Press Releases

Monterey, Calif. - February 9, 2005 - The Housing Authority of the County of Monterey is hosting an energy efficiency workshop at 123 Rico Street in Salinas on Thursday, February 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will learn how tenants and developers can lower their energy needs and receive tremendous cost-savings. For information on how to qualify for this new program called Energy Efficiency-Based Utility Allowances or to learn more, please call Puja Manglani at 916-962-7001 to make a reservation or have questions answered.

Affordable housing owners and developers will learn:

• About the Housing Authority of Monterey's adoption of lower utility allowance schedules for energy efficient projects and projects that install Photovoltaic and Solar systems: Energy Efficiency-Based Utility Allowance (EEBUA) schedule and On-Site Generation Utility Allowance (OGUA) schedule


• The steps to qualify for EEBUA and OGUA


• Energy efficient design, construction measures and practices needed to qualify for energy efficiency incentives and how to prepare for the 2005 energy standards

The Housing Authority of the County of Monterey adopted a policy that lowers utility allowances for energy efficient affordable housing projects. An Energy Efficiency-Based Utility Allowances (EEBUA) permits owners and developers to recover their investment in energy efficiency and on-site electric generation in new construction or rehabilitation projects.

While the Energy Efficiency-Based Utility Allowance (EEBUA) model is based on a specific level of energy efficiency, the model also has a factor built-in ensuring that part of the cash benefit of the energy efficiency improvements will flow to the tenants as well as the owner-developer. This savings results in positive benefits with no adverse effects on the tenant.

The Board also adopted an On-Site Generation Utility Allowance Schedule. If an owner-developer provides on-site electric generation that covers all or part of the tenants' electrical needs, the electric portion of the utility bill could be diverted to the owner to help finance the cost of the on-site generation system

As part of this program, owners who are interested in rehabilitating their properties to improve energy efficiency by at least 20% may qualify for cash incentives of up to $700 per unit for projects with nine or more units, or $1500 per unit for projects between three and eight units.