Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Blog”
The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the availability of landmark funding through the new Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) to support retrofits for HUD-assisted multifamily affordable housing (MFAH) properties. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided HUD with approximately $837M in grant funding and $4B in loan authority for the GRRP. This program simultaneously invests in utility efficiency, renewable …
by Ravi Malhotra NH&RA Tax Credit Advisor, June 2023 As demand for electric vehicles (EVs) intensifies, multifamily (MF) owners and operators are increasingly forced to explore their EV charging options. EV sales have soared, increasing by 67% from 2021 to 2022, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) has adopted an International Code Council provision requiring apartment communities to provide EV charging …
Max Wilkinson | Healthy Homes Program Manager Mr. Wilkinson helps design and shepherd ICAST’s efforts to improve home health for tenants in multifamily affordable housing. ICAST’s goal with every multifamily retrofit is to increase home health, safety, comfort, and affordability for low- and moderate-income tenants. We have a custom, whole-building approach—in other words, we identify and deliver the best solutions …
Heat pumps for space conditioning and water heating are an increasingly important part of ICAST’s efforts to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits in the multifamily housing market. Heat pump HVAC systems provide heating and cooling, transferring heat from one area to another rather than generating heat. They can be several times more efficient than conventional space heating and cooling …
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* Environmental Protection Agency Releases Framework for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new details on implementing the $27B Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Funds for the GGRF were provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); this Program will leverage public investment with private capital to finance clean energy projects …
It is understandably challenging for cost-constrained multifamily affordable housing (MFAH) property owners and managers to spend their carefully budgeted dollars on unfamiliar green tech (e.g., heat pump-based HVAC) vs. familiar technologies with lower upfront costs. While “going green” can be expensive, traditional or “business as usual” retrofits have limited benefits. They may solve an immediate problem (e.g., addressing/replacing failed HVAC …
Lee Alexander | Finance Manager Mr. Alexander supports TBL Fund by developing and executing corporate strategic initiatives relating to risk and compliance to facilitate growth and to drive process improvements and operational efficiencies. A blog published through the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Better Buildings Solution Center discussed the value of leveraging financing and renovation events to drive low-income multifamily housing …
By Ravi Malhotra / Tax Credit Advisor May 2023 With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the business case for solar-for-multifamily affordable housing is the best it’s ever been. Multifamily properties can leverage Solar Photovoltaic (PV) (and energy storage) to cut utility bills and/or bridge financing gaps. The IRA increases the baseline Solar Investment Tax Credit …
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* U.S. Government Draft Budget Proposals Released for Fiscal Year 2024 In the President’s Budget Message, President Biden states his budget goals to continue lowering costs like affordable housing, home energy bills, and more. Budget Highlights include: Department of Energy (DOE): $11.9B in climate and clean energy research development, demonstration, and deployment to achieve …
Case Study: Energy Retrofits in New Mexico By Mark Fogarty / NH&RA Issue: April 2023 Solar Panels Come with Home Improvements Residents at three public housing authority properties for Santa Fe County in New Mexico are happy to see solar panels installed on the roofs of their projects, as the arrays also come with 16 additional upgrades for the tenants. The …