By Ravi Malhotra / NH&RA Issue: April 2023 The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) $3.2 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). This is on top of the ongoing ~$1.6 billion allocation (the standard WAP allocation independent of the BIL money for WAP) over the next five years. The BIL funds allow for some …
Clean Energy Financing Insights – Why Green Retrofits Offer Better Bang for the Buck
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 …
Case Study: Energy Retrofits in New Mexico
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 …
Green Retrofits Signal the Future in Cities’ Push Towards Decarbonization
Green Retrofits Signal the Future in Cities’ Push Towards Decarbonization By Abram Mamet / NH&RA April 2023 Green Retrofitting in Practice Well-considered and meaningfully executed retrofits have become increasingly important as communities across the country seek out effective climate resilience strategies. States like Massachusetts, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania are at the forefront of that movement, having each enacted legislation or …
ICAST Experts Weigh In: Available Federal Tax Credits, Incentives, and Grants for Underserved Communities
ICAST Experts Weigh In: Available Federal Tax Credits, Incentives, and Grants for Underserved Communities By Ravi Malhotra: Founder and President| Mr. Malhotra’s focus is finding financially sustainable models to solve the affordable housing crisis while tackling climate change. He manages the design and implementation of all ICAST programs and initiatives. Kristen Cheriegate: Senior Policy Analyst | Ms. Cheriegate navigates ICAST through …
Decarbonization and Electrification
Decarbonization and Electrification By Pamela Martineau / Issue: June 2022 NATIONAL HOUSING & REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION Efforts in Affordable Housing Still in Early Stages Affordable housing communities across the nation have much to gain from decarbonization and electrification, yet unfamiliarity with new technologies, the high cost of retrofitting buildings, and complicated access to funding sources and incentives have slowed the conversion. These issues are among …
ICAST founder and president Ravi Malhotra discusses decarbonization at multifamily affordable projects in New York and Utah
Case Study: Getting Ahead of the Decarbonization Curve By Mark Fogarty / Issue: June 2022 Projects in New York and Salt Lake City Save Tons on Carbon Annually Decarbonization, changing from fossil fuels to electric, is a word affordable multifamily asset managers are going to need to learn in a hurry, if they don’t know it already. And that’s true even if the electricity …