Green/Sustainable Housing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is launching Water Wednesdays. The project intends to help HUD project officers and HUD grantees incorporate water efficiency into their programs and projects.

Congress passed a bill that will implement new measures to encourage building owners and tenants to use more cost-effective energy efficiency and water efficiency measures. The bill is a more modest version of a larger efficiency bill sponsored by Senators Portman and Shaheen.

NH&RA engaged Summerhill, an international energy efficiency research and marketing firm, to conduct follow-up surveys with attendees from the first four Preservation Through Energy Efficiency Road Shows. Through written surveys and follow-up interviews, Summerhill analyzed the efficacy of the Road Shows, identified the steps participants have taken following the events and provided insight into the […]

Public opinion research demonstrates widespread support for energy efficiency among Americans. Yet, research also shows that in the context of broader energy issues, energy efficiency emerges as a relatively low priority compared to energy sources like wind, solar, natural gas and more. Those working to advance energy efficiency policies and practices have struggled to capitalize […]

This presentation explored challenges and opportunities in achieving energy savings in multifamily buildings from an “on the ground” perspective. Using case studies and examples from recent CEE research and energy-efficiency programs, this presentation provides an overview of technologies and strategies that have proven to be effective and marketable energy-efficiency measures in Minnesota multifamily buildings, including: […]

U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced a bill to encourage energy efficiency in housing that is subsidized by the federal government. The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2015 (S. 720) authorizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s pay-for-success (PFS) demonstration to improve the energy efficiency of government-supported multifamily properties.

Representatives from more than 100 of the nation’s top affordable housing organizations gathered at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, last week for the 2015 NH&RA Annual Meeting. The event’s panel sessions created dialogues on what’s challenging – and exciting – affordable housing developers, illuminated the products and people who will shape the tax credit transactions in upcoming year, offered options to properties approaching year 15, and surveyed key changes to tax credit programs and legislation.

The article below points out how the utilities are fighting the solar industry by increasing their demand charges to compensate for customers generating their own power from solar. As some states and utilities define the rules of the game other states will follow suit. It also mentions how the regulations being in a state of […]

President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge welcomed six new multifamily housing authority and owners. AHEAD, Inc (Littleton, NH), Gragg Cardona Partners (Washington, DC), Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (Birmingham, AL), Newark Housing Authority (Newark, NJ), The DeBruler Co. (Libertyville, IL), and Windsor Locks Housing Authority (Windsor Locks, CT) all announced they are joining the Challenge.

U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and California Governor Jerry Brown announced a plan to expand financing for energy efficiency and solar energy in multifamily housing. Their plan includes unlocking property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for multifamily housing in California, establishing the California Master-Metered Multifamily Finance Pilot Project, and engaging philanthropy and the financial sector in supporting renewable energy in affordable housing.

Owners of Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties in Colorado now have the option of basing utility allowances on energy, water, and sewage consumption.

This paper focuses on how efficiency upgrades affect the financial performance of multifamily buildings. It also provides a replicable methodology for similar research to be carried out on Elevate Energy’s growing portfolio as well as other multifamily buildings nation-wide. Increasing the energy efficiency of multifamily buildings not only helps owners improve building operation, but also […]