BEDFORD, N.H. – December 17, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority has been awarded a $2 million grant, funded by the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission administered Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund (GHGERF), which will allow the Authority to provide energy efficiency upgrades to affordable multi-family rental units through its Greener Homes Program.
Through the Greener Homes Program, New Hampshire Housing and the state’s six Community Action Program (CAP) agencies will partner to conduct comprehensive energy audits and to complete energy efficiency improvements on nearly 800 low-income rental units during the grant’s two-year period. The program will be funded with the $2 million GHGERF grant, $2 million in matching funds from New Hampshire Housing, and $3 million in weatherization funds that were committed by the state’s Office of Energy and Planning.
“Increasing the energy efficiency of multi-family developments not only helps the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels, but can also greatly reduce operating costs for low-income renters and property owners,” said Dean Christon, executive director, New Hampshire Housing. “We are extremely pleased to have been awarded this competitive grant and we look forward to working with the CAP agencies on the program.”
The Authority expects that owners of existing rent restricted multi-family rental units will be able to begin applying for funding through the Greener Homes Program at the end of January 2011.
The Greener Homes Program is the continuation of a pilot program New Hampshire Housing established in 2010. The Authority initially committed funds to three projects, and Bicentennial Square in Concord, owned by Families in Transition, recently completed its energy retrofit, which included converting from a steam heat and hot water system to an energy efficient gas heating and solar hot water system.
The GHGERF consists of proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances through New Hampshire’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an effort by 10 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from the electric power sector
New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority is a self-supporting, public benefit corporation. The Authority operates a number of programs designed to assist low- and moderate-income persons with obtaining housing. Since its inception, New Hampshire Housing has helped more than 38,000 families purchase their own homes and has been instrumental in financing the creation of more than 14,000 multi-family housing units. More information about its programs can be found on the agency’s website at www.nhhfa.org .
Contact:
Jane Law
Phone: (603) 310-9255
