Retrofitting Affordable Multifamily Housing: A Survey of Landlords in Cincinnati, Ohio

Abstract

Building energy efficiency retrofits are a crucial part of decarbonizing the building sector and decreasing residential energy burden—low-income households, renters, and residents of multifamily buildings disproportionately bear this burden. This study serves as a case study on WarmUp Cincy (2020-2022), a local government-led pilot program that provided grants to landlords of affordable multifamily housing to help implement energy efficiency retrofits. In partnership with the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability, I assess results from the pilot program, develop and analyze a survey of affordable housing landlords in Cincinnati, and conduct interviews with key energy stakeholders in the region to answer: 1) what are landlords’ current priorities and understandings of the cost and energy savings of specific upgrades, and 2) what energy efficiency program elements will be most effective in serving these buildings? As the City transitions towards a second phase of WarmUp Cincy to better address its climate and energy equity goals, this study seeks to provide insight on how to approach key program design questions, such as selecting a program administrator and determining a list of eligible technologies. In addition, this study explores WarmUp Cincy’s synergies with other federal and state funding programs, WarmUp Cincy’s continuing role in addressing local planning challenges of outreach and workforce development, and the importance of program evaluation as building technologies, funding opportunities, and community education change over time.