| Castle Square Apartments, Boston, a 1960s-era affordable property will be the Nation’s largest Deep Energy Retrofit, with 192 of its 500 apartments undergoing the Deep Energy Retrofit. The project will slash energy usage by 72 percent.In the U.S., existing buildings account for 40 percent of the nation’s energy use and 38 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions. A little known fact is that typical energy efficiency measures only result in an average energy savings of 30 percent. Doing what is typical is not going to make enough of a difference in reducing our carbon footprint.
Deep Energy Retrofits, defined as renovations saving at least 50 percent (at Castle Square we’re cutting energy by 72 percent!), provide a road map to achieve dramatic energy and carbon reductions in existing buildings. The Deep Energy Retrofit solution can and should be replicated systematically in buildings across the country. It’s already happening in Europe.
At Castle Square Apartments, the seven story buildings are literally being wrapped in a new super-insulated shell to drastically cut energy usage and transform the property’s look. This project is especially unique because it is not a gut rehab. Residents will stay in their apartments during the renovation, with minimal disruption.
In addition to dramatic energy savings, the renovation of Castle Square Apartments is expected to achieve U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold Certification. The renovation will utilize green building materials, improve indoor air quality, and reduce water consumption.
Castle Square Apartments is not a fancy luxury apartment complex or one-off project. It is low- and moderate-income housing, owned by residents, the Castle Square Square Tenants Organization, 501(c)3, with minority interest held by WinnCompanies. Residents are the key drivers for this Deep Energy Retrofit approach. |
