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

• 31% of households are elderly

• 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