Feds Take Active Role in Greening of Apartments
The GREEN Act Reintroduced
According to Multi Housing News Online, Colorado Representative Ed Perlmutter has reintroduced legislation (H.R. 2336) that would bring energy efficiency to the single and multifamily housing markets. Mr. Perlmutter's district, located on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, gets about 300 days of sun every year(and a whole lot of wind), so Denver apartments are sure to be prime candidates for renewable energy sources.
From the Congressman's floor statement:
“The GREEN Act would take steps toward addressing energy consumption within housing by establishing minimum energy efficiency standards for HUD and providing incentives to the private sector to move our housing and building stock to energy efficient standards."
HUD announces Funding for Energy Efficient Projects
Additionally, it sounds as though HUD has already responded to demands for greater energy-efficiency. HUD received 4 billion in stimulus money; $2.95 billion was allocated by formula (according to state and city populations and needs) and $995 million will be distributed by a competitive grant process, whereby public housing authorities will compete for grants. (10 million goes to HUD for administrative costs, a little something for the effort)
The revised Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), which is HUD's guidelines on how to apply for grants and summary of those projects that are eligible, includes a 4th section, for the “creation of Energy Efficient, Green Communities." (page 12 of NOFA) This will allow Public Housing Authorities to use stimulus money to make low income apartments and other public housing more energy efficient.
Even if Rep. Perlmutter's perseverance does not yield higher standards for PHA's housing (like last year's attempt) at least the government is pushing a green apartments agenda.
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