Author: DCGB_admin

WASHINGTON, DC – December 8, 2021 – Today, the Bowser Administration, through the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), announced the launch of a new initiative, the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator, that will provide direct technical and financial assistance to multifamily affordable housing buildings so they can meet the compliance requirements of the nation’s first Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). By working with building owners to uncover energy savings opportunities and improve building energy performance, the Accelerator — a stimulus-funded program that is a project of DOEE, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), and the DC Green Bank — will help housing units remain affordable, improve health and comfort, and achieve lower utility bills for the owner and residents.

“The District is proud to continue to push the envelope and find innovative solutions to address greenhouse gases through energy efficiency in our existing buildings,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. “Federal stimulus funds have provided us with an incredible opportunity to ensure that our affordable housing buildings are safe, healthy, and energy efficient for the residents who live in them. We are excited to see how this will transform the market and set an example for the rest of the country.”

Some benefits to be offered under the Accelerator program include Affordable Housing Retrofit Energy audits, one-on-one guidance on how to comply with the BEPS requirements, and financing for the installation of new energy-efficient building equipment. Building owners will have a direct line of communications with and support from DOEE, the DCSEU, and the DC Green Bank.

“Over the past 10 years, the DCSEU has been helping District commercial and multifamily building owners and managers uncover and pursue opportunities to reduce their energy costs and run their buildings more efficiently,” said DCSEU Managing Director Ted Trabue. “The Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator program offers a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our impact and we are excited to partner with DOEE over the next several years.”

This is the first year of a multiyear program demonstrating the District’s deep commitment to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stem catastrophic climate change. Development of the framework and vision for the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator was supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. Washington, D.C. is one of the 25 winning cities in the Climate Challenge, which is helping cities set and surpass ambitious climate goals by ramping up action in the two highest-emitting sectors in cities: transportation and buildings.

“Increasing DC’s supply of sustainable and affordable housing is a key goal for DC Green Bank, and we are looking forward to partnering with DOEE and the DCSEU to bring the Accelerator to life for that purpose,” said DC Green Bank CEO Eli Hopson. “By delivering low-cost financing for affordable multifamily buildings to exceed the BEPS requirements we will demonstrate to the nation that sustainability and inclusive prosperity go hand-in-hand.”

Eligibility requirements for the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator are as follows:

• Multifamily building over 50,000 square feet
• The building meets the definition of affordable housing
• The building does not meet the District’s 2021 BEPS (ENERGY STAR score lower than 66 in calendar year 2019)
• Building owners can find more information about program on the DCSEU website or by calling the DCSEU at 202-479-2222.

About the District Department of Energy & Environment

The DOEE is the leading authority on energy and environmental issues affecting the District. Using a combination of regulations, outreach, education, and incentives, the agency administers programs and services to fulfill their mission and promote environmentally responsible behavior that will lead to a more sustainable urban environment.

About the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)

The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money. Since 2011, as a contractor to DOEE, the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance, and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping them save more than $1.2 billion in lifetime energy costs. Its work is building a brighter economic, environmental, and energy future for the District. For more information, visit dcseu.com.

About the DC Green Bank

DC Green Bank was established by the District’s Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018. DC Green Bank develops and facilitates innovative financial solutions to support District businesses, organizations, and residents in the journey to a cleaner future. DC Green Bank invests in solar energy systems, energy efficient buildings, green infrastructure, and transportation electrification in line with its values of Sustainability, Clean Economy, and Inclusive Prosperity. Additional information about DC Green Bank’s mission and investments and how to access affordable green financing can be found here.

By Tristan Navera, Washington Business Journal

New York developer Jonathan Rose Cos. and D.C.’s Somerset Development Co. are planning a full redevelopment of Faircliff Plaza East that would replace the existing 80-unit building at 14th and Fairmont streets NW with a 125-unit building with more modern amenities and a sustainable design, according to representatives from the company.

The finer details remain to-be-determined, but the proposal has received its first shot of financing with a $1.85 million predevelopment loan from D.C. Green Bank, whose funding is typically aimed at sustainability-related design and improvements. That money will help pay for engineering, architecture, planning, design and sustainability assessments for the project, the bank said in a statement.

Read the Full Article Here

DC Green Bank, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), and Flywheel Development , alongside the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure Lucinda Babers, and Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment Mary Cheh, and residents commemorated the completion of a new community solar installation in Ward 7. Hosted in the Fairfax Villages Community, the solar installation will deliver a total of $3.375 million in energy savings to more than 450 low-to-moderate income residents across the District over the next 15 years through the Solar for All program. In addition to the community solar capacity, the project also supported roof replacements on 11 residential buildings, improving the energy efficiency and durability of the buildings. In total, the project is expected to reduce nearly 1,000 tons of CO2-equivalent annually and has generated good, clean economy jobs in the District.

DC Green Bank contributed more than $1.5 million in financing to support the project. “We are proud to continue to invest in the Fairfax Villages, which remains a model of sustainability for other District communities to follow,” said DC Green Bank CEO Eli Hopson. “Community solar installations like this are critical for our city to achieve Mayor Bowser’s visionary climate, energy, and equity commitments, and DC Green Bank will continue to marshal our resources to accelerate an inclusive green transformation for all DC.”
As the operator of the Solar for All program, the DCSEU worked closely with Flywheel Development to bring this project to completion. “We are honored to implement the Solar for All program in partnership with DOEE and local contractors like Flywheel Development,” said Ted Trabue, Managing Director of the DCSEU. “Community Solar projects like the one at the Fairfax Villages will bring significant electricity bill savings to low- to moderate-income District residents while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in support of Mayor Bowser’s vision for a carbon-free DC.”

This is the second community solar project delivered in the Fairfax Villages by DC Green Bank, the DCSEU, and Flywheel Development. “We are proud of what we have accomplished in partnership with DC Green Bank, the DCSEU, and the community,” said Jessica Pitts, Co-Founder and Principal of Flywheel Development. “These projects are a model for the District to follow to achieve climate and energy goals, bring down energy costs for residents, improve existing infrastructure, and retain affordability.”

Download and Read the Full Press Release Here

1,2,3! The ribbon is cut on new #SolarForAll at Fairfax Village in #Ward7, with #TeamDMOI’s Lucinda Babers, @marycheh @DOEE_DC @DCSEU @DCGreenBank and Flywheel Development pic.twitter.com/8rQlCx9utn

— DMOIDC (@DMOIDC) December 2, 2021

By Lisa McDuffie, Washington DC CRE News

DC Green Bank, Jonathan Rose Companies and Somerset Development Company have closed a $1.85 million pre-development loan to finance the design and planning of Faircliff Plaza East, an affordable housing redevelopment in Ward 1 of Washington, D.C.

The project is expected to increase available affordable units in the building by more than 50%, from 80 units to 185.

The loan will support engineering, architecture, planning, design and sustainability assessments related to the redevelopment, including innovative financing provisions that decrease the interest rate for the loan as multiple sustainability and equity considerations are met by the project. Specifically, the project aims to meet the Passive House Institute US+ and LEED Platinum certifications and achieve an all-electric property with zero primary energy usage from fossil fuels.

The project is also scheduled to include a solar-integrated green roof and to feature the usage of carbon-sequestering concrete as well as up to 10 electric vehicle charging stations.

Read the Full Article Here

DC Green Bank, Jonathan Rose Companies, and Somerset Development Company today announced the closing of a $1.85 million pre-development loan to finance the design and planning of Faircliff Plaza East, an affordable housing redevelopment in Ward 1 of Washington, D.C. The loan will support engineering, architecture, planning, design, and sustainability assessments related to the redevelopment, including innovative financing provisions that decrease the interest rate for the loan as multiple sustainability and equity considerations are met by the project. Specifically, the project aims to meet the Passive House Institute US+ (PHIUS+) and LEED Platinum certifications and achieve an all-electric property with zero primary energy usage from fossil fuels. The redevelopment project is expected to increase the number of available affordable units in the building by more than 50%, from the current 80 units to an anticipated 125 units at the conclusion of construction.

Beyond the dual commitments to affordable housing and sustainability certifications for efficient design, the project is scheduled to include a solar-integrated green roof – delivering 67 kW of solar capacity and 98 MWh of annual production, in addition to the climate control, energy efficiency, and stormwater management benefits of the built-in landscaping on the roof. Furthermore, the building is expected to feature the usage of carbon-sequestering concrete as well as up to 10 electric vehicle charging stations. Accounting for the sum of its parts, the developers are angling to achieve net-zero energy operational carbon.

Eli Hopson, CEO of DC Green Bank, said of the project, “We are proud to support this groundbreaking project with a pre-development loan to showcase the numerous co-benefits of green investment. In just one project energy efficiency, affordable housing, solar and renewable energy, utility savings for residents, carbon sequestration, and local job creation combine to demonstrate what a thriving DC for all can be.”

Lauren Zullo, Director of Environmental Impact at Jonathan Rose Companies, said of the project, “Predevelopment financing that is paired with achieving sustainability goals is a really smart way to encourage greener design early in the development process, which helps both developers and municipalities meet their climate goals. We are proud to partner with DC Green Bank on this project and are hopeful this innovative loan will become a model for other cities and banks across the nation to follow.”

Patrick McAnaney, Project Manager at Somerset Development Company, stated that “the District has ambitious targets for affordable housing units as well as for climate, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Our goal for this redevelopment is to demonstrate how these targets can work hand in hand to achieve both social and environmental progress. Once completed, this project will showcase how all communities are capable of leading the way to a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future.”

Download and Read the Full Press Release Here