Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building Design in Section 202 and Section 811 Programs

Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building Design in
Section 202 and Section 811 Programs

Construction completed in Garden Way Apartments.

HUD’s commitment to sustainability continues to be developed at the agency’s highest levels. Secretary Donovan is calling for grant applicants to adopt sustainability, and suggests that all federal agencies funding aspects of the built environment should require sustainable practices in the grants and policies they issue. HUD’s FY2010 – 2015 Strategic Plan mandates reduction in energy costs through improved design and operation of HUD-supported projects. Consequently, the FY2010 grants for developing and sponsoring housing for the elderly and the disabled under HUD’s 202 and 811 Programs require specific energy and water conservation measures. The recently published Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building Design is a resource guide to help owners and sponsors respond effectively to the new requirements and incentives.

Because the housing units comprising Section 202 and 811 Programs differ in type, age, condition, and geographical location as well as program requirements, energy conservation and green building techniques cannot be applied globally—requirements and incentives must vary depending on the type of development. Recognizing that existing projects may have to phase in energy-saving upgrades over time, the new requirements for existing projects and new construction projects are different. Existing projects, acquisition, and moderate or modest rehabilitation efforts, require energy audits before and after rehabilitation and the incorporation of conservation techniques. The first energy audit is performed prior to rehab work to identify where savings can be achieved, and a second audit is done post-rehab to verify the achievement of anticipated savings and, if these savings have not been attained, indicate where additional remediation is needed. As yet, HUD hasn’t gone further to establish specific conservation or green design requirements for existing Section 202 and Section 811 projects, but the agency strongly encourages owners and sponsors of existing projects to include sustainable components and practices to make operation, maintenance, and capital improvements to the projects greener.

New construction projects offer the opportunity of including energy efficiency technologies and systems from the beginning of a project, and so new construction and substantial (gut) rehabilitation projects require incorporation of energy efficiency and conservation strategies into the design concept. This effort requires financial resources which may exceed development costs included in HUD’s grant, as well as considerable staff expertise in following one of the energy efficiency or green building certification standards - ENERGY STAR, Enterprise Green Communities, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs. All these standards require considerable experience in application submission, certification timelines, program requirements, and recordkeeping so hiring a knowledgeable consultant is noted as well worth the expense.

All applicants meeting criteria for green development, sustainable design, solar orientation principles and developing operations and maintenance manuals that address features contributing to green operations are eligible for incentives in the form of additional points added to their scores on funding applications.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building Design includes accounts from five stakeholder organizations experienced with incorporating energy efficiency practices in new and/or existing 202 and 811 projects. The five offer a variety of experiences from different climactic regions of the country, sizes of property portfolios, and roles in the energy efficiency and green building development process. Their know-how includes retrofitting existing buildings, the impact of proper maintenance and tenant behavior, and seeking out funding sources to pay for green technology and upgrades. The insights and recommendations described in the case studies constitute valuable guidance for prospective sponsors and owners of HUD-supported housing developments.

While the tips, tools, financing sources, and green building standards Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building provides were intended for those working with 202/811 projects, they can also be immensely useful as a starting point and for continuing guidance to anyone taking up the daunting task of reducing energy costs, conserving water, and making housing developments more sustainable in the long term.