In the midst of a housing shortage, costs are up and affordability is a challenge for Oregonians across the state. That can be felt most acutely by people experiencing low and moderate incomes, many of whom live in multifamily buildings.

Energy Trust works with affordable housing developers starting very early in the process, with cash incentives and technical guidance to help them build energy-saving features into new buildings starting in the earliest stages of design.

This support makes it easier and less expensive for multifamily housing developers to install clean energy solutions—including heat pump water heaters, tighter building envelopes that prevent energy loss, and better windows—that lower utility bills for people on a tight budget, helping them put more money toward rent and other expenses.

Many affordable housing developers are community-based organizations and nonprofit agencies who have competing priorities that limit their staff capacity and budget to incorporate efficiency. Energy Trust helps fill the gap, providing expertise on clean energy systems and how to build energy solutions into their properties, plus incentives that make project budgets pencil out.

Better by design

For Alberta Alive, a collaborative development with two properties housing families and veterans in Portland’s King neighborhood, early design assistance meetings supported by Energy Trust helped the developers focus on sustainable solutions.

The process brought energy experts and the full project team together to look deep into the plans and make fully informed decisions about energy-saving opportunities. Energy Trust provided incentives for early design and technical assistance, energy-efficient features and solar-ready design. Both properties incorporated features such as window glazing, insulation and shading to reduce energy load, and ductless heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling. A central heat pump water heater system reduces hot water costs, which can be significant in multifamily properties.

“Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re seeing warmer summers,” said Rosanne Lynch, project architect, Access Architecture. “Having appropriate heating and cooling is part of what I would call environmental justice, ensuring the people who are living in affordable housing can have comfort all year round.”

In 2024, Energy Trust supported 64 new affordable housing projects with incentives totaling $4.1 million.

Energy Trust’s total investment in new affordable housing incentives is over $23 million since 2002, delivering energy savings of 75 million kWh and nearly 792,100 therms. All together, clean energy features installed in those affordable housing buildings have already saved owners and residents nearly $67 million on energy costs. The savings will eventually grow to over $160 million over the lifetime of those investments.

Affordable housing is the foundation for every family’s health, well-being and economic stability. Incorporating clean energy solutions in new and existing homes does more than lower utility bills. It is a path forward for a more stable future—for the people, businesses and communities who call Oregon home.