Energy Collaborative Reaches Milepost
Energy Efficiency For All (EEFA) recently hit a milestone by assisting more than 100,000 affordable apartments receive energy upgrades.
Launched in 2014, EEFA is a collaborative led by the National Housing Trust (NHT), Natural Resources Defense Council, Energy Foundation, and Elevate Energy. So far, more than 216,000 renters have benefitted from the upgrades.
“We recognized that energy-efficiency programs, especially those that are provided through utilities, were not reaching the affordable multifamily housing sector,” says Todd Nedwick, housing and energy-efficiency policy director at NHT. “We needed to do some advocacy to open up those programs so affordable housing owners can access them and increase the amount of investment that’s being made into the energy efficiency of affordable housing.”
EEFA’s approach has involved local and state coalition building, so it has about 50 partners across the 12 states it is active in at this time. The environmental, energy-efficiency, affordable housing, and consumer rights organizations work together to change policies and improve programs so affordable housing has more access to resources, according to Nedwick.
“Through the course of the last five or six years, we have been able to count about half a billion dollars of new funding that has come or will be coming available for energy-efficiency improvements,” he says. “That includes about 20 or so new or improved programs that have launched as a result of EEFA’s advocacy.”
In many cases, building owners have been able to make lighting upgrades, an effective way of reducing energy usage. Rebates for energy-efficient appliances have been another incentive.
In Minneapolis, Project for Pride in Living reduced its energy costs by 19% at Elliot Apartments, a 1900s-era, 24-unit apartment building. Improvements made at the property include the installation of a new, efficient heating system and new hot water heaters. Key lighting upgrades were also made, including placing sensors in storage, mechanical, and laundry rooms, according to EEFA.
Nedwick and others behind the collaborative hope to engage more owners to take advantage of the available programs as well as grow the effort to new communities.
ION Energy Introduces Fund for LIHTC Developments
ION Energy Solutions is increasing its efforts to install smart water meters in affordable housing developments.
The firm recently introduced the ION Fund to help owners of LIHTC properties finance the installation of its technology at their properties. The Reinvestment Fund, a community development financial institution based in Washington, D.C., is an investor in the fund, says Jack Howell, senior managing partner at ION.
The terms of the financing is in the form of a service agreement, meaning it is not an asset or liability on the balance sheet and it is paid monthly just like other utility expenses, according to Howell.
“It's typically designed for a 60-month agreement paid through monthly electronic payments,” he says. “There is no prepayment penalty, and it is transferrable or assignable if the property is sold. The other option is that the buyer can accelerate the payments to complete the terms and pay it off.”
ION has installed more than 30,000 meters in about 15,000 affordable units across the country.
The company’s smart water meters detect water leaks in real time. ION’s technology allows property managers to monitor water usage and receive alerts. “If just 10% of your units leak, it can easily double your water bill,” Howell says.
Addressing leaks often saves 30% to 70% off a property’s water bill in spite of low-flow plumbing devices being installed, reports Howell.
The meters cost approximately $400 to $600 per unit, depending on the number of meters installed. That’s notably more than the typical off-the-shelf meters, but those devices are for billing only and don’t offer smart data, he says.
According to Howell, 90% of LIHTC water audits demonstrate a 24-month or less payback using ION.
“Our smart meter data performance is based on actionable data fixing leaks and waste—nothing to do with billing tenants for their consumption,” he says.
The firm recently launched a new platform for its data with the help of DOMO, a publicly traded business intelligence company.
Enterprise and IWBI Team on New Certification
Enterprise Community Partners and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) have joined forces to establish criteria that promotes the health and well-being of affordable housing residents.
Working with IWBI, Enterprise is creating “a best-in-class certification pathway within its Green Communities Criteria, focused on making well-designed homes affordable as well as advancing health outcomes for low- and moderate-income communities.”
With the integration of key aspects of WELL 2.0 into the criteria, affordable housing developers will have a flexible roadmap for achieving higher levels of health and wellness benefits that are firmly rooted in the latest scientific evidence and design best practices. Beginning next year, affordable housing that certifies to Enterprise’s Green Communities 2020 Criteria will also be certified to WELL, announced the organizations in October.
HELP USA Plans Green Housing Development
HELP USA is working on a new development that will include a 195-unit family shelter, 71 units of supportive housing, and 255 units of affordable housing in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The organization is planning to redevelop its 1987-era shelter to also feature a daycare center, support services, office space, youth program space, as well as community-oriented retail and flexible space for future growth of services and programs.
The development, which is still seeking its final approvals, recently received a $1 million Buildings of Excellence award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, recognizing the project as a low-carbon-emitting multifamily building. Two of the buildings will be designed to Passive House standards. The architect is Curtis + Ginsberg.
It was among 28 multifamily developments receiving $18 million under the first round of the competition. Bright Power is providing sustainability services for the project, including ensuring that the different systems work.
