Projo Biz Blog

The Providence Housing Authority yesterday began a $12.1 million program to improve energy efficiency at sixteen of the authority's elderly and family developments.

Highlights of the plan include:

Decentralization of the heating plants at Chad Brown and Admiral Terrace.

Installation of low-flow faucet aerations, showerheads and low flow toilets.

Conversion of fuel heating systems to natural gas.

The housing authority announced the plan at a gathering of public officials and residents at the Dominica Manor in Providence. Partners in the energy saving project include the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, National Grid and Ameresco, a private energy solutions provider.

"We are truly excited by the opportunity to partner with Rhode Island's largest public housing authority and apply our considerable expertise with public housing authorities in significantly reducing energy consumption," said Ameresco's executive vice president David J. Anderson.

Ameresco said it had secured a first year $342,000 rebate and a second year rebate estimated at $297,000 from National Grid. The grants are the largest ever to be awarded since natural gas energy efficient programs became available in Rhode Island in 2007.

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