Green initiatives – including the reduction of energy consumption – are becoming increasingly important funding priorities for the Obama Administration and private enterprises. Expanding on the work done at the Public Housing Summit last fall, HAI is collaborating with CLPHA, NAHRO, and PHADA to host a “Greening Public Housing Symposium” designed to build partnerships on greening and energy issues and showcase public housing as a fruitful area for green investment.

A critical piece supporting these efforts will be data on the state of energy consumption in and green practices undertaken by public housing authorities. Together, HAI and the three aforementioned industry groups have constructed a short survey to be sent to all PHAs to assess current energy consumption and costs, cost trends over time, initiatives undertaken to reduce energy consumption and reduce environmental impact, and energy reduction or green initiatives remaining to be accomplished. The information obtained from this survey will provide crucial data in support of additional investment in public housing.

Each group is asking members to complete this confidential survey so we may have an accurate picture of the capacity and ingenuity of PHAs to implement energy conservation and green initiatives. The survey can be accessed and submitted electronically at http://lawebsite.housingcenter.com. To complete this survey, information on energy consumption and energy costs and the cost of energy conservation or greening measures implemented are necessary. Survey participants also need a listing of energy conservation measures and green practices including cost savings and impact when it is possible to estimate. HAI is asking PHAs to complete the survey as soon as possible. Please contact us with questions. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to help us in this effort given your substantial time constraints. Thank you!!

Now on Capwiz

One major component of HAI’s Legislative Affairs work is increasing PHA awareness of key policy issues impacting public housing and helpful resources offered by government. The on-line policy-tracking tool, Capwiz, serves as a medium to accomplish this goal and facilitate PHA interaction with policy-makers. At http://capwiz.com/housingcenter/home/, you can research government initiatives at the State and Federal level, and contact your representatives and news outlets.

Here’s an article that can be accessed at Capwiz: "New Bill Provides Funds for Greening Low-Income Neighborhoods."

The recently introduced, "Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2009," encourages green development and energy conservation. Plus, it promotes community sustainability in neighborhoods with a special focus on low-income neighborhoods. Specifically, the bill provides incentives for financial institutions to offer lower interest rates on loans made to consumers for energy efficient improvements to new and existing homes and businesses and for the utilization of renewable resources.

HR 2336 will encourage the development of "green" benchmarks to be incorporated into the real estate, mortgage, and building industries to provide further incentives to promote energy efficient, green structures.

Currently, $2.5 billion will be distributed as energy efficient block grants to make energy efficient and green improvements to single family or multi-family homes in communities. Also, $50 million will be distributed as a pilot loan to Section 221, Section 236, or Section 8 project-based managers to improve energy efficiency and develop renewable resources in their public housing portfolios.

The bill would mandate the inclusion of transportation planning and sustainable development strategies in the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies (CHAS) and for the receipt of Hope VI funds. A Public Housing Energy Cost Report will also be published within a year of this bill's enactment.