HUD Secretary Donovan, Senator Reed Announce Recovery Act Funds To Retrofit Affordable Housing In Warwick, R.I.
WARWICK, RI – April 26, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Senator Jack Reed announced that over 100 apartments in Warwick, R.I. will become greener and more energy efficient as a result of $1.4 million in Recovery Act funding being awarded to Shalom Apartments, a senior housing development. Secretary Donovan and Senator Reed announced the funding at an event at Shalom.
The award is part of HUD’s new Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing, created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Green Retrofit Program is providing $250 million nationally to reduce energy costs, cut water consumption, and improve indoor air quality. Grant awards are being made under this program on a rolling basis.
“This Recovery Act funding will not only improve the quality of life for residents of Shalom Apartments, but will also lower energy costs and create quality green jobs at the same time.” said Secretary Donovan. “This is an example of the kind of long-term, fundamental impact the Recovery Act is having on America’s economy through clean energy investments.”
“I am pleased that Shalom Housing was selected for this federal grant and I applaud Secretary Donovan and the Obama Administration for making smart investments in clean energy technology that will create jobs now and strengthen our energy independence over the long haul,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who supported the Recovery Act funding.
Shalom Housing, a non-profit agency, operates a 101-unit senior housing development in Warwick, RI. The renovations funded with the grant being announced today will enhance quality of life for residents, lower their utility costs by 50 percent and increase energy efficiency. They will also create quality construction-related job opportunities for Rhode Island residents. Retrofits will produce major system upgrades including the installation of a 37-meter Northwind 100 wind turbine to take advantage of Rhode Island’s coastal winds to generate 80% of the property’s common area electricity, installation of high-efficiency condensing boilers for heat and hot water, installation of high-efficiency refrigerators in all units, replacement of old toilets with low-flush toilets and other water-saving devices, replacement of old petroleum-based vinyl flooring with recycled tile and Marmoleum flooring, and use of low-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants throughout.
The Green Retrofit Program is designed to create thousands of green jobs across the country as workers retrofit older federally assisted multi-family apartment developments with the next generation of energy efficient technologies. Grants and loans provided through this program help private landlords and property management companies to cut heating and air conditioning costs by installing more efficient heating and cooling systems and to reduce water use by replacing faucets and toilets. These Recovery Act funds also produce other environmental benefits by encouraging the use of recycled building materials, reflective roofing, and non-toxic products to reduce potentially harmful ‘off-gassing’ of harmful fumes. Funds are awarded to owners of HUD-assisted housing projects and can be used for a wide range of retrofit activities, ranging from windows/doors to solar panels and geothermal installation.
The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law. The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs, including the Green Retrofit Program. To date, 98 percent of HUD’s Recovery Act funds are in the hands of local communities, being used to improve housing and neighborhoods, while creating jobs. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.
In addition, Secretary Donovan and HUD are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD’s Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD’s funding notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD’s Recovery Act website.
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HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development ad enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
