Colorado-based nonprofit partners with City for energy efficiency work

A Colorado-based nonprofit with projects across the U.S. has completed energy assessments on eight multifamily properties in Albuquerque, with plans to subcontract with local firms for weatherization and energy efficiency work.

The City of Albuquerque's Health, Housing and Homelessness Department announced on April 18 it partnered with the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology, or ICAST, for energy efficiency upgrades to the eight affordable housing properties owned by the City.

Headquartered in Denver, ICAST has existing work in New Mexico, managing the Public Service Co. of New Mexico and the New Mexico Gas Co.'s multifamily energy efficiency programs and serving as a contractor with the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

Monica Paici, director of marketing for ICAST, said the nonprofit has completed assessments of the eight City-owned properties. The City now has to determine when it wants the work done and at which properties.

ICAST plans to subcontract weatherization and energy efficiency work to local firms through a request for proposals process. Paici said the cost of upgrades depends on the scope of work and the type of property.

The nonprofit will provide funding for the energy efficiency and weatherization work supported by federal and state dollars. The City of Albuquerque could also cover part of the costs, Katie Simon, public affairs specialist for the City's Health, Housing and Homelessness Department, said.

Most of the costs would be covered by federal and state funds, Joseph Montoya, deputy director of Housing for the City of Albuquerque, said.

Montoya said completing the energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades to the properties would have several benefits — two of which include saving renters money, and saving the City money.

"The first and foremost thing of course is we want to be able to lower the amount of money that our renters are having to put out for utilities," he said. "From an economic development standpoint, that provides more discretionary money for those people to be able to spend on consumables, rather than simply having to be able to provide it for energy they're using."

The eight properties set to receive weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades are:

Completing various property upgrades could also help those buildings last longer. That lengthens the time in which the City can use those properties, Montoya said.

The City wants to reach 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations by 2025. Making the eight City-owned properties environmentally sustainable will be a step toward that goal, too, Montoya added.

ICAST's partnership with the City of Albuquerque is one part of broader City efforts to reduce energy costs and boost energy efficiency in low-income communities, outlined in the City's 2021 Climate Action Plan. It's previously worked with the Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) and Prosperity Works to provide more than 200 homes with free energy audits and upgrades.

"We're continuing to address the unequal energy burdens that our frontline communities face," Ann Simon, deputy director of policy and sustainability officer for the City, said in a statement. "Energy efficiency projects like these save families money, reduce emissions, and help make our city more equitable."

Besides working with PNM, the New Mexico Gas Co. and the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, ICAST also has ongoing work on an over $20 million solar and battery storage project with the Taos Pueblo and Taos-based Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Inc., which received a chunk of federal support in March.