Rehabilitation Single-Family Housing to Green Standards NACCED Conference October 1, 2012 Lisa Henning, Asst. Director of Community & Economic Development.

Rehabilitation Single-Family Housing to Green Standards

NACCED ConferenceOctober 1, 2012

Lisa Henning, Asst. Director of Community & Economic Development

[email protected](651)-675-4467

www.dakotacda.org

Dakota County, Minnesota

• Third largest county within the seven-county metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul area

• Bordered on east by Mississippi River

• 21 cities• 13 rural townships• 2010 Population: 398,552• 2010 Median Household Income:

$69,508• Median Home Sale Price:

$160,000

51%

8%

10%

5%

7%

1%4%

14% Housing Rehab

Weatherization Plus

Property Acq & Clearance

Public Facilities/Improv

Public Services

HO Assistance

Assessment Abatement

Administration/Planning

CDBG Program

• Dakota County became an entitlement county in 1984

• CDA administers CDBG and HOME programs on behalf of Dakota County

• 14 sub-recipients

• Primary Uses

• Decreased funding

Home Improvement Loan Program

• Home Improvement Loan Programbegan at CDA in the late 1970s in variety of forms

• In 1985 created CDBG-funded Housing Rehab program providing low/mod income households a minimum of $15,000 and maximum of $25,000 to improve home

• Deferred, zero interest loan

• Common improvements include adding insulation, furnace replacement, and exterior upgrades (roofs, siding, windows)

• In-house expertise

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

• Created under Title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act of 1976, which was designed to cut heating bills and save imported oil

• Overall goal to reduce the burden of energy prices on the disadvantaged

• Provides cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades

• Available to income-eligible households (homeowners and renters); 50% AMI

• No cost to the residents

• Typically Administered by Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies

• Average $7,500 cost per household

Weatherization Plus (WxPlus)

• Pilot Program • Developed due to: – Interest from CDBG municipal sub-recipient (Energy &

Environment Advisory Commission)– Decrease in weatherization DOE funding– Capitalize on in-house experience– Expansion of Weatherization services

• CDBG eligible activity (CFR 24 Part 570.202, eligible rehabilitation and preservation activities)

WxPlus Program Details

• Clientele: homeowners between 50% - 80% of AMI• Funding: CDBG-funded, minimum of $4,000 and

maximum of $8,500• Loan: Zero interest, no monthly payment. Forgivable

after 15 years, with graduated forgiveness• Eligible work based upon DOE and State of Minnesota

eligible items, requires 1.0 SIR• More restrictive than housing rehab program;

homeowner needs to agree with identified eligible items

WxPlus Distinctive Components

• Energy Audit

• Energy Education

• Energy Conservation

Improvements• Required health &

safety components

Weatherization Energy Audit

• Utility bill analysis before going to home

• Client interview/survey

• Visual inspection and shell measurements Attic(s) Sidewalls Foundation Doors and windows Health and safety (smoke detectors, CO monitors, clothes dryer venting,

exhaust fans, etc.)

• Blower door tests

• Furnace/boiler and water heater inspection and testing

Weatherization Energy Audit

Energy Conservation Improvements

Using a whole-house or systems approach, cost-effective measures are identified and installed:

• Insulation (attic, sidewall)• Air sealing• Heating system repair or replacement• Water heater repair or replacement• Window and door repair• General repair and health and

safety improvements• Baseload energy reduction (domestic hot water and electrical)

Weatherization & Housing Rehab Components

• WxPlus provides energy conservation services to eligible households combined with expertise and components from the housing rehab program

• WAP components– Energy Audit– Energy Education– Eligible energy conservation work items– Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR)

• Housing Rehab components– Income Verification– Administering loans

WxPlus Next Steps

• Implementation Fall/Winter 2012

• Future WxPlus addition to measure and address indoor air quality elements

• HUD Healthy Homes Program Initiative (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi)