Climate Ready Housing Application Deadline

LEARNING AREA: Community Organizing and Planning
Partner Events
LISC
Online

Location

Online

Description

Program Goal:
The goal of the Climate Ready Housing Program is to support projects that dramatically reduce carbon emissions. We seek to transform affordable housing to be super energy efficient, all-electric, powered by clean renewable energy, and renovated with low-embodied carbon materials. Such work prioritizes the health of residents through better ventilation and the removal of combustion appliances; reduces long-term operating costs; ensures building durability; improves resiliency; and positions affordable housing to comply with new carbon regulations that are already in place or anticipated in the future. MassHousing and Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) are administering the program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). MassHousing and MHP have engaged with LISC to further assist with program administration.

Funding Overview:
Funds from the Commonwealth's Economic Development Bond Bill have been earmarked for sustainable and climate resilient affordable housing. Year One represents a $1.6 million investment that will be leveraged competitively to support 2-3 highly rated projects that represent achievable and replicable approaches to very low carbon emissions focused on existing building renovations (as outlined below), with new construction projects to be potentially included in future years. Year One funds are expected to be committed to projects in FY2022. 

Program funds may support the following uses: 
Unfinanced incremental costs attributable to the DER or ZOT solution.
Additional reimbursable costs may include DER or ZOT analysis, integrated design meetings, and climate resiliency assessment.
Eligibility Guidelines:
The Climate Ready Housing Program is available for public, nonprofit, and for-profit multifamily affordable housing sponsors. At least 25% of housing occupants must have incomes not exceeding 60% of the area median income (AMI).

We are targeting site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 30-35 kBtu/SF/year or below and an air tightness maximum of 0.12 CFM50/SF (whole building metric).

The DER design solution or the ZOT implementation plan must include the following:

Substantial envelope improvements to minimize heating and cooling demands;
Heat pump-based technology for space heating and cooling;
Energy or heat recovery ventilation technology; 
Plan for electrification of domestic hot water systems (strongly encouraged);
Plan for electrification of cooking appliances;
Serious consideration of material decisions related to embodied carbon; and
Maximization of renewable energy systems and integration into project’s capital approach. 

Registration fee

Free