A Blueprint to Decarbonize Affordable Housing

This case study examines how the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC), a nonprofit affordable housing owner in Boston, is implementing deep energy retrofits (DER) across its portfolio to eliminate fossil fuel combustion and reduce energy consumption.

• Allston Brighton CDC is implementing deep energy retrofits across 103 residential units in Boston, with the goal of reducing energy consumption by an average of 55 percent. The organization expects to secure $8 million in local and federal support in addition to its base project funding.
• Deep energy retrofits (DER) differ from standard renovations by aiming to remove on-site fossil fuel combustion and lower energy use through high-performance envelope interventions, all-electric mechanical systems, and on-site solar. An estimated 75 million housing units in the United States may require whole-building retrofits to achieve climate goals.
• Allston Brighton CDC identified three prime candidates for DER from its 10-property, 520-unit portfolio: Hano Homes, Brian J. Honan Apartments, and Carol Avenue Apartments. Selection was based on Capital Needs Assessments (CNAs), financial reviews—including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) compliance periods—and specific property needs such as roof replacement at Hano Homes, façade issues at Brian J. Honan, and mechanical system replacements at Carol Avenue.
• The success of these retrofits in Massachusetts is supported by a combination of state policies, such as the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan, and local regulations like Boston’s Building Energy Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO). Funding sources for these projects include the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER), the Climate Ready Housing Program, and the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) Multifamily DER Pathway.

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} }