authority staff
in energy conservation practices and in monitoring
energy consumption to track savings (U.S. EPA, 2007a).
Building ENERGY STAR labeled affordable hous-
ing units. The Housing Authority was the first in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build ENERGY
STAR labeled homes. By working with a non-profit
organization and ENERGY STAR, the housing author-
ity completed 60 new homes in February 2007 that are
ENERGY STAR labeled. With an $118,000 grant, the
Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority is provid-
ing funding for an additional 160-home affordable hous-
ing development, of which 125 units are planned to be
ENERGY STAR labeled (PHA, 2007a).
PROGRAM RESULTS
The recently completed ENERGY STAR labeled homes
are expected to produce energy cost savings of more
than $500 per year for each household. Because the
Housing Authority assists many of its residents with
their utility costs, these costs will help reduce its operat-
ing expenses and reduce the burden on residents. The
Housing Authority currently has more than 1,500 units
planned for completion over the next six years, with
expected annual energy cost savings of $800,000 (U.S.
EPA, 2007a).
In March 2007, the Housing Authority received the
ENERGY STAR Excellence in Affordable Housing
award to recognize its achievements. Additionally, the
Housing Authority's Executive Director received the
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Officials' individual award for advocacy for improving
energy efficiency in Philadelphia's affordable housing,
and for increasing public awareness of the critical need
for reducing utility costs to increase housing authority
funding nationwide (PHA, 2007a, 2007b).
Web site: http://www.PHA.phila.gov/
Boston, Massachusetts—Green
Affordable Housing Program
The Boston Green Affordable Housing Program was
created by the city's mayor in 2007. The purpose of this
program is to work within the community to develop
affordable housing that incorporates energy efficiency
features that reduce costs for renters and homeowners,
promotes the well-being of residents, and minimizes
impacts to the environment.
PROFILE: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Area: 90 square miles
Population: 600,000
Structure: Boston's local political structure is based on
a mayor and 13 city council members. The city's Green
Affordable Housing Program is administered by the
Department of Neighborhood Development.
Program Scope: The program covers all city-funded
and -assisted housing developments.
Program Creation: The mayor initiated a green
building task force in 2003, which resulted in a
limited-scope green building mandate in 2007. The
Department of Neighborhood Development adopted
green housing standards in 2008.
Program Results: In 2007,14 green housing
development applications for city funding were
received. In 2008, six of these applications were
accepted.
PROGRAM INITIATION
In 2003, the mayor of Boston created a Green Building
Task Force to develop a strategy for greening the city.
Based on the task force's findings, the mayor established a
three-year timetable for the city to develop green building
standards, beginning with local government facilities.
In January 2007, the city's zoning commission approved
several amendments to the local zoning code, including
a requirement that all public and private projects over
50,000 square feet be developed in accordance with LEED
rating system criteria. In response to this initiative, the
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9. CASE STUDIES
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city Department of Neighborhood Development adopted
green housing standards in 2008 (Boston, 2008).
PROGRAM FEATURES
The Boston Green Affordable Housing Program includes
a number of energy efficiency and green features,
including:
Energy-efficient and green design standards. In 2008,
the Department of Neighborhood Development issued
design standards for affordable housing. These stan-
dards integrate the requirements of the ENERGY STAR
program and the LEED-Silver rating system. To ensure
that affordable housing achieves superior energy perfor-
mance, the standards require that developments meet the
ENERGY STAR Labeled New Homes requirements.
When responding to city proposals, developers are
required to submit a letter from the ENERGY STAR
program stating that they are enrolled as ENERGY
STAR-certified contractors. For buildings four stories and
higher, the department requires that buildings exceed
the ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standard by at least 20 percent
(Boston, 2008). (ENERGY STARs Labeled New Homes
program does not apply to homes taller than three stories.)
Training sessions. The Department of Neighborhood
Development, through the Green Affordable Housing
Program, provides training sessions for local develop-
ers. These training sessions have focused on integrated
design, energy efficiency and renewable energy opportu-
nities, and indoor air quality (Boston, 2008).
PROGRAM RESULTS
The Green Affordable Housing Program was created in
the spring of 2007. Shortly after creation, the program
received 14 applications for new affordable housing devel-
opments. The combined amount of money to be invested
in integrated design, energy efficiency, renewable energy,
and indoor air quality in these developments was greater
than $5.6 million. Ultimately, six projects were selected
for Department of Neighborhood Development funding.
Those developments that qualify for the ENERGY STAR
label can expect to achieve energy cost savings of between
20 and 30 percent compared with a conventional new
housing development (BHA, 2005; Boston, 2008).
Web site: http://www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/D_Green_
Housing.asp
10. ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES AND INFORMATION RESOURCES
Title/Description
Examples
Web Site
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Allegheny County Housing Authority has
partnered with an ESCO to perform upgrades in its 3,000 units that are expected
to generate energy cost savings of $145,000 annually.
https://buildingsolutions.honeywell.com/NR/
rdonlyres/3CFOAD15-D8EB-412E-A47C-48870C789B
8E/S6SS9/3cfOadlSd8eb412ea47c48870c789b8e.pdf
Austin, Texas. The Housing Authority of the City of Austin entered into an energy
performance contract in 2001. Under the performance contract, the PHA had
energy-saving water-efficient fixtures installed and implemented a resident
training session. Such measures will reduce annual PHA water consumption by
145 million gallons.
http://www.hacanet.org/press/media_kit/energy.
php
Boston, Massachusetts. In 1999, the Boston Housing Authority entered into
two of the largest energy performance contracts in the nation. Combined,
both performance contracts provided $17 million in much-needed capital
improvements. In 2001, a report was released that identified $52 million in
savings achieved through upgrades to 33 properties. Additionally, the Maverick
Landing development has been voted the best overall development by
Affordable Housing Finance magazine.
http://www.bostonhousing.org/detpages/pressl6.
html
http://www.bostonhousing.org/pdfs/PLN2005-
LEED.pdf
http://www.bostonhousing.org/detpages/press47.
html
Bronx, New York. The 1212 Martin Luther King apartment complex was the first
apartment complex in the nation to earn the ENERGY STAR label.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/pr2006/pr-09-
29-06.shtml
10. RESOURCES
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
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Title/Description
Buffalo, New York. The Buffalo PHA used the New York Power Authority's refrigerator
replacement project to install 900 energy-efficient refrigerators in affordable housing
units. This activity will save the PHA approximately $30,000 annually.
Web Site
h ttp://www. nysPHAda. org/HUD%20 WEB/Energy/
Energy.html
Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Housing Authority's Energy-Cost Saving Program
has established a goal of reducing overall energy costs by 15 percent.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/tore/
afhoid/opma/reenco/reenco_005.cfm#full
Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority is saving more
than $875,000 annually from improving energy efficiency in more than 4,600
units. The improvements cost the PHA approximately $7.2 million.
http://www.duke-energy.com/news/cinergy_
archive/3926_383632.htm
Jersey City, New Jersey. Jersey City partnered with the New Jersey Housing
& Mortgage Finance Agency's "CHOICE" program to develop eight energy-
efficient affordable homes.
http://cityofjerseycity.com/uploadedFiles/
Public_Notices/Press_Releases/PR%202007%20
10%2030%20-%20Mayor%20Healy%20Breaks%20
Ground%20on%20Affordable%20Housing.pdf
King County, Washington. The King County Housing Authority invested
more than $2 million in weatherizing affordable housing units. In addition,
the housing authority has installed solar technologies on its White Center
affordable housing development.
http://www.kcha.org/aboutus/newsreleases/
Weatherization.aspx
Longmont, Colorado. Longmont's Community Housing Program offers a fee
reduction for projects that incorporate certain building features, including
energy efficiency and energy conservation measures.
h ttp://www. ci. longmont. co. us/cdbg/housing/dev. h tm
Madison, Wisconsin. A Madison non-profit CDC worked with the local electric
utility and a non-profit state energy assistance organization to develop an
energy-efficient 60-unit affordable housing residence.
http://www.focusonenergy.com/files/Document_
Management_System/Residential_Programs/
yaharariverview_casestudy.pdf
Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis PHA used HUD's Energy Performance
Contracting program to improve the energy efficiency of 40 high-rise affordable
housing developments.
http://www.huduser.org/periodicals/
fieldworks/0600/fworks3.html
New Iberia, Louisiana. The Housing Authority of the City of New Iberia
implemented $1.6 million in energy efficiency measures to its affordable housing
stock. The measures produce annual energy savings of approximately $200,000.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
phecc/success/iberia.pdf
New York, New York. The 90-unit Melrose II affordable housing development in
the Bronx was designed using high-performance energy-efficient technologies.
The design measures included programmable thermostats, energy-efficient
HVAC systems, low-emissivity windows, and fluorescent lighting. These design
features are expected to reduce annual energy costs for each unit by $988.
http://www.pathnet.org/si.asp7id = 2652
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An energy performance contract with Custom Energy
is expected to save the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh more than $4
million over a 10-year period. Under the terms of the contract. Custom Energy
will conduct lighting retrofits and install water-conserving fixtures, radiator
control valves, boiler controls, and domestic hot water temperature controls in
eight of the authority's housing communities.
http://www.energyservicescoalition.org/resources/
casestudies/stories/hacp.htm
Santa Monica, California. The city of Santa Monica has developed a green design
checklist to provide guidance to affordable housing developers.
http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/
OSE/Categories/Creen_Building/Creen%20
Affordable%20Housing%20Checklist.pdf
Wilmington, North Carolina. The Wilmington Housing Authority provides
training to residents semi-annually to assist them in reducing energy costs.
http://www.ameresco.com/release.asp?ID=14
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
10. RESOURCES
39
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Title/Description Web Site
Wyandotte County, Kansas. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County
Division of Housing and Community Development has adopted a standard
operating procedure for affordable housing unit construction and renovation
projects that use public funds. The standard operating procedure requires that
projects meet ENERGY STAR qualification.
HUD Performance Contracting Case Studies. The Public Housing Energy
Conservation Clearinghouse, administered by HUD, maintains a collection of
case studies highlighting successful implementation of energy performance
contracts in public housing.
http://www.hud.gov/local/ks/library/
archivedstories/fs2006-10-19.cfm
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
phecc/eperformance/epcsuccess.cfm
Information Resources
Affordable Housing Development Guidelines for State and Local Government.
This HUD document provides information, (including suggested code and
ordinance language) for local governments on how to improve the delivery of
affordable housing services.
Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Alliance. This project serves as a
clearinghouse for energy efficiency resources relevant to affordable housing.
The project provides training and information to affordable housing developers,
PHAs, and energy efficiency support agencies. The AHEEA is currently
developing a handbook for energy efficiency in affordable housing.
Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Handbook. The Affordable Housing
Energy Efficiency Alliance has developed this guide to introduce energy
efficiency concepts and benefits for the affordable housing market.
Affordable Housing Ordinances/Flexible Provisions. This Web resource provides
examples of local government ordinances that have been used to encourage
developers to invest in affordable housing.
Affordable Housing Primer. This document provides basic information on the
affordable housing characteristics and needs in Illinois.
Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing. The two
volumes of this HUD guidance document provide a framework for conducting
rehabilitation of affordable housing. The guidance includes technical analyses
and case studies.
A Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing. This manual provides an overview
for developers and stakeholders of the benefits and concepts behind greening
affordable housing.
Builder Option Package for ENERGY STAR in North Carolina. This Web site
provides a prescriptive method for labeling new affordable homes in North
Carolina ENERGY STAR.
Building America. This DOE initiative is a private-public partnership that
encourages energy efficiency in new and existing homes across the country.
Building America has developed multiple best practices guides based on a
home's particular climate zone.
Building Energy- Efficient Affordable Housing. This document, developed
by Michigan Habitat for Humanity, provides a strategic outline of goals for
improving energy efficiency in affordable housing throughout the state.
http://www.toolbase.org/PDF/DesignGuides/afl 'ord_
housing.pdf
http://www.h-m-g.com/multifamily/aheea/default.
htm
http://www.h-m-g.com/multifamily/aheea/
Handbook/default.htm
http://mrsc.org/Subjects/Housing/ords.aspx
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/whatwedo/advocacy/
reports/illinois-affordable-housing-primer.html
http://www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg/
bes tpra ctices. h tm I
http://www.globalgreen.org/publications/74
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bop.pt_
bop_northcarolina
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_
america/
http://www.cedp.msu.edu/researchreports/
Building%20Energy%20Efficient%20Affordable%20
Homes,%20final.pdf
40
10. RESOURCES
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
-------
Title/Description Web Site
Choosing a Green Building Professional. This Green Affordable Housing
Coalition fact sheet provides tips and strategies for selecting developers of
green affordable housing.
The Cold Facts. This report describes the effect of home energy costs on low-
income Americans.
Community Guide to Creating Affordable Housing. This report by the Business
and Professional People for the Public Interest provides information on how
local governments can encourage private development of affordable housing.
Consumer Energy Information Clearinghouse. This guide serves as a
clearinghouse for energy efficiency and renewable energy information
resources associated with specific household components.
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE). This database
provides access to a range of state and local energy efficiency and renewable
energy incentives and policies.
Durability and Maintenance. This Green Affordable Housing Coalition fact sheet
provides suggested criteria for assessing the relative durability and maintenance
benefits of green building in the affordable housing sector.
Education Materials for Energy Saving. This HUD Web site provides a number
of resources and tips for affordable housing residents that can lead to reduced
energy consumption.
Energy Conservation for Housing. This HUD workbook provides information on
identifying cost-effective energy efficiency measures in public housing.
Energy-Efficient Rehab Advisor. HUD and ENERGY STAR have partnered to
develop this tool as a guideline for energy-efficient housing rehabilitation.
Energy Performance Contracting for Public and Indian Housing. This document
provides guidance to PHAs on implementing energy performance contracts to
improve energy efficiency in public and Indian housing units.
Energy Resources. Habitat for Humanity maintains a Web site that provides
resources for energy efficiency in affordable housing.
ENERGY STAR for New Homes. This ENERGY STAR program provides guidance
for designing ENERGY STAR labeled new homes that are at least 15% more
energy-efficient than the 2004 International Residential Code.
ENERGY STAR Home Improvement. This ENERGY STAR program provides
do-it-yourself strategies for homeowners to improve energy efficiency in the
household.
ENERGY STAR Labeled Products Purchasing and Procurement. This Web
site provides information on the costs and benefits of purchasing ENERGY
STAR labeled products. It also provides information on how energy-efficient
procurement programs can be developed.
Federal Housing Finance Agency. The Federal Housing Finance Agency
regulates the nation's federal housing loan banks. These banks are required
to allocate 10% of their income to fund an Affordable Housing Program that
allocates funds to applicants who purchase, construct, or rehabilitate affordable
housing units.
http://www.frontierassoc.net/
greenaffordablehousing/FactSheets/
GAHCfactsheets/4-GreenPro.pdf
http://www.nliec.org/coldfacts.htm
http://www.bpichicago.org/documents/
CommunityGuidetoCreatingAffordableHousing.pdf
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/
h ttp://www. dsireusa. org/
http://www.frontierassoc.net/
greenaffordablehousing/FactSheets/
GAHCfactsheets/19%20DurabiUty%20and%20
Maintenance%20final.pdf
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
phecc/residents.cfm
http://www.nysPHAda.org/HUD%20WEB/Energy/
Energy_Audit_ Workbook.pdf
http://rehabadvisor.pathnet.org/index.asp
http://www.nysPHAda.org/HUD%20WEB/Energy/
EPC/EPC%20green%20book.pdf
http://www.habitat.org/env/energy_bulletins.aspx
http://www.energystar.gov/homes
http://www.energystar.goV/i ndex.cfm?c=home_
improvement.hm_improvement_index
http://www.energystar.goV/i ndex.cfm?c=bulk_
purchasing.bus_purchasing
http://www. fhfa.gov/
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
10. RESOURCES
41
-------
Title/Description
Field Office Review Procedure for Energy Performance Contracting. This
HUD document outlines the procedures that PHAs must follow when
entering into performance contracts through the HUD Energy Performance
Contracting Program.
Web Site
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r9/cpd/
guidelines.pdf
Financing Affordable Housing: A Primer for the State Clean Energy Funds.
This Clean Energy States Alliance document provides state clean energy fund
managers with information about public and private strategies for financing
affordable housing projects.
http://cleanenergystates.org/CaseStudies/Primer_
on_Financing_Affordable_Housing.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions about Energy-Efficient Mortgages. This ENERGY
STAR fact sheet provides answers to common questions about how energy-
efficient mortgages work.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/bldrs_
lenders_ra ters/downloads/EEM_ faq.pdf
Green Affordable Housing Coalition. The Coalition's Web site provides
information on designing and financing green affordable housing units. The
Coalition has collected many fact sheets on green initiatives in the public
housing sector.
http://www.frontierassoc.net/
greenaffordablehousing/lndex.shtml
Green Buildings Checklist. The city of Santa Monica has developed a green
design checklist to provide guidance to affordable housing developers.
http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/
OSE/Categories/Green_Building/Green%20
Affordable%20Housing%20Checklist.pdf
The Creenbuilt Way to Affordable Housing. This document was prepared by
the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative to present a series of strategies that can
be employed by state and local governments to improve energy efficiency and
sustainability in affordable housing.
http://www.greenbuilthome.org/docs/GBH_
AFFORDABLE.pdf
Greening Portland's Affordable Housing. This document provides guidance
for the development of all city-funded affordable housing projects managed
through the Portland, Oregon, Development Commission.
http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.
cfm?id=122094
Healthy Homes Initiative. This HUD program provides information on improving
health and safety of the nation's housing stock. Energy efficiency improvements
can have the indirect benefit of improving health and safety in homes.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/hhi/
High Profile at Low Cost: Introducing A Multi-Family Residential Market to
High-Performance Building Design and Construction. This report describes the
experiences of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District in its efforts to
design energy-efficient affordable housing units.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
phecc/success/highperfbldgs.pdf
How to Promote ENERGY STAR through CDBG. HUD has developed a Web site
to provide information on how local governments can incorporate ENERGY
STAR into their community development block grant-funded activities.
http://www.hud.gov/energystar/cdbg.cfm
How to Promote ENERGY STAR through HOME Investment Partnership
Program. HUD has developed a Web site to provide information on how local
governments can incorporate ENERGY STAR into their HOME-funded activities.
http://www.hud.gov/energystar/home.cfm
How to Promote ENERGY STAR through HOPE VI. HUD has developed a Web
site to provide information on how PHAs can incorporate ENERGY STAR into
their HOPE-funded activities.
http://www.hud.gov/energystar/hope.cfm
How to Promote ENERGY STAR through Public and Indian Housing. HUD has
developed a Web site to provide information on how local governments can
incorporate ENERGY STAR into their public and Indian housing.
http://www.hud.gov/energystar/pih.cfm
42
10. RESOURCES
Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
-------
Title/Description Web Site
HUD Energy Action Plan. HUD developed this action plan to outline its goals and
strategies for promoting energy efficiency in its various programs. The action
plan includes strategies for improving information dissemination and increasing
training opportunities for public housing managers.
HUD Energy Issues. The Buffalo PHA has collected multiple information
resources on performance contracting in public housing.
Incorporating Energy Efficiency into HOME-Funded Affordable Housing
Development. This manual provides guidance to jurisdictions, CDCs, and
other participants on incorporating energy efficiency into affordable housing
developments that receive HUD HOME funds.
Incremental Costs, Measurable Savings. This Enterprise Green Communities
analysis documents the costs and benefits of implementing energy and water
efficiency improvements in affordable housing.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Project. This Department of Health and
Human Services project provides information and financial assistance to low-
income households to pay for energy costs.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Project Clearinghouse. The LIHEAP
Clearinghouse, a Department of Health and Human Service project, provides
information to state, tribal, and local LIHEAP providers. The clearinghouse
collects and disseminates information on low-income energy issues specifically.
Massachusetts Green Affordable Housing Program. This program provides
assistance to agencies and developers responsible for developing and managing
the state's public housing stock.
Minnesota Green Affordable Housing Guide. This guide was developed in part
by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund to assist policy makers, developers,
designers, and homeowners in realizing the benefits of sustainable affordable
housing.
National Association for Housing Redevelopment Officials. NAHRO provides
housing and community development authorities with a range of information
resources pertaining to providing housing for low-income citizens.
Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency 2006 Annual Report. This report
highlights the achievements of the Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency,
a project involving HUD, DOE, and EPA. The report describes initiatives for
improving energy efficiency in affordable housing units.
Public Housing Authorities Directors Association. The PHADA serves as a
clearinghouse of PHA experiences, including energy efficiency activities.
The Public Housing Energy Conservation Clearinghouse (PHECC). This HUD
program provides PHAs with a collection of resources for implementing energy
conservation activities in public housing units.
Rebuild America. The Rebuild America initiative served as a mechanism for
improving the quality of the nation's buildings while increasing job creation in
the manufacturing and service sectors. This DOE initiative is currently being
revamped.
Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse. This HUD Web site provides information on
regulatory barriers to developing affordable housing. For each type of barrier it
provides a potential solution.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/library/energy/
library/energyactionplan.pdf
http://www. nysPHAda. org/HUD%20 WEB/Energy/
Energy.html
http://www.icfi. com/Markets/Community_
Development/doc_files/energy-efficiency-HOME.pdf
http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/programs/
green_communities/nextgen/incremental_costs_
full_report.pdf
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/
http://liheap.ncat.org/
http://www.masstech.org/project_detail.
cfm?ProjSeq=636
http://www.greenhousing.umn.edu/overview.html
h ttp://www. nahro. org/
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/news/downloads/
PHEE2006AnnualReport.pdf
http://www.PHAda.org/index.php
http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
phecc/
http://appsl.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/
pdfs/rebuild_america/essbrief!003.pdf
http://www.huduser.org/rbc/categories.html
Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
10. RESOURCES
43
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Title/Description Web Site
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). RESNET is a non-profit www.resfiet.us
organization dedicated to standardizing building energy performance
certification. RESNET is responsible for administering the HERS rating system.
SeaCreen: Greening Seattle's Affordable Housing. This report is intended for
the use of affordable housing owners, developers, and design teams. The guide
includes a plan template to help developers identify green building measures for
their designs.
http://www.seattle.gov/housing/SeaCreen/
SeaCreen.pdf
State Housing Finance Agencies. The National Council of State Housing
Agencies maintains a list of state HFAs that can provide resources to PHAs.
http://www.ncsha.org/housing-help
Top 15 Green Building Ideas. This Green Affordable Housing Coalition fact sheet
provides 15 suggestions for greening affordable housing units.
http://www.frontierassoc.net/
greenaffordablehousing/FactSheets/
CAHCfactsheets/12-Creenldeas.pdf
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Housing & Community
Facilities Programs. This Web site provides access to multiple Department of
Agriculture programs that provide financial assistance to local governments for
developing public housing.
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/common/non_
profit_in tro. h tm
U.S. Department of Energy Builders Challenge. DOE has initiated a new program
that calls on the nation's building industry to voluntarily build 220,000 energy-
efficient homes that achieve 30% energy savings by 2012.
http://wwwl.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/
about.html
U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Saver Cost Calculator. This Web
site developed by DOE's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory features a calculator
that provides users with recommended home energy efficiency measures
and estimated costs, savings, payback periods, and rates of return for energy
efficiency investments.
http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/
Washington State Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard. The Evergreen
standard was adopted by the state of Washington to establish minimum energy
efficiency and environmental criteria for affordable housing projects applying
for state Housing Trust Fund assistance.
http://www.cted.wa.gov/site/1027/default.aspx
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The DOE Weatherization
Assistance Program works with local governments and residents to implement
weatherizing measures that improve energy efficiency and occupant health.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/
11. REFERENCES
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Ameresco. 2002. Unprecedented Public Housing
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Available: http://www.ameresco.com/release.asp?ID = 14.
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American Solar Energy Society (ASES). 2007. Renew-
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Delaware State Housing Authority. 2005. Delaware
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Denver. 2007. City Adopts Green Standards for
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Design Advisor. UNDATED. Plaza Apartments—
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Replacement. Available: http://www.efficiencymaine.
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Energy Efficiency In Affordable Housing | Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series
11. REFERENCES
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Ill
(9
State and Local
Climate and Energy Program
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
1200 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20460
WWW.EPA.GOV/STATELOCALCLIMATE/RESOURCES/STRATEGY-GUIDES.HTML
EPA-430-R-09-035
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