Success Stories

Housing agencies across the country are undertaking water and energy efficiency projects to reduce costs while improving tenant comfort. Examples of successful projects, involving a variety of measures and funding mechanisms, are highlighted below and in the Success Story Archive.

Success Story

2009 ENERGY STAR National Award Winners

City of Topeka, Kansas

The City of Topeka, Kansas was recognized for promoting energy efficiency in affordable housing during projects in which the City constructed ENERGY STAR qualified homes, conducted public outreach and education on energy efficiency and provided energy efficiency education to contractors.

The City also required all that all housing funded by their Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development to be ENERGY STAR qualified. The City conducted a study which compared the utility costs of ENERGY STAR qualified and non-ENERGY STAR qualified homes and found that ENERGY STAR qualified homes use 57% less electricity and save 45% on electricity bills. The Mayor of Topeka also proclaimed October as “ENERGY STAR Awareness Month”. For additional information on this program contact Warren Woodruff, Rehabilitation Supervisor at wwoodruff@topeka.org.

Housing Authority of Ithaca New York

The Housing Authority entered into an EPC with HUD in an effort to consume less energy, reduce water usage, save money, improve the comfort of tenants, and protect the environment. They also installed significant energy savings measures affecting 341 multifamily public housing units at its Titus Towers and Family Sites properties. The savings for these properties is projected to be 600 million Btu and 37,600 kWh annually at Family Sites and 2,200 billion Btu and 255, 000 kWh annually at Titus Towers. For additional information contact Brenda C. Westfall, Executive Director at brendaw@ithaca.com.

Pioneer Presidents’ Place, Salina, Kansas

Pioneer Presidents’ Place, a historic restoration project converted a 1920’s junior high school into affordable senior housing. Energy conservation was a key component in the restoration project and the project received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The project incorporated high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, use of recycled materials, on-site rainwater collection for landscape use, replacement of asphalt to concrete parking to reduce heat radiation, and finishing the interior with low-emission, vapor-reducing paint.

Visit the Success Story Archive for an alphabetical list of additional success stories.