Success Story Archive

Success Stories are listed in alphabetical order: A - L M - Z

Melrose Commons II
A new multifamily property in Bronx, New York, boasts high performance levels and Energy Star certification. The buildings, designed to be energy efficient, use even less energy than predicted during the design stage. The project received HUD's Platinum Award for Excellence in the 20th Annual Best in American Living Award (BALA) competition, as well as the the Northeast Residential Green Building Awards sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). According to Steven Winter Associates, which monitored the building for DOE's Building America
program and the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), "the buildings consume almost 80% less energy per square foot to heat than the
average affordable housing in New York City, and almost 90% less than the average new or gut rehabilitated housing

Milwaukee HOPE VI Project Named One of America’s Best New Developments
Last fall, the Sierra Club named the Milwaukee, Wisconsin HOPE VI development, Highland Park, one of the nation’s best new developments. Highland Park is a $19M project that includes both a mid-rise apartment building and single-family homes. Highland Gardens, a mid-rise apartment building in the community, features the nation’s largest residential green roof, which is covered with plants. Besides the aesthetic value, green roofs offer lower energy consumption, longer roof life, storm-water reduction, and improved air quality. The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) estimates that the roof will lower the building’s cooling costs by 12% and heating costs by 10%.

To learn more about Highland Park, contact Glen Radford at HACM at (414) 286-8230 or gradfo@hacm.org, or view the press release.

Nebraska Energy Office: Affordable and Efficient at No Extra Cost

The Nebraska Energy Office (NEO) completed a prototype home that demonstrates that affordable housing can be built to be 40% more energy efficient than a conventional home of the same size at no additional cost. NEO and building science professionals from the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) used a systems engineering approach that considers how features of one component in the house can greatly affect others. For example, a well-insulated, airtight shell allows for a smaller heating or cooling system. These savings can then be reinvested in other energy-saving upgrades, such as high-performance windows, that further reduce energy use and costs. Other techniques employed in the Nebraska house were:

• Value-engineered framing
• Home sealing
• A plenum truss, which allows all ductwork to fit inside the conditioned space in the attic
• Combined insulation techniques

New York City Housing Authority
The New York Power Authority replaced more than 180,000 old, inefficient refrigerators in the New York City Housing Authority with smaller, more efficient units that use just one-third the energy of the older models. This effort saves a whopping $7.2 million annually in electricity costs. As well, the new refrigerators rely on a more environmentally friendly refrigerant. And, an appliance recycler in Syracuse removes all salvageable components from the older units and recycles millions of pounds of aluminum, copper, steel and cardboard.

Pacific Gas & Electric Multifamily Housing Clothes Washer Program
A program of Portland General Electric and Web Service Company, Inc., funded by the Energy Trust of Oregon, is supplying approximately 750 energy and water efficient Maytag Neptune® washing machines to multifamily facilities. The top-of-the-line washers can save the apartment owners 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electric power and 10 million gallons of water annually. The combined electric, water and sewer bill savings could reach $185,000 a year.

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Goes Green
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is enjoying a cool summer in its new resource-efficient headquarters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The building is expected to earn a Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council-the second highest level in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system.

The building's light beige exterior and white roof help reduce the "heat island effect" common to dense urban areas. Because the building reflects heat and is well insulated, it also has a lower air-conditioning load, which cuts energy consumption-and energy bills.

To save water, the building includes a 10,000-gallon rainwater storage tank for toilet flushing and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Other resource-efficient features include 25% recycled materials such as steel, concrete, and carpets, and use of renewable resources such as bamboo floors. Eighty percent of the waste generated during construction was recycled.

For more information, contact Rick Nichols at 717-780-3854 or rnichols@phfa.org.

Philadelphia Housing Authority Changes a Light
In October of 2006 the Philadelphia Housing Authority took initiative to make its energy efficiency programs more successful— and, at the same time, change the world— by participating in the “Change a Light, Change the World” Campaign. The campaign, launched jointly by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has already convinced millions of Americans to change the traditional incandescent light bulbs in their homes to more energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Likewise it has presented the opportunity for Philadelphia to successfully and affordably pursue energy efficient policies.

Pledging to change every single bulb in its properties to an ENERGY STAR CFL, the Philadelphia agency took on a great responsibility; currently the fourth largest public housing authority, they manages an estimated 20,000 units housing tens of thousands of residents. By changing from incandescent lights to CFLs, Philadelphia will save millions of dollars over the next few years in reduced energy costs. And as its website states, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is indeed setting an “example…for other governmental agencies and the general public.”

The organization’s initiative has not gone unnoticed; in 2006 HUD Deputy Regional Director Brenda Laroche stated that HUD is “especially proud of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and its efforts to make its public housing units energy efficient.” HAs, utility companies, and other regional players can look to the example of the Philadelphia Housing Authority to see how they too can successfully rally behind the “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign.

Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority
A water-efficiency program implemented at the Portsmouth (Ohio) Metropolitan Housing Authority is saving $100,000 in water costs each year. The program installed low-flush toilet and low-flow shower heads, as well as repairing any leaking faucets, in 776 units at 10 sites.

Pueblo Del Sol—Los Angeles, California
A new mixed-income housing development in California replaces an old, worn-out property in the largest public housing revitalization project in the state. Part of HUD Hope VI program, Pueblo Del Sol provides 470 affordable housing units, as well as a number of important social and recreational services. Energy-efficiency features, such as appliances and heating/cooling systems, contribute to the property's affordability to its residents. The project resulted from a public/private partnership between the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, The Related Cos. of California, McCormack Baron Salazar, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Some $52 million in private equity was generated through the sale of Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Richmond Housing Authority
The Richmond (Virginia) Housing Authority (RHA) is saving nearly $800,000 annually on its water bills after installing water- and energy-saving devices in its housing. The Authority installed 3,350 new water-saving 1.6-gallon toilets; 6,700 faucet aerators; and 3,350 showerheads in its tenant units. Other efforts at RHA include an energy-efficient lighting retrofit, refrigerator replacement, and boiler replacement.

Rising Star Housing Authority
Rising natural gas prices motivated the Rising Star (Texas) PHA to explore more efficient technologies that would lower energy costs, but limited funds dictated that improvements would have to be made a few units at a time. Rising Star then discovered the Housing Partnership Program, managed by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). This program encourages community and residential involvement in energy efficiency projects through partnerships with local organizations. The PHA submitted a proposal to SECO and was awarded $77,000 to replace its outdated wall-mounted gas furnaces with heat pumps and 12-SEER central air conditioners in all 22 units. The systems, installed in July 2005, have significantly enhanced occupant comfort; residents have reported that living conditions have greatly improved.

Riverwalk Point—Spokane, Washington
Riverwalk Point is starting out as a good neighbor, illustrating the potential of energy-conservation technologies that benefit those who most need them—the low-income. The new 52-unit development near the Spokane River uses only half the energy of a conventionally built complex. The energy reduction is a result of a variety of measures, such as structural insulated panels, fluorescent lighting, ENERGY STAR® labeled appliances, and energy-efficient heating systems. Despite the dramatic reduction in energy consumption, the energy upgrades increased construction costs by only 10 percent. Energy conservation education is provided to each tenant, an important step in ensuring that energy savings are maximized over time.

Salisbury Housing Authority
The Salisbury (North Carolina) Housing Authority has completed the energy efficiency renovation of a 21-building complex for seniors and those with disabilities. The upgrades included the installation of new heating and cooling systems—in a complex that had been without air conditioning—and new insulation. The Salisbury Housing Authority has also assigned a team to work one-on-one with public housing residents who have excessive energy bills.

St. Paul Public Housing Authority
When it was time to design a new office building, the St. Paul Public Housing Authority was determined to reduce operating costs. Green building principles led the way.

The new 65,000-square-foot building is aligned on an east-west axis to reduce heating and cooling demands, capture low winter sun, and provide shade from the summer sun. Low-e glass on the building’s south side, and metal sunshades on the south, east, and west reduce solar gain, while glazing moderates heat and light levels. Throughout the building, high-efficiency mechanical systems, including a variable air volume system, energy-efficient motors, automatic temperature reset controls, and an energy management system, reduce energy use during peak-demand hours.

For more information on this project, read the article from Building Operating Management, "Adding Up To Green Design".

The Solaire
A new residential high-rise building located in Battery Park City, New York, is the first new residential construction completed in downtown Manhattan since the events of 9/11, and is the first to earn the state's green building tax credit. Compared to a building constructed to meet the minimum requirements of the building code, the 27-story building uses 35 percent less energy and has a 67 percent lower electrical demand during peak hours. The building also includes a solar energy system, a rooftop garden fed with storm water, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, healthy indoor air quality and energy performance, and more.

St. Louis Housing Authority Invests In ENERGY STAR^® and Teaches Residents to Minimize Energy Use
Money saving opportunities are lost when your residents don't follow energy-saving practices. Investing in energy efficiency will go a long way toward lowering your energy costs, but your investments will have a much greater impact when combined with resident education.

The St. Louis, Missouri Housing Authority uses ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators to cut energy costs. Additionally, all residents of the authority's Renaissance Place at Grand HOPE VI development must complete an orientation before moving into their unit. The orientation addresses common ways for residents to minimize energy use, and efficient use of appliances and HVAC (i.e., adjusting vents for the cooling and heating seasons, etc.).

With ENERGY STAR, you can save up to 30% on energy bills per year. [Learn how]. To learn more about the combination of ENERGY STAR and education at Renaissance Place at Grand, contact Marian Stewart at (314) 286-4269 or mstewart@slha.org.

Summit Plaza Complex
In 1974, HUD launched the "total energy" initiative to demonstrate that combined heat and power (CHP) systems could provide power, heating, and cooling to HUD multifamily properties more efficiently than other systems, and also reduce imported resources. The CHP concept — called Modular Integrated Utility Systems at that time — was applied to Summit Plaza, a six-acre complex in Jersey City, as part of Operation Breakthrough. This ambitious project had the goal of developing and demonstrating major innovations in the field of industrialized building techniques for use by the housing industry. While cost savings are said to be difficult to analyze, the system saves 160,000 gallons of fuel oil annually. Project representatives say the reliability and performance of the Summit Plaza CHP system has been very good.

Tacoma Housing Authority Installs Energy-Efficient Products, Saves $150 Per Unit Annually
Residents of the new HOPE VI development, Salishan, are saving money thanks to energy-saving features and some help from the power company.

The Tacoma, Washington Housing Authority expects that the development’s ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and vinyl-clad insulated windows will save residents an average of $150 per year in utility costs. To save on lighting costs, 50% of the lighting is fluorescent. In addition, the THA has partnered with its local power company, Tacoma Power, to hold meetings promoting the use of fluorescent lighting fixtures. Tacoma Power has provided compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to residents.

The THA is applying for a 2-star rating from Built Green. A Built Green home typically has lower operating costs because of more efficient energy features, such as extra insulation, efficient lighting and appliances, and the use of natural daylighting techniques.

For more information, contact Tina Hansen at (253) 207-4434 or thansen@tacomahousing.org.

Yakama Nation Housing Authority Invests in Energy Conservation
Building America's Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) has embarked on a landmark partnership with the Yakama Nation Housing Authority (YNHA) to improve the quality of housing on the reservation. Major rehab will be conducted on 25 rental homes in the Adams View development. The homes, built in the 1980s, need major renovation after many years of overcrowding and wear and tear.Based on CARB's recommendations, YNHA recently opted to purchase its own equipment for insulating homes with sprayed cellulose. Using recycled cardboard cellulose insulation should greatly improve the efficiency of many existing buildings on the reservation, limiting air infiltration and - most importantly - lowering energy bills for low-income residents. To learn more about how and where to insulate, visit http://rehabadvisor.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=9478.To learn more about this project, contact Don Clem, Senior Architect, Steven Winter Associates, Inc., at 203-857-0200 x218 or donclem@swinter.com.