Owners of small buildings can get up to $50,000 per unit to fund decarbonization retrofits.
A new forgivable loan program from the city of Boston will help small housing owners switch their buildings to electric power, reports Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive.
“There are several stipulations for the owners, who will be selected through an October lottery and can get up to $50,000 per unit: They must live in the building, have a household income below a certain threshold and charge below a certain amount for rent, plus the building must have been built before 1999.”
The program is part of a larger effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and introduce renewable energy alternatives. “The city says the work will give residents better indoor air quality and comfort, along with lower utility bills. But the city also wants to avoid the upgraded housing resulting in the displacement of current tenants, and building owners given grants are not allowed to displace tenants in good standing or unreasonably raise rent as a result of the retrofits.”
FULL STORY: Boston launches pilot to help small housing owners go electric
How to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
Eliminating fossil fuels means shifting how electricity is produced and distributed from the source.
Boston Eliminates Fossil Fuels in New City-Owned Buildings
Mayor Michelle Wu said the new rule will help boost demand for green materials and create new jobs in the green building sector.
Cincinnati To Electrify Municipal Fleet by 2035
The city of Cincinnati will beef up its efforts to shift to renewable energy starting next week with electric police cars, fire trucks, and other city vehicles.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research