Public Housing Authorities: Green Innovators
Public Housing - 1.2 Million Units • 2 out of 3 units are in multi-family buildings • 60% of buildings are over 40 years old • Major footprint in cities
The People – 2.2 Million Residents •
Critical housing resource for seniors and persons with disabilities
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31% of households are elderly
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34% of all households are headed by people with disabilities
Families • Two out of every five residents are children • The average household income is $13,500 • 50% of all households leave public housing within five years
Public Housing Energy Costs • Total operating expenses in 2008 – $6.4 billion • Housing authorities spent more than $2 billion in energy costs in 2008 • Utility expenses make up 25% - 30% of all public housing operating expenses
HUD Utility Reimbursements • Utility reimbursement from HUD is based on average of last three years • Make improvements and after three years your reimbursement goes down by the amount of savings • Unless improvements pay back in three years, there is no additional revenue from energy consumption savings
Creating Incentives for Green • Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) • HOPE VI • Choice Neighborhoods • Moving to Work • ARRA Funding
Energy Performance Contracts • PHAs receive up-front loans based on guaranteed savings from energy service companies (ESCOs) • PHAs funding can be based on the previous three-year average consumption for up to 20 years • Most of savings pay back the loan
Energy Performance Contracts Scorecard • Since 2000, 213 EPCs in one third of all public housing units • Total investment: $730 million • Guaranteed annual savings: $118 million
Tremont Pointe Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority • High-efficiency lighting • Water conservation • Weatherization to building envelopes • Energy-efficient furnaces, hot water heaters and central heating systems
HOPE VI • Applicants receive bonus points in funding competition for green measures • Since 2005, every HOPE VI application has proposed an array of green measures • Many HOPE VI sites have achieved LEED or other green standards certification • 73% of HOPE VI sites use energy star products
High Point – Breathe Easy Homes Seattle Housing Authority
• Shows how construction and design can dramatically impact health outcomes • Reduced emergency room visits by 60% in families • Green measures reduced electricity consumption by 40% and water by 54% compared to similar units
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 0f 2009 • Doubled annual funding for public housing capital investment to $4 billion • Includes $600 million in competitive grants for innovative green projects such as photovoltaic panels, geothermal heating, green roofs and wind turbines • Recovery Act funds rehabbed 245,00 units • Preliminary data show that for every $1 million in Recovery Act public housing capital spending, 26 jobs were created or saved
Paisano Green Community El Paso Housing Authority
• LEED Platinum community standards • Wind turbines, solar panels and chimneys estimated to provide all necessary power for the community
Boston Housing Authority
• Replacing outdated underground fuel tanks with modern spill-proof, environmentally compliant tanks
City of Los Angeles Housing Authority
• $25 million for sprinklers, irrigation systems and gas lines to conserve water and energy
What’s Next? • • • •
New capital investment in public housing Transforming rental assistance proposals Hope VI/Choice Neighborhoods Expand use of energy performance contracts • New partnerships