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Public Housing Environmental and Conservation Clearinghouse 

Smoke Free Public Housing

Since 2009, the Office of Public and Indian Housing has encouraged PHAs to adopt smoke free housing policies in some or all of their buildings. The elimination of second or third hand smoke that can migrate between multifamily units can be an important step towards improving the health of residents as well as reducing maintenance costs for PHAs.

(NEW) The smoke free public housing final rule has been published. Effective date for the smoke free rule February 3, 2017. PHAs will have 18 months from the effective date to implement smoke free policies.

(NEW) Click here for an updated press release from the SOHUD, and smoke free public housing below.

Clarifying Information and Guidance on the potential use and impact of Section 179D

November 14, 2016

For more information click here. 


Upgraded Utility Benchmarking Tool Available to PHAs

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has upgraded a free online utility benchmarking tool that can help you as a PHA identify what your properties’ energy use is, ultimately allowing you to determine how to reduce your energy and save on utilities. EPA’s tool, the Portfolio Manager, is a free, web-based benchmarking tool that allows users to monitor the water and energy consumption of the buildings in their portfolio.  With this tool, interested PHAs can track their weather-normalized utility consumption by month or year, allowing you to compare energy use between buildings, target improvements to reduce your energy consumption and costs, and determine the effectiveness of energy improvements.

PHAs who have used the tool and want to see the upgrades, can visit EPA’s upgrade page.

PHAs who are new to the tool, can get started here: Energy Star Benchmarking Starter Kit.
 

 

Sustainable and Green Topics

[Image - Apartment]Energy Conservation

All Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are required to implement HUD policies in support of National Energy Conservation goals by requiring PHAs to conduct energy audits and undertake certain cost effective energy conservation measures.  When cost effective and funding is available, PHAs should install energy conservation measures with the shortest paybacks periods first to help fund longer payback energy conservation measures.   

Smoke Free Public Housing
Since 2009,  the Office of Public and Indian Housing has encouraged PHAs to adopt smoke free housing policies in some or all of their buildings.  The elimination of second or third hand smoke that can migrate between multifamily units can be an important step towards improving the health of residents as well as reducing maintenance costs for PHAs.   

Click here to read the Press Release for "Smoke-free subsidized housing would save $521 million a year."

[Image - Mattress]Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM focuses on pest prevention, eliminating sources and using less toxic materials to control pests such as bedbugs, cockroaches and ants.


Water Conservation
[Image - Water Droplet] Water conservation benchmarking is a very useful starting point for PHAs to target water saving opportunities and can help PHAs overall asset management strategy.

[Image - AC Unit] Operations & Maintenance
O&M includes all aspects of running a building over the course of its useful life. Because of the far-reaching nature of O&M, a well designed and properly executed program is critical to the overall success.

[Image - Eco friendly person with suitcase] PIH Green Initiative
The PIH Green Initiative is about spotlighting the latest topics related to the environmental movement known as "Going Green" This month's article is about Green Building.

[Image - Lead Paint] Hazardous Materials
Lead Threat Thrives: Years after poisoning, a Queensbury family still fearing its effects.
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Energy Stars and Green Giants
PHECC Newsletters
Additional Resources

Research and review more details about what HUD and other federal government agencies have available to further awareness around energy and environmental conservation issues.

More Resources and Links

    Past Events
    • Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 2 - 3:00pm (EST) on "How to Successfully Adopt a Smoke-Free Policy in Public and Multifamily Housing." Read more...
    • Webinar on Thursday, June 4th, 2015 from 2:00  - 3:15 p.m. EST: Enforcing Smoke-Free Housing Policies and Overcoming Barriers to Implementation: On-the-Ground Strategies. Read more...
    • Webinar on September 10, 2014 - Multifamily housing communities are on the front lines of the bed bug battle. Housing managers and staff have come a long way in managing this pest. Bed bug management can be expensive, frustrating, and time consuming. This webinar will help members of the affordable housing industry make decisions about how and where to spend time and money in order to be effective in prevention and management of bed bugs. Learn more...
    • Webinar on July 14, 2014 - From the Ground Up: Creating Partnership Between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards. Learn more...
    • Webcast for the Focus Group: RAD/EPC Convening
    • Check Out the Presentations from "Moving EPCs Forward"
    • Green Conference Presentations Are Now Available!  PowerPoint presentations from the Going Green Intelligent Investments for Public Housing conference held earlier this year can be viewed here.

      More Past Events