A New Generation of Heat Pump Systems Increases Efficiency By Ravi Malhotra Tax Credit Advisor, July 2023 More and more states have regulations and mandates requiring multifamily affordable housing properties to decarbonize (i.e., replace the use of natural gas, oil, or propane with electricity). This can be accomplished by upgrading systems for space and water heating. Electric heat pumps are …
ICAST Experts Weigh In: What We Can Learn from Other Countries About Scaling Heat Pump Technology
Jeff Hargis | ICAST Senior Technical Project Manager Mr. Hargis supports the organization by leveraging his expertise in energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and project management to help drive ICAST’s green retrofit projects. Heat pumps for space and water heating are receiving growing attention in the U.S. as a means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing utility costs. More …
Taking Advantage of Federal Funds to Preserve and Construct Affordable Housing – Lessons Learned from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
If you follow ICAST’s blog, you know we have been hard at work leveraging opportunities created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to scale green solutions in underserved communities. For example, as previously reported, the BIL provided $3.2B for the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) on top of the $1.6B standard WAP …
Green Tech Insights – Why ICAST is Electrified by Heat Pump HVAC
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 …
June 2023 Policy Blog
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 …
ICAST Experts Weigh In: Optimizing Health and Energy Solutions for Affordable Housing
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 …
Leveraging Available Incentives for EV Charging Infrastructure on Multifamily Properties
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 …
HUD Launches New Program to Pay for Multifamily Green Rehab
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 …
TBL Fund Experts Weigh In: Driving Energy Retrofits in Multifamily Affordable Housing
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 …
Leveraging Federal, State, and Utility Incentives to Fund Solar
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 …