WESTFIELD – City and state agencies are making an investment at Powdermill Village on Union Street, a multifamily affordable housing development, to reduce the energy footprint, and cost, for low-income residents.
MassHousing is partnering with Boston Community Capital (BCC) to provide a $3 million loan to finance the upgrades, which include converting the 126 Union Street apartment complex from oil to gas heat. The energy-efficiency improvements, much of the work being performed by the Westfield Gas & Electric Department, are expected to be completed by fall 2014.
“Energy conservation and green technology have rapidly become an important part of financing and preserving affordable housing,’’ said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. “It is expected that the many energy upgrades at Powdermill Village will result in substantial energy savings for residents and the property owner.’’
Powdermill Village is owned by Peabody-Westfield LP, an affiliate of Peabody Properties, Inc. BCC is funding the construction period for the project and MassHousing is providing a permanent three-year bridge loan.
“The WG&E was contacted by, and is working with, Peabody Properties with their planned switch to natural gas at Powdermill Village,” spokeswoman Beth Burns said. “Our department installed gas piping to that location last fall in preparation for their conversion.
“Peabody Properties applied for, and was recently awarded, an incentive rebate for their planned energy efficiency improvements through our Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency program,” Burns said.
BCC is a Boston-based community development financial institution whose mission is to build healthy communities where low-income people live and work. BCC and MassHousing partnered in 2012 to offer a pilot program to reduce energy costs by at least 20 percent at selected affordable apartment communities.
“BCC’s goal with this project is to demonstrate that energy efficiency and related improvements can make affordable housing communities less expensive, more comfortable and healthier buildings to own, manage and live in,’’ BCC Executive Vice President DeWitt Jones said.
“Through the collaborative efforts of Boston Community Capital, MassHousing and some very creative design professionals, Powdermill Village will gain a more sustainable, efficient fuel source, reduce its carbon footprint, and decrease operating costs,” Peabody Properties Principal and Chief Operating Officer Melissa Fish-Crane.
BCC assembled an expert design team of Coldman Hartman Architects, South Mountain Company and New Ecology, which developed a plan for mechanical system and building envelope upgrades that are expected to reduce bills by more than 30 percent, cut water and electricity use by 30 and 50 percent respectively, as well as substantially lower ongoing maintenance and repairs costs for the property.
“This program represents an exciting opportunity for the residents of Powdermill Village and is consistent with Peabody Properties’ ongoing commitment to bring real energy savings and property stabilization to all our managed-communities,” Fish-Crane said.
“Currently, each of the twelve buildings is heated with old oil boilers,” said Sean Fitzgerald, energy specialist and customer liaison for Westfield Gas & Electric. “This project involves retrofitting the aged oil boilers with high efficiency condensing gas boilers. Powdermill will realize cost savings due to both the enhanced energy-efficiency of the new boilers and the lower cost of gas compared to fuel oil.”
“Currently, each unit has a standalone electric water heating tank,” said Fitzgerald. “As part of this project, the new high efficiency gas boilers will be used to produce district domestic hot water for all residents. All units will be retrofitted with low flow faucet aerators and shower heads that are estimated to save more than $10,000 and 3 million gallons of water per year.”
“Powdermill is retrofitting old and inefficient common area and exterior lighting with energy efficient LED alternatives,” he said. “All together, these projects are expected to save over $50,000 per year.”
