Daytime view of a multistory public housing building.

Public Housing

The improvement of public housing energy use has become a top priority of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 offering new opportunities for public housing agencies (PHAs) and multi-family housing facilities to implement, finance and track energy efficiency improvements. With rising utility costs, approximately 65% of U.S. public housing units built before 1970, and almost half of U.S. public housing in the second-coldest climate zone in the country, improving public housing energy efficiency presents significant challenges.

“Ameresco’s excellent track record of success working in South Florida and with housing authorities across the country to identify potential energy savings will allow Miami-Dade County to further advance our commitment to providing our community with the highest level and most efficient service possible.”

–Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez

Interested in Learning More?

Ameresco’s Public Housing Energy Efficiency Group focuses exclusively on publicly assisted multi-family housing facilities of 50 apartments or more, which includes more than 14 million U.S. households. By leveraging HUD public housing performance contracting (HUD EPC), a practice pioneered by Ameresco to address the $4 billion that HUD spends on public housing energy bills each year, we significantly reduce utility costs using a performance-oriented approach that strategically addresses equipment and systems, energy management and resident education.

With more than 30 years of experience, Ameresco’s public housing energy specialists have implemented performance contracts with project capital exceeding $500 million. We have improved 130,000 households (and counting) under performance-based energy and water services contracts.

Case Studies

Mattapoisett and Wareham

Solar Arrays Provide Low Cost Renewable Power to 5 Local Housing Authorities

Boston Housing Authority

Gas and Water Usage Reduced by Over 30% Through Efficiency Measures

San Francisco Housing Authority

Oldest Authority in California Saves the Equivalent of 3,300 Tons of CO2 Per Year

See Our Brochure

Ameresco has helped public housing authorities across North America improve sustainability, reduce energy and water costs and upgrade outdated equipment. Learn more in our Public Housing Experience brochure.

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Additional Media

Watch the San Francisco Housing Authority video

Watch the Boston Housing Authority video