The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced that $25 million is available through HUD’s new Multifamily Energy Efficiency Pilot program. Once awarded, these grants will help develop new innovative approaches for multifamily residential properties to reduce their energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, while saving money for the residents, property owners and taxpayers.
“HUD is extremely excited about this pilot program because it aligns with the goals of the Administration to create green jobs and build sustainable communities,” says Acting Federal Housing Commissioner Carol Galante. “The innovations that flow from this pilot program will serve as models to create future industry standards in energy efficiency.
“Rather than tell applicants what we want to see, we are asking the private sector to develop new innovative approaches to create jobs and help people save energy and save money. Since these grants will be complemented by private capital, the investors will also have a unique opportunity to become leaders in helping make affordable multifamily homes greener,” says Theodore Toon, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for HUD’s Office of Affordable Housing Preservation.
The goal of the pilot program is to develop ideas and mechanisms that could potentially be replicated nationally, as well as help create industry standards in the home energy efficiency retrofit market. In addition, the pilot program will create a public/private partnership as a result of capital investments from private industries and create green jobs in construction, property management, and technical analysis (e.g. energy audits and building commissioning), including opportunities for low income residents.
For more information visit www.hud.gov.
