Transaction Description:
PURPOSE: THE MULTIFAMILY BENCHMARKING INITIATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 30002 OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2022, (PUBLIC LAW 117-169) (THE “IRA”), TITLED “IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER EFFICIENCY OR CLIMATE RESILIENCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.” THE PROVISION PROVIDES FOR ENERGY AND WATER BENCHMARKING SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES.
SPECIFIC CONSUMPTION AND DATA GOALS CAN BE DEVELOPED FOR THE HUD-ASSISTED PORTFOLIO AS THE DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE. HUD’S ACCESS TO THIS DATA WILL SUPPORT FUTURE PORTFOLIO-LEVEL POLICY DECISIONS, WHILE PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGER’S ACCESS TO THE DATA WILL ALLOW THEM TO MAKE PROPERTY-LEVEL INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCY, AND COST-SAVINGS. USE OF THE EPA’S ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER UTILITY BENCHMARKING SYSTEM WILL ALLOW PROPERTIES TO BE TRACKED ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS.
; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: BENCHMARKING FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR THAT WILL UNDERTAKE THE BENCHMARKING WORK ON HUD’S BEHALF. THE FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO CONDUCT ASSOCIATED DATA ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION AT THE PROPERTY AND PORTFOLIO LEVEL, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS NECESSARY FOR THE COLLECTION, EVALUATION, AND ANALYSIS OF SUCH DATA.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS PROPERTY OWNERS TO BENCHMARK AND TRACK ENERGY AND WATER USAGE AT THE PROPERTY AND PORTFOLIO LEVELS. WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF INCREASING ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY, DECREASING OPERATING COSTS, AND INCREASING RESIDENT COMFORT AND QUALITY OF LIFE, BENCHMARKING SERVES AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALLOWING OWNERS TO MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN THEIR PROPERTIES. ; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PROGRAM AIMS TO BENEFIT RESIDENTS AND OWNERS OF HUD-ASSISTED MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY RESIDE IN. THIS INCLUDES PROPERTIES ASSISTED BY SECTION 8 PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SECTION 202 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME ELDERLY, SECTION 811 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAMS, AND SECTION 236 INTEREST REDUCTION PAYMENTS (IRP).; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.