The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Aug. 19 announced the award of more than $100 million for green renovations in 100 affordable housing developments. The awards from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are expected to benefit approximately 8,112 homes.

The awards are part of HUD's Green Retrofit Program for Multifamily Housing, created for the first time through ARRA. The Green Retrofit Program is providing $250 million nationally to reduce energy costs, cut water consumption, and improve indoor air quality.

Planned renovations include the following, HUD spokesperson Ashley Gammon told Green Building Insider: Energy Star appliances; water-saving devices such as low-flow faucets, showerheads, and low-flow toilets; Energy Star bathroom fans; Energy Star windows; added insulation; low-volatile-organic-compound (VOC) paints; low-VOC carpets; low-VOC kitchen countertops; green kitchen cabinets; "smooth and cleanable" flooring; solar equipment; combined heat and power; Energy Star heating and air conditioning; programmable thermostats; Energy Star domestic hot water; energy-efficient boilers; wind generators; energy-efficient roofing and siding; and zeroscape landscaping. Water-saving devices are mandatory for all grants and loans if the property does not already have them installed.

The awards announced Aug. 19 represent the first 100 grants and loans awarded through the program. The remaining awards will be made on a rolling basis throughout September.

The first awards announced are expected to create an average energy savings of $33,000 per property, or $3.3 million annually overall and, on average, tenants could save an estimated $250 each on utility bills each year.

"We are estimating energy savings of 20-30 percent, depending on the magnitude of energy-efficient renovations provided for each project," according to Gammon.

Loans issued through the program are for terms of 15-35 years with a 1 percent interest rate, Gammon said. "Loans are to be repaid with a portion of surplus cash."

The Green Retrofit Program is designed to create thousands of green jobs 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 cut heating and air conditioning costs and reduce water use by replacing faucets and toilets.

These ARRA funds also are designed to produce other environmental benefits by encouraging the use of recycled building materials, reflective roofing, and non-toxic products to reduce ‘off-gassing' of potentially harmful fumes. Funds are awarded to owners of HUD-assisted housing projects and can be used for various retrofit activities, ranging from windows/doors to solar panels and geothermal installation.

ARRA included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients eight days after President Obama signed ARRA into law. The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs, including the Green Retrofit Program.

"We have another 124 deals for a total of 224 projects given grants or loans through the Green Retrofit Program," Gammon said. "The remaining projects have similar renovations to our initial 100 closings."

Here is the list of initial grant and loan recipients: