Multifamily Energy Innovation Fund

The primary purpose of the Program is to stimulate innovative approaches for increasing the energy efficiency of existing multifamily residential properties that can be replicated by others. HUD expects that outcomes of the Program will include: a. Reduced energy consumption in multifamily residential properties, with resulting savings for families, property owners, and in some cases the Federal government, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. b. Increased private investment to support energy efficiency in such properties. c. Green jobs in construction, property management, and technical analysis (e.g., energy audits, building commissioning), including job opportunities for low-income people. d. Acquisition and analysis of data on the costs, benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with retrofitting such properties. e. Approaches for retrofitting such properties that can be scaled up, applied more widely and adopted by other parties. f. Approaches that propose solutions to the disparity among the parties when their financial or other interests are not the same, such as the difference in perspective when utilities are paid only by the ownership or only by the tenants, i.e., the so-called "split incentives" issue.

This program is directed at the multifamily housing market, to catalyze innovations in the residential energy efficiency sector that have promise of replicability and to help create a standardized home energy efficient retrofit market.

Must be related to eligible multifamily housing.

In the application for funding from this Grant Program, Letters of Commitment are required to provide evidence of funds for matching and leverage. Owners must show evidence of control of subject properties and of managing or directing programs impacting a minimum of 1000 units of affordable housing when required for eligibility. Environmental certifications will be required for properties receiving grant money.

Awards will be made in each of two different categories, Financing Demonstrations and Applied Research Demonstrations. --Financing Demonstrations are initiatives that demonstrate innovative methods for financing retrofits of multifamily properties that achieve the criteria described in this NOFA. Financing Demonstrations must offer a plan to achieve both of the following: a. Leverage additional capital; and b. Test new ways of funding retrofit improvements. Examples of eligible financing demonstrations are: (1) energy retrofit financing vehicles providing investor equity; (2) loan loss reserves; interest rate reductions; (3) secondary financing; loan guarantees; secured and unsecured loans; (4) energy-related revolving loan programs; (5) on-bill utility repayment programs or other mechanisms; and (6) power purchase agreements, energy performance contracts, or similar financing structures. --Applied Research Demonstrations are initiatives that demonstrate innovative and scalable methods of defining and implementing a solution to a longstanding barrier to multifamily residential retrofits that is not primarily financial in nature. The barrier could be behavioral, structural, regulatory, or related to availability of information or options. Applied Research Demonstrations must apply a proposed solution to an actual property or group of properties and be applicable to other similar properties. Examples of Applied Research are: a.Solutions that provide more information on and greater owner and/or tenant control over energy use; b.Solutions that convert properties from master metered/owner paid utilities to individually metered/tenant paid utilities that result in efficiencies and savings, or vice versa; and c.Conservation practices and solutions that address the problem of split incentives by creating incentives for parties that promote investment strategies for energy improvements.

All awards will be made for a period of performance not to exceed 24 months commencing upon award execution.

Electronic applications through Grants.gov

The Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)provides the selection criteria for scoring that is used for rating and ranking. An excerpt from the NOFA follows: -Financing Demonstrations. The maximum number of points to be awarded for the Multifamily Energy Pilot Financing Demonstrations is 100. The minimum score for an application to be considered for funding is 75 points. The Program is subject to bonus points, as described in the General Section requirements for FY2010. Two bonus points may be awarded for work that benefits an RC/EZ/EC . Rating Factor 1: Applicant's Relevant Experience and Capacity Rating Factor 2: Soundness of Approach Rating Factor 3: Matching Funds and Leveraging above the Matching Funds Requirement Rating Factor 4: Low Income Housing Needs Rating Factor 5: Sustainable Solutions . -Applied Research Demonstrations. The maximum number of points to be awarded for the Multifamily Energy Pilot Applied Research is 100. The minimum score for an application to be considered for funding is 75 points. The Program is subject to bonus points, as described in the General Section requirements for FY2010. Two bonus points may be awarded for work that benefits an RC/EZ/EC. Rating Factor 1: Applicant's Relevant Experience and Capacity Rating Factor 2: Soundness of Approach ( Rating Factor 3: Leveraging Funds above the Matching Funds Requirement Rating Factor 4: Low Income Housing Needs Rating Factor 5: Sustainable Solutions .

Applications will be rated and ranked in the category of financing demonstration or the category of applied research demonstration. The ratings factors are: Applicant's Relevant Experience and Capacity, Soundness of Approach, Matching Funds and Leveraging above the Matching Funds Requirement, Low Income Housing Needs, Sustainable Solutions. Applicants are eligible to apply for and receive up to 2 bonus points related to work to support RC/EZ/ECs.

see the Notice of Funding