Elevating Affordable Housing on the Path to Decarbonization
The IRA presents an immense opportunity, but delivering those resources where they are most needed is no easy task given systemic barriers that often prevent low-income and communities of color from applying for and adopting green energy opportunities. In this blog post, Decarbonization Fellow Kiera Quigley explores why new funds and programs "must center the needs and voices of environmental justice communities, or threaten to leave them behind."
IRA Program Overview
This chart shows a few IRA programs that are most relevant to affordable housing and includes summaries of the programs, funding level, expected number of awards and application deadlines. It is intended to give an overview of what is available and provides links that lead to more in-depth information.
From Roadmaps to Software: Tools to Help Leverage the IRA
Multifamily housing accounts for 20% of greenhouse gases. That makes taking advantage of unprecedented incentives and funding via the Inflation Reduction Act critical. This blog post previews new tools from Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF) and Cadence OneFive to help the affordable housing sector unlock the potential of this landmark investment in affordable housing and energy efficiency.
Solar Success: How the IRA Will Help Community Solar Gardens Power Affordable Housing
For low- to moderate-income residents in multifamily housing who do not have access to a roof, do not own their property, or live in shaded areas, community solar creates an opportunity to access renewable energy and lower utility costs. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) presents an extraordinary moment to invigorate this growing area of solar while prioritizing communities with the greatest need. This blog post explores the opportunity presented by community solar and strategies for increasing residents' access to the benefits of solar power.
Decarbonizing Multifamily Housing: How State Finance Agencies Are Gearing Up for the IRA
As the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rolls out, housing agencies around the country are preparing to deploy additional funds, incentivizing developers to incorporate green designs, and boosting cooperation with state energy offices. This blog post reviews how several state housing agencies are preparing to help the multifamily sector realize the benefits of the IRA.
Green bank' partnerships center affordable housing in climate action
Writing in ImpactAlpha, HPN President and CEO Robin Huges explores the question: “What could we achieve if the affordable housing sector was at the forefront of climate solutions in the United States?”
IRA Bootcamps
National Housing Trust (NHT) hosted a series of sessions for Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) and multifamily affordable housing providers to offer peer support and personalized learning opportunities for leveraging IRA funding. The virtual sessions ran from May - December 2023, and users can access the content from each session on NHT's website.
Energy Service Agreements for Deep Efficiency and Electrification Retrofits of Affordable Multifamily Housing in California
Over half of California’s 3.2 million multifamily units were constructed before energy efficiency standards, resulting in poor performance and high greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, affordable multifamily housing must improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and lower tenant utility bills while enhancing quality of life. Yet building owners face many challenges to improving the performance of their buildings. This report covers the role certain types of energy service agreements, combined with federal incentives, can play in scaling affordable multifamily retrofits.
Designing Successful State Energy Office IRA Rebate Programs
State energy offices (SEOs) are moving fast to launch $8.8 billion in rebates funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for home energy efficiency and electrification to save families money, increase comfort, and reduce pollution. Those rebate programs are especially important for low-to-moderate income households and multifamily buildings. This presentation by Just Solutions, Energy Innovation and RMI highlights key considerations for both SEOs and their implementation partners, including utilizing data to set program objectives, offering hands-on support for participants and contractors, ensuring durable retrofit market momentum, and facilitating stakeholder involvement to inform solutions. Equity priorities will be a common thread throughout the webinar, including guidance for serving affordable multifamily housing.
How to Upgrade and Electrify Millions of US Homes and Buildings
The White House and Department of Energy (DOE) recently laid the foundation for two monumental home energy upgrade initiatives: the Home Efficiency Rebates program, which offers up to $8,000 to households, and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program, which provides up to $14,000. These rebate programs — made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act — represent one of the largest-ever federal investments to decarbonize the US building stock and help Americans pay for home efficiency improvements such as better insulation, all-electric heat pumps, and induction stoves.