Boston – The BRA Board unanimously approved a $200,000 grant for one of the state’s largest affordable housing energy users. The monies will assist the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation in greenovating the Brighton Allston Apartments located at 1387 Commonwealth Avenue and 493-501 Washington Street.
The energy upgrades will significantly reduce the heating utility costs that residents in the 60 affordable units incur, and make the property one of the most efficient affordable housing properties in the state.
The BRA grant funding will aide in a comprehensive $2 million rehab at Brighton Allston Apartments that includes an update to the energy systems, including the replacement of aging furnaces and boilers, thermostats, and improvements to air sealing and wall insulation.
The Brighton Allston Apartments were identified as one of the largest energy users in the state as part of the assessment for the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN), a federally funded energy efficiency retrofit grant program for existing affordable rental housing. Additional funding for the project will be provided by LEAN.
The BRA grant money is being distributed from the Inclusionary Development Program (IDP) Energy Efficiency Fund, a one million dollar fund available to improve the energy efficiency of existing multi-family rental housing. Energy audits and a demonstration of cost effective construction plans are required for grant eligibility. The BRA has awarded more than $440,000 in IDP Energy Efficiency Fund grants since the fund was established 2010.