Driving toward the Greater Good: A framework and indicator tool for incorporating resident benefits in efficiency decisions

A growing body of research documents the many benefits energy and water upgrades deliver for residents, property managers, property owners, utilities, and society at large. Yet these benefits are often seen as incidental, unintended benefits of building upgrades. Focusing in on benefits to residents, the Driving toward the Greater Good white paper documents the benefits that accrue from different types of building upgrades and puts forward a framework for incorporating those benefits into retrofit decision making. The Resident Benefits Indicator tool builds on that framework, allowing stakeholders who are reviewing audit reports and deciding on scopes of work to evaluate different retrofit packages for their levels of resident benefits.  The white paper and accompanying Indicator tool allow affordable housing providers to bring the financial, health, comfort, education, and social resiliency benefits of building upgrades directly into the upgrade decision-making process and better address the needs and priorities on the families they serve.