Free Energy & Water Benchmarking Services Available Through HUD

More than 700 properties have already signed up for the free service.

Recently, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs sent out information on HUD’s Energy and Water Benchmarking Service available for sites participating in HUD’s Multifamily project-based rental assistance programs. This free service provides participating owners with data on energy and water consumption at their sites.

The benchmarking service is free for owners of sites participating in HUD’s Multifamily Assisted Housing programs, including Section 8 project-based rental assistance, Section 202 Housing for Low-Income Elderly, Section 811 Housing for Low-Income Persons with Disabilities, and Section 236 Preservation programs. According to HUD, up to 9,000 properties may choose to participate in this service and, thus far, more than 700 properties have already signed up for the free service.

The benchmarking service is funded through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which established HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) with more than $800 million in grant funding and $4 billion in loan commitment authority. GRRP is the first HUD program to simultaneously invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, climate resilience, and low-embodied-carbon materials in HUD-assisted multifamily housing.

Actionable Data

The data provided from the free benchmarking service helps owners in identifying opportunities for energy efficiency improvements that can benefit residents and promote green investments in individual properties or entire property portfolios. Owners that choose to participate in HUD’s benchmarking service can use the resulting data to apply for GRRP grants and loans under the Comprehensive cohort, as well as to comply with the general GRRP benchmarking requirement. This data can also help owners understand and qualify for other energy and water efficiency programs funded by IRA or through their local jurisdictions and utilities.

The benchmarking service:

• Offers annual property analysis report identifying usage trends and opportunities for energy and water savings in your building(s).   
• Establishes eligibility for, or prepares you to make use of, federal, state, and utility energy efficiency programs, such as HUD’s Multifamily Green and Resilient Retrofit Program and EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund;
• Supports early compliance with local ordinances as more localities across the country take interest in energy usage data of multifamily properties; and
• Provides technical assistance, training, and other resources.

Personalized Support

By taking advantage of this service, HUD says owners will receive personalized support in assessing the efficiency of their buildings for up to four years. HUD’s contractor, Leidos, will support property owners and management by contacting utilities on their behalf to access the necessary energy and water use data and providing recommendations for cost and energy savings.  

Registration Info

While there is no set deadline, sites are encouraged to opt in as soon as possible as there is limited funding availability and to take advantage of the full four years of the initiative. Owners and management agents who are interested in participating should email their interest and the property ID(s) for the properties they would like benchmarked to mfbenchmarking@hud.gov.

HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Progress to Date

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act was the largest climate investment in history and established the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) in 2022 to fund energy efficiency and resiliency improvements for HUD’s assisted rental portfolio. All of the investments under the GRRP will be made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families, directly benefiting HUD-assisted housing.

• As of March 28, 2024, HUD has awarded $544.4 million in grants and surplus cash loans under the GRRP; $240.1 million in grants and $304.3 million in surplus cash loans;
• At the 50 percent mark of planned award funding, funds are being distributed to 109 properties and more than 12,600 rental homes, to make them greener, healthier, and safer for low-income households, seniors, and persons with disabilities. The projects span the range from targeted upgrades to major net-zero renovation for properties in 38 states and the District of Columbia;
• Of the awardees receiving grants and loans in six rounds of funding, 87 are properties receiving Multifamily Section 8 project-based rental assistance, 21 properties are receiving Section 202 project-based rental assistance for low-income seniors, and one is receiving Section 811 project-based rental assistance for low-income persons with disabilities;
• GRRP funding is being used for insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, heat-resistant roofs, energy-efficient heating and cooling, resiliency measures, and other improvements;
• GRRP is designed to work for properties of all sizes, and with a range of energy efficiency and climate resilience needs. Almost 20 properties receiving grant and loan awards have fewer than 50 units, some 70 properties have between 50 and 100 units, while 15 have more than 200 units; and
• More than 700 properties have also signed up for HUD’s free energy and water benchmarking service, funded with more than $40 million from the Inflation Reduction Act.