Affordable Housing- A Passive Building Pathway

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Future Focus Initiative Affordable Housing

A Passive Building Pathway

The Affordable Housing New Construction (AHNC) Pilot will demonstrate how a dedicated program for affordable housing development can increase low-income housing tax credit-financed projects, deepen energy savings, and support safer and healthier homes. This effort varies from Focus on Energy’s existing new construction program incentives because it specifically targets income-eligible units to promote high efficiency building practices.

Are you a developer or designer working in the affordable housing landscape? You can get cash incentives for implementing energy-efficient design into your next affordable multifamily housing project. Focus on Energy is looking for a total of 100 units, with a maximum of 40 per project, that meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the pilot.

Implementer: Slipstream

Timeline: January 2023- December 2025

Sector: Residential

About the Pilot

Through our Affordable Housing New Construction pilot, developers and design teams working on low-income housing tax credit projects can receive incentives for achieving either the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home Program or the Phius+ passive building certification on their project design.

Incentives

Pathway	Design Team Incentive	Developer Incentive
DOE ZERH	$7,000	$3,000/unit
Phius+	$10,000	$4,000/unit

Design team incentives are paid prior to construction starting and intended to offset the expense of meeting certification requirements. Developer incentives are paid upon successful project completion, inspection, and verification. Additional incentives for high performing affordable housing units are available through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Eligibility Requirements

Projects must meet the following criteria to qualify for Affordable Housing New Construction incentives from Focus on Energy:

The construction site must be served by a participating Focus on Energy utility.
You must have a documented application with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and an award letter for low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC).
The project must be in a schematic or design development phase.
The project may not be already enrolled in another Focus on Energy program.
Project must be more than four units.

Learn More

To learn if your project is eligible to participate, contact Dan Moring at dan.moring@focusonenergy.com.

Pilot Overview

Pilot Webinar

Apply Today

1 Complete the Focus Custom Project Application located on pages 5 & 6 below.

When completing the Custom Project Information form, the Design Team should be noted as the Trade Ally.

Custom Project Application

2 Fill out the online Supplemental Application below.

Be sure to have your Custom Application, WHEDA Application, and LIHTC Award letter available to upload.

Affordable Housing New Construction Supplemental Application