Costs and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing:

1
Achieving Sustainable Rehabilitation
The Role of Retrofits and Strategies for
Reducing Energy Use in Existing Affordable
Housing
Lauren Baumann Senior AssociateNew Ecology,
Inc. Cambridge, MA
Green Homes and Sustainable Communities

July 19, 2007
2
The Role of Retrofits/Rehabilitations

• They are merging areas on the spectrum of
  existing building improvement
• Retrofit-------------------------------Rehabilitat
  ion
• Extensive Retrofit versus Slight
  Rehabilitation?

3
The Role of Retrofits/Rehabilitations

• Why are Retrofits and Rehabilitations Important?
• Environmental Impacts
• Using existing structures saves natural resources
• Using existing structures prevents green space
  development
• Provides an opportunity for remediation of
  polluted sites
• Existing structures are generally in proximity of
  amenities
• Improvements in efficiency reduce the negative
  environmental impacts of energy use and global
  climate change

4
The Role of Retrofits/Rehabilitations

• Why are Retrofits and Rehabilitations Important?
• Community Impacts
• Can contribute to the revitalization of depressed
  communities
• Economic Impacts
• Can reduce construction costs because of existing
  infrastructure
• Will reduce operating costs if rehabilitation or
  retrofit is done with an eye toward energy and
  water efficiency

5
The Role of Retrofits/Rehabs

• Why YOU should care about energy efficiency
  retrofits
• Volatility Avoidance Energy costs continue to
  escalate, your budgets dont.
• Risk Avoidance What is in the regulatory
  pipeline? Can you afford not to plan for it?

6
The Role of Retrofits What is possible?

• In most buildings, energy use can be reduced
  5-40

Inefficiencies Related To Reducing first
costs (value? engineering) Tech.
improvements Cost reductions New economics w/
rising energy costs
Inefficient Equipment Appliances Lighting Water
Heaters Furnaces/Boilers Air Conditioners
7
The Role of Retrofits DIY

• Become Friends with the Bills and Spreadsheets!

Water Gal/Per/Day
Domestic Hot Water Average Therms/Month
Space Heating BTU/Sq. Ft./HDD
Electric Average kWh a day/month (per sq. ft.)
8
The Role of Retrofits DIY
Become Friends with Your Maintenance
Staff/Property Management Company!

• Building Inventory
• Water Consuming Appliances?
• Envelope?
• Mechanicals?
• Electrical Appliances and Systems?

9
The Role of Retrofits DIY

• Find the Opportunities!

• Where do high use and consumption correspond with
  inefficient systems?

What are the economics of replacement? Use the
numbers, make good decisions
Simple Payback Simple Rate of Return Beyond
Payback?
10

• Linwood Court, Cambridge MA
• (8 Bldgs, 45 Units)

Table 1 Estimated Paybacks on Water Efficiency
Upgrades
Fixture for Replacement/Fix Estimated Cost Estimated Water Savings Payback
Kitchen Aerators 30 120 328.50 4 months
Shower Heads 25 75 2190.00 13 days
Bathroom Aerators 43 32.35 376.00 1 month
Fixing Sink Leaks 4 N/A 100 Immediate
TOTAL 227.30 2994.50 1 ½ months
11
New Horizons, Worcester MA(1 bldg, 25 units)
High Electric Consumption Due to Over-Ventilation
Fan of Kitchens/ Baths in stack CFM Rating CFM required ASHRAE Amount Oversized
1 4 bathrooms 160 80 2X
2 3 bathrooms 120 60 2X
3 8 kitchens 800 200 4X
4 6 kitchens 600 150 4X
5 8 bathrooms 320 160 2X
6 3 bathrooms 120 60 2X
7 7 kitchens 700 210 3X
8 3 bathrooms 120 60 2X
9 2 bathrooms 80 40 2X
10 5 kitchens 400 125 3X
11 2 bathrooms 80 40 2X
12
The Role of Retrofits Bring In Help

• Enlist an Expert to do the
• Utility Analysis
• Building Audit and Diagnostic Testing
• Financial Analysis and Recommendations

13
Key Issues in Developing an Existing Building
Greening Strategy

1. Recognize this is about the long term not a
   quick fixWhat is your time horizon?
2. Establish reasonable targets/returns
3. Measurement/Monitoring/Feedback loop
4. Document cost savings to management
5. Work with supporting players utilities, local
   government, non-profits