Greener and Leaner: Lower Energy and Water Consumption, and Reduced Work Orders, in Newly Constructed Boston Public Housing

Michael Brod,Meryl D Colton,Charlotte Gabel,José Guillermo Cedeño Laurent,John Kane,Gary Adamkiewicz

doi:10.3390/atmos11040329

Michael Brod, Meryl D Colton + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11040329

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Abstract

The Boston Residential Investigation on Green and Healthy Transitions (BRIGHT) Study is focused on quantifying the effects of redeveloping public housing developments into new buildings with improved energy performance and indoor environmental quality. This report presents an analysis of utility consumption and work order requests at Old Colony and Washington-Beech, two redeveloped housing sites in Boston, Massachusetts. We compare the consumption of electricity, natural gas, and water, as well as work order data, from 2012–2014 to development-wide baseline data from 2006–2009. We found that despite the higher number of electric appliances in the new apartments (e.g., air conditioning and ranges), electricity consumption decreased 46% in Old Colony and nearly 30% in Washington-Beech when compared to the baseline data. Natural gas used for space heating decreased by more than 70% at both sites; and water use decreased by nearly 56% at Old Colony and nearly 30% at Washington-Beech. Work order categories that directly influence the residents’ quality of life, such as pests, mold, windows and plumbing decreased by more than 50% in both renovated sites. In combination with previous documentation of health improvements in the redeveloped sites, these results provide further evidence of the magnitude of benefits from updating public housing infrastructure using green design principles.

Highlights

Buildings in the U.S account for approximately 41% of the total energy consumption and 12%of the potable water consumption [1]
Post-redevelopment Old Colony (OC) consumed almost 75% less natural gas used for space heating compared with pre-redevelopment conditions, and almost 75% less natural gas used for baseload applications
The new apartments were lit by longer-lasting, energy-efficient lamps, the increase in work orders might be explained by the higher overall density of hard-wired light fixtures that were maintained by Boston Housing Authority (BHA) staff

Summary

Introduction

Buildings in the U.S account for approximately 41% of the total energy consumption and 12%. Of the potable water consumption [1]. The residential sector alone is responsible for 22% of the total primary energy consumption in the U.S [2]. Superfluous energy and water consumption are the result of outdated building designs, structures and systems that have been subject to years of deferred maintenance and lack of renovation or redevelopment. Energy conservation measures in residential buildings could reduce energy consumption by 28% by 2020, saving approximately $41 billion annually in energy costs [3].

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