As an architect, developer, and activist interested in energy efficiency and Passive House, Tim McDonald has effectively incorporated building energy efficiency into affordable housing. New low-income housing is financed using tax credits, which are awarded according to a point system. McDonald was able to insert energy efficiency credits into the system, ultimately requiring the Passive House standard to be part of new affordable housing in Pennsylvania. McDonald has continued to roll out such efforts in an increasing number of states, including New York.

In addition to McDonald’s efforts, this program will highlight Greg Hale’s work for the New York Governor’s Office of Energy and Finance. New York State is launching an initiative to create a large private sector-driven deep energy retrofit market for existing multifamily buildings, starting with the affordable housing sector. The initiative, modeled after a successful Dutch program ‘Energiesprong’, rejects the incremental approach to improving building energy performance and instead advances a process that motivates the building industry to develop deep retrofit solutions that will transform existing housing stock into next generation buildings.

Organized by: AIANY Committee on the Environment