Affordable Housing Gets Energy Retrofit in Boston

Castle Square Apartments in Boston is currently being retrofitted in what is said to be the largest energy savings project of its kind. The low-income housing towers are receiving $6.7 million from HUD's Recovery Act Green Retrofit Program.

1 minute read

May 31, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Stephen M. Frey attended the May 19th press conference where Mayor Menino and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan got a tour of the work in progress.

Secretary Donovan said: "By helping make this development more energy efficient we are also improving the quality of life for the hundreds of families who live here."

Frey writes that the retrofit will "...cut energy use by 72%, will take a deep bite out of tenants' utility bills while dramatically reducing the building's carbon footprint. "

Extensive details about the retrofit are available at Metropolis Magazine.

Thursday, May 26, 2011 in Metropolis Magazine

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