Advanced Energy Design Guide for Multifamily Buildings-Achieving Zero Energy (AEDG) is the third in the AEDG zero energy guide series. The design guide outlines strategies for achieving energy targets such as setting measurable goals, hiring design teams committed to those goals, using simulation throughout the design and construction processes and being aware of how process decisions affect energy usage. In this edition, content has been included on renovation and resiliency along with expanded guidance on hot water and high load in multifamily buildings.

This blog post details the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) finalization of Part 1 of a national zero emissions building definition, emphasizing operational carbon emissions. This definition outlines three key criteria for buildings: energy efficiency, no on-site emissions, and the use of all-clean power sources. It aims to enhance public health, lower energy costs, and protect the climate. The post highlights the positive industry and advocate reactions, notes the importance of addressing embodied carbon in future updates, and explains how new and retrofitted homes can meet the definition. It emphasizes the economic feasibility and investment potential in zero-emission buildings and outlines steps for builders to achieve compliance.

New York State and New York City have enacted climate legislation with ambitious energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction targets. New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) impact various housing sector stakeholders, including owners, developers, renters, and financiers. Compliance will require significant investments over the next two decades, especially for high-emission buildings. While market-rate properties can finance upgrades through operating income or debt, affordable housing faces financial challenges.

Recommendations in this paper focus on strategies to make compliance more feasible and accelerate decarbonization for all housing sectors.

This report showcases how cities in the US can implement building decarbonization policies and programs in an equitable manner while also incorporating a broader set of community priorities and needs in the development, delivery, and outcomes of the program. The paper also presents case study examples from cities in the United States that have implemented community-driven buildings retrofit programs and highlights learnings from their programs for other cities.

Focusing on benefits to residents, the Driving toward the Greater Good white paper documents the benefits that accrue from different types of building upgrades and puts forward a framework for incorporating those benefits into retrofit decision making.

Focusing on benefits to residents, the Driving toward the Greater Good white paper documents the benefits that accrue from different types of building upgrades and puts forward a framework for incorporating those benefits into retrofit decision making.

Through a series of workshops in key cities, including Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Atlanta, Sacramento, and D.C., RMI and Wells Fargo partnered to address decarbonizing affordable housing in high-energy burdened markets nationwide. These workshops fostered collaboration among stakeholders, resulting in the development of this comprehensive toolkit. The toolkit equips stakeholders with the necessary resources to optimize the deployment of policies and financing tools, address major capital improvement needs, spur green job growth, and prioritize tenant protections. The resource spotlights current challenges stakeholders face across various markets, and more importantly underscores the collective determination to forge a more prosperous and sustainable future across the nationwide affordable housing stock.

This study analyzes the costs and benefits to LMI households of efficient electrification, including both installation and operation of residential space heating, water heating, and other equipment.

Electrifying residential buildings can decrease energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and lower utility costs. Elevate’s analysis of a Chicago homeowner’s energy bills shows full-building electrification upgrades and weatherization lowered annual energy costs by $1,028 and reduced energy usage by 70%. This case study provides details about the property, the work completed, and the energy and cost savings post-electrification.

Electrifying residential buildings can decrease energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and lower utility costs. Elevate’s analysis of a Chicago homeowner’s energy bills shows that full building electrification upgrades, weatherization, and solar reduced annual energy costs by $746 and lowered energy usage by 70%.