A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC) is implementing deep energy retrofits (DER) at three residential properties in Boston to reduce energy consumption by an average of 55 percent across 103 units. By conducting portfolio-wide Capital Needs Assessments and leveraging a diverse stack of local and federal funding—including an expected $8 million in support—the CDC aims to eliminate on-site fossil fuel combustion and improve tenant well-being. The project utilizes guidance from RMI’s REALIZE-MA initiative and LISC’s 1000 Apartment Challenge to navigate the complex predevelopment phase and align with Massachusetts' climate goals and Boston's Building Energy Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO).

• Allston Brighton CDC expects to achieve an average energy consumption reduction of 55 percent across 103 residential units in Boston through deep energy retrofits, supported by an anticipated $8 million in local and federal funding.
• Deep energy retrofits (DER) differ from standard renovations by aiming to remove on-site fossil fuel combustion and lower energy use via all-electric mechanical systems, high-performance envelope interventions, and solar power. Nationally, approximately 75 million housing units may require these whole-building retrofits to meet climate objectives.
• The CDC's strategy involved a comprehensive review of its 10-property, 520-unit portfolio using Capital Needs Assessments (CNAs) and financial reviews to identify the most viable candidates for DER. This led to the selection of Hano Homes, Brian J. Honan Apartments, and Carol Avenue Apartments based on specific needs such as roof replacement, façade failure, and mechanical system updates.
• Project success in Massachusetts is supported by alignment with the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan and Boston’s Building Energy Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), utilizing funding from sources such as the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Climate Ready Housing Program, and the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN).

APA

RMI (2023). A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing. https://rmi.org/resources/a-blueprint-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing/

Chicago

RMI. A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/a-blueprint-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing |date=2 November 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/a-blueprint-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023blueprint, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/a-blueprint-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }