“HUD Grants Bring Energy Efficiency and Lower Bills to Kansas City Apartments”
Residents of the Woodlen Place Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri, are set to benefit from a new federal grant aimed at reducing energy costs and addressing the climate crisis. The housing complex, consisting of 16 townhomes, will undergo renovations to improve energy efficiency and lower utility bills.
The $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will fund the installation of new energy-efficient windows, insulation, air-source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and solar arrays. These upgrades will help reduce electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately leading to lower energy bills for residents.
The HUD grant is part of a larger initiative to support clean energy systems and improve energy efficiency in housing properties across the country. In total, HUD announced more than $69 million in grants to 10 developers, including the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), which owns and operates the Woodlen Place Apartments.
Julie Klump, vice president of design and building performance at POAH, emphasized the importance of additional resources to meet energy efficiency and sustainability goals. The grant will enable the housing complex to make significant upgrades that would not have been possible otherwise.
The grant program, established in 2022 with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to support climate and clean energy initiatives in housing properties that participate in HUD’s Section 8 rental assistance program for low-income individuals and families. This aligns with President Joe Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which seeks to deliver environmental and energy benefits to disadvantaged communities that have historically been marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
Studies have shown that low-income communities, particularly those with higher percentages of Black, Indigenous, and people of color, are disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards and climate change. The HUD grants are part of an effort to address these disparities and build more resilient housing that can withstand the effects of climate change, such as floods and extreme weather events.
The Woodlen Place Apartments project is just one example of how federal funding can support energy efficiency and sustainability in affordable housing developments. By investing in clean energy technologies and building standards, HUD is working to protect residents from rising energy costs and the impacts of climate change.
Overall, the HUD grants are a step towards advancing environmental justice and promoting sustainable housing practices that benefit both residents and the environment. The renovations at Woodlen Place Apartments will not only lower energy bills for residents but also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building more resilient communities in the face of climate change.