Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing - US EPA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIMATE AND ENERGY STRATEGY SERIES

Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing

A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs

Energy Efficiency

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 2011

EPA's Local Government Climate and Energy

Strategy Series

The Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series provides a comprehensive, straightforward overview of greenhouse 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 implementation 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: statelocalclimate/resources/strategy-guides.html.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY Energy Efficiency in Local Government Operations Energy Efficiency in K?12 Schools Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing 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.

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

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

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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