DOE and HUD Recognize Two SAHF Members as Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achievers

June 11, 2020 - At the 2020 Better Buildings Summit, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognized Stewards of Affordable Housing of the Future (SAHF) members Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Mercy Housing as Better Buildings Goal Achievers. With this year’s recognition, POAH and Mercy Housing are the first multi-state nonprofit affordable housing providers to achieve their BBC goals of reducing portfolio-wide energy consumption by 20%. 

Preservation of Affordable Housing is a nonprofit housing provider of more than 11,000 affordable homes in 11 states and the District of Columbia. POAH is constantly exploring new and innovative approaches that holistically integrate efficiency into its entire portfolio, including its Basis of Design tool for healthier building materials and efficient products, green operations and maintenance, and Passive House design, to ensure high-quality, high-performance homes and healthier communities for its residents. POAH’s ongoing commitment to better design and building performance has played a huge role in its journey to becoming a BBC Goal Achiever with a 20% reduction in energy use.

Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing providers with a portfolio of over 23,000 affordable homes in 22 states. As a BBC Multifamily Partner, Mercy Housing has leveraged the size of its portfolio to push the boundary of what is achievable for a housing provider through innovative financing to implement whole-building retrofits across its portfolio, investments in renewable energy, and creative strategies that can deliver greater benefits to residents. At this year’s Summit, DOE and HUD recognize Mercy Housing for achieving and exceeding its BBC goal with a 24% reduction in portfolio-wide energy use.

Since 2013, SAHF and its members have partnered with the DOE and HUD to share best practices and promote energy efficiency and sustainability within the affordable housing sector. All thirteen SAHF members have partnered with the Better Buildings Challenge to reduce energy use by 20% and advance efficiency and renewable energy solutions across their portfolios.  SAHF members’ investments in energy efficiency and sustainability contribute to a myriad of positive outcomes – preserving affordability, improving property operations, delivering benefits to residents’ quality of life, and building toward an equitable low-carbon future.

Congratulations to Preservation of Affordable Housing and Mercy Housing on becoming 2020 Better Buildings Goal Achievers and your unwavering commitments to creating healthy, sustainable, and thriving communities for all!

Click below to see their 2020 Goal Achiever videos:

Preservation of Affordable Housing

Mercy Housing

-Rebecca Schaaf, SVP Energy, and Tawechote Wongbuphanimitr, Energy Associate