Event Description

As the planet warms—with ever-worsening heat waves, hurricanes, and wildfires—there is growing awareness of the need to curb climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. This is why, in a few short years, policy makers and designers have gone from pushing for energy efficiency to targeting carbon emissions reduction. Where previously the emphasis was on cost savings from reduced energy use, now the focus is on reducing emissions – even if it costs more in the short run.

This paradigm shift is rapidly changing expectations for both development and operations of affordable housing. One of the biggest changes is the demand to electrify our buildings. Electrification brings cost concerns, introduces new building systems and technologies, and creates new challenges for operations and maintenance. It also raises equity concerns, by potentially raising utility costs for residents and increasing the demand for electricity from dirty power plants.

In this program, the presenters will share examples of policies that are shifting the focus from energy use intensity to carbon emissions intensity, and what this means for how we design and build—and rebuild—affordable housing. Examples from recent housing developments in Boston, LA and northern California will illustrate some of the challenges and highlight strategies that affordable housing developers are using to electrify their developments. The discussion will incorporate equity considerations raised by the push for electrification, and how they might be addressed through policy and owner actions. Finally, the presentation will describe some of the new resources that are coming from recent federal legislation to support electrification.

Lessons Learned:

• Be introduced to state and local policies that are shifting the energy paradigm from energy efficiency to carbon emissions reduction.
• See examples of how affordable housing developers are addressing electrification, especially for heating, cooling, and hot water.
• Consider equity concerns of electrification and measures to offset inequitable impacts.
• Become familiar with key new programs that offer resources to support electrification of buildings, including affordable housing.