Connecting the Green Dots: Capital Upgrades, Benchmarking & Training The Supportive Housing Network of New York Greening Supportive Housing: What’s Next? By: Valerie Neng, Sustainability Manager, WHEDco Date: June 9, 2011

Head Start Early Childhood Discovery Center Childcare Improvement Project Education and Youth Development WHEDco: Who We Are, What We Do Family Support and Housing Services Green, Energy Efficient Homes Small Food Business Incubator

Urban Horizons Urban Horizons is WHEDco’s flagship building. It is a historic building transformed from an abandoned hospital to a thriving community hub. WHEDco opened Urban Horizons in This housing and economic development center includes: 132 energy-efficient and affordable apartments The Early Childhood Discovery Center, a Head Start program for 104 kids Family Support social services A commercial kitchen and incubator for local food businesses The Institute for Primary Health, a healthcare center operated by a partner nonprofit

Urban Horizons

Why Build Green? WHEDco’s decision to go green was driven by the following factors: 1.Financial sustainability 2.Community health concerns, especially in the South Bronx 3.Global climate change and the need for drastic greenhouse gas emissions reductions

Financial Sustainability

Asthma emergency room visit rates in the Bronx were more than double the NYS average in Average rates for NYC overall were much higher than NYS average. New York State Asthma Surveillance Summary Report - October 2007 Community Health

Why else should we green the kitchen? GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP: Global warming is an urgent concern. As building owners and operators, we must do our part to reduce our CO2 emissions. Buildings contribute 75% of all CO2 emissions in NYC. Global Climate Change

Installed Measures Urban Horizons Retrofit Project Measures Installed to Date Investment CostExpected 1 st Year Savings Apartment lighting $38,325 $9,865 * Apartment refrigerators $85,800 $9,150 * Low flow showerheads and faucet aerators $3,300 $4,396 LED exit signs $9,775 $3,727 Bi-level stairwell lighting $20,000$1,803 Air sealing and weatherstripping $2,500 $1,257 Efficiency motors and controls on heat circulating pump $33,400 $18,468 Commercial area lighting upgrades$2,810**$3,496 Total initial investment of $71,785 with a simple payback of 2.2 years. We did a before-and-after analysis that showed tenants’ electricity bills went down 6.1% after the measures installed, while bills of other NYC residents went up 8.2%.

Urban Horizons Retrofit Project Pending MeasuresInitial Investment1 st Year SavingsCompletion Date 1.6 gallons per flush toilets in all apartments $49,000$20,228June 2011 Commercial area lighting upgrades $27,774$11,483September 2011 Combined Heat and Power (cogenerator) $187,500$39,647December % efficiency boilers $270,000$28,737December 2011 Upgrade ventilation system $76,040 $25,748December 2011 TOTAL$610,314$125,843 Total initial investment of $610,314 First year savings are projected at $125,843 Simple payback projected at less than 5 years

Retrofit Funding Sources NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program (MPP) NYSERDA Distributed Generation - CHP Weatherization Assistance Program Con Edison Gas Efficiency Program (GEPP) Enterprise Green Communities Borough President Capital HPD Article 8A Private foundation funding

What’s Next? Benchmark and Measure Performance Once the buildings are retrofitted, how do you verify the projected consumption and cost savings? Benchmark and measure performance! + WHEDco is measuring actual performance of our buildings by collecting and analyzing utility data. The benchmark for heating energy usage at Urban Horizons is 10 BTU/SF/HDD. This is better than most typical NYC multifamily buildings, but there’s room for improvement. In comparison, Energy Star certified buildings range from 3-6 BTU/SF/HDD. + Through a database called Wegowise ( we are automating uploads of future utility data directly from the utility or Energy Services Company. + The database is still in development, but will eventually enable comparisons to similar affordable housing (size, construction type, location, tenant make-up, fuel type).

What’s Next? Training & Education + According to environmental psychologist Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez, human behavior changes have the potential to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 9%. + Training and education are an essential part of any energy/water reduction effort, and makes energy/water visible. + Make energy saving easy and fun for your tenants or staff. Don’t be afraid to use humor and competition to motivate behavior changes. + It’s not enough to give people information! Tips given at trainings must be practical, simple, and relevant to the population.

Commercial Kitchen Energy/Water Training

Next Steps Set energy reduction goal Can we aim to reduce gas and electric use in the kitchen by 5-10% next month by using the tips we just discussed? Reward for meeting goal Using April’s utility bills as a baseline, if the entire kitchen utility costs are at least 5% less, we will give you a Green Discount off July’s rent! Review and sign pledge If you would like to participate in the Green Discount program, please review and sign the Energy and Water Savings Pledge. Set Goals and Incentives

Sign the Energy and Water Reduction Pledge

Thank you! Valerie Neng, Sustainability Manager Phone: