The realities of resilience for public housing

Upgrade properties affordably

Government funds and low-interest loans specifically for low-income communities and public and affordable housing properties are available now—but you must act quickly. Let us help you capture this opportunity and make your properties more resilient.

Residents of public and affordable housing properties can be particularly vulnerable to intense weather events. New funding options and solutions help you protect the health and safety of people who are elderly, disabled or economically disadvantaged—and those solutions are available to small, 50-unit properties as well as billion-dollar housing authorities.

Government funding: Prepare to be first in line.

Recently released Inflation Recovery Act (IRA) funds, Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money, and low-interest loans for sustainable equipment upgrades are creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for affordable and low-income housing properties. The key is to have shovel-ready projects so you can apply quickly and qualify. Johnson Controls can help you get your details in order.

New unitary HVAC products: Standalone but connected.

Central heating and cooling systems can be convenient, but they also pose a risk: When a system goes down due to a weather event or other challenge, it can affect the whole building. Standalone products like unitary air-source heat pumps, including hybrid models for colder climates, help you avoid outages for an entire community.

At the same time, these new models can be connected via tools like the QOLSYS platform, a brand-agnostic Johnson Controls product, to keep landlords informed about performance and potential issues. That helps speed response and enhance occupant comfort.

Security solutions: Protect residents and equipment.

You may associate resilience with weather, but security also plays a role. New key fobs help keep residents safe, while equipment such as card-based washers and dryers ensure assets are used by residents only. Johnson Controls offers a range of security solutions, from cameras and intrusion detection to access control.

Renewables: Save with community solar gardens.

Solar power, in tandem with onsite battery storage, helps you diversify energy sources to ensure a continuous power supply. Renewables also generate savings that can be used toward other property improvements. What’s more, low-income housing properties can get an IRS rebate of up to 50% on solar installation costs.

Energy as a service: Help your balance sheet and your staff.

This financing strategy lets you buy heating and cooling services from Johnson Controls, with specified metrics guaranteed. We make any upgrades, such as installing solar panels or converting to electric/geothermal boilers. And we take on the risks of owning and operating the equipment, building in options to revert ownership down the road. You save on maintenance and operating costs and free up capital for other uses.

Small rural public housing agency captures big savings

Johnson Controls found a creative way for the Housing Authority of West Plains, Missouri, to modernize its 273 low-income housing units, including 55 duplexes and two apartment towers. We combined a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant; Inflation Reduction Act grants and rebates; utilities savings; and a Green Bank low-interest loan to raise $5.5M.

The funding will cover much-needed air conditioning in each unit, lowflow toilets, LED lighting, and building envelope improvements. The project also includes floor-by-floor isolation valves to make serving building systems easier and faster, and to limit repair impact on residents. A state-of-the-art York rooftop unit will be installed on one apartment tower, and heat pump HVAC units added to the duplexes and single-family homes.

The result: a 32 percent carbon footprint reduction and, thanks to guaranteed energy savings of 30 percent, a $777,000 net positive at end of term. In addition, water consumption will be reduced by more than 40 percent. Ultimately, the project brings comfortable, efficient homes to rural senior citizens, people with physical challenges, and struggling families.

Start with a primary assessment — contact us today!

Have Johnson Controls experts visit your site for a high-level overview of your properties, your mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment, and your utility costs. Plus, we’ll help you determine what state or federal funding you may quality for. Complete the form below to get started.

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