Affordable Housing Decarbonization Grant Program

DOER's large-scale grant program funds deep energy retrofits and decarbonization projects in the affordable housing sector that benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

About the Program

DOER’s Affordable Housing Decarbonization Grant Program was created in 2023. The large-scale grant program funds deep energy retrofits and decarbonization projects in the affordable housing sector that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. The objectives of the program are to improve public health, preserve housing affordability for residents, provide local workforce opportunities, and accelerate Massachusetts’ clean energy transition.

The decarbonization of Massachusetts’ existing buildings is a critical component of the Commonwealth’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Projects will improve energy efficiency, install solar panels, make improvements like roof repairs and electrical updates, and electrify buildings through ground and air source heat pumps and other electrical appliances for low- or moderate-income housing.

Applicants seeking more than $1 million must commit to providing opportunities for the local workforce. The program will provide significant investments in the building sector, and leverage programs like Mass Save® to help affordable housing developments lower emissions and energy use.

Health benefits for residents of retrofitted buildings will include indoor air quality improvements and local air pollution reduction. Program benefits include higher performing buildings that offer residents better indoor air quality and comfort, lower ongoing energy costs for residents and affordable housing providers, the opportunity for affordable housing providers to upgrade their housing stock, and healthier air in the communities were housing is located.

First and Second Grant Rounds

The first round of grants under this program was announced in November 2023. The grants will be used to fund deep energy retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades, building system electrification, and onsite renewable energy generation in ten affordable housing developments in communities across Massachusetts.

The second round of grants was announced in July 2024. The grants will help affordable housing properties in five communities lower energy demand and decarbonize through deep energy retrofits, energy efficiency upgrades and building electrification.

Projects awarded funding in the first two rounds follow. Project descriptions can be found in the announcements.

• Fairweather Salem by the Preservation of Affordable Housing
• Hanno Homes by Allston Brighton CDC
• Treehouse by Beacon Communities
• Carol Ave Apartments by Allston Brighton CDC
• Prospect Place by Valley CDC
• Former Wilson Department Store by The Community Builders
• Mildred C. Hailey Project by the Boston Housing Authority
• Mission Main Apartments by Winn Development
• Honan Apartments by Allston Brighton CDC
• Village at Brookline by Winn Development
• 124, 126, 128 Canterbury Street and 6 Florence Street by Worcester Common Ground
• Franklin Field by the Boston Housing Authority
• Orchard Gardens by Madison Park
• 259 Lowell Street by Visiting Nurse Communities

Third Grant Round

The third round of grants was announced in September 2025. The grants will help 24 affordable housing properties in 21 communities with upgrade and build 1,638 housing units with modern heating and cooling systems, better insulation, improved air quality, and in many cases, on-site energy generation.

DOER has awarded over $96 million in funding across the two rounds, helping to decarbonize more than 2,900 homes. Projects awarded funding in Round 3 are:

Boston:

• Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation will receive $480,000 for its 40-42 Ashford Street project in Allston, which will retrofit 12 affordable homes. The project will fully electrify heating and hot water, and make energy efficiency upgrades including new insulation that uses wood fiber to sequester carbon, new windows, and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) system, which minimizes energy loss and improves indoor air quality. The project expects a 69% reduction in energy use and a 58% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Beacon Communities will receive $850,000 for its 50 Herald Street new construction project in the South End, which will create 117 new affordable homes. Beacon Communities is working on behalf of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England. The project will be an all-electric, zero emissions building, plans to install a 44,300 kWh solar system, and will pursue Passive House certification. Wood framing will be used on the upper stories to reduce embodied carbon.
• Boston Housing Authority will receive $1.76 million for its 22 Pond Street project in Jamaica Plain, which will retrofit 44 affordable homes for older residents. The project will include full electrification of heating, cooling and hot water, and a planned 163,200 kWh solar system. Energy efficiency upgrades will include new windows and insulation. The project expects to reduce energy use intensity by 74% and greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.
• Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation will receive $6.2 million for its Washington Columbia I project in Dorchester, which will retrofit 151 affordable homes. The project will install a new ERV system and significant incremental energy efficiency upgrades, including windows, insulation, air sealing and air infiltration improvements. The project estimates a 69% reduction in energy consumption, paving the way for future electrification.
• Commonwealth Land Trust will receive $640,000 for its 250 Seaver Street project in Dorchester, which is an adaptive reuse project that will convert a large historic home into supportive housing. The project will electrify heating and hot water, install ERV and drain water heating recovery systems, and include new windows and insulation. The project expects a 60% energy use intensity reduction and a 69% emissions reduction.
• Planning Office for Urban Affairs will receive $3.105 million for its Saint Mary’s Center for Women and Children project in Dorchester, which will retrofit 51 and add 71 new construction units, all of which are affordable. The project will electrify heating and hot water, add EV charging stations, and committed to use local concrete and recycled materials. The new building will include a 56 kW solar system. The existing building will be fully decarbonized and expects to lower GHG emissions by 52% and achieve LEED Gold certification. The new construction building will be all electric, and expects to receive numerous certifications, including Passive House, LEED Multifamily Gold, and more.
• The Community Builders, Inc. will receive $1.84 million for its Building 104 project in Charlestown, which will retrofit 46 affordable homes. The project will electrify heating and hot water, and expects a 44% reduction in energy consumption.
• Urban Edge will receive $1.46 million for its Theroch Apartments project in Dorchester and Roxbury, which will retrofit 36 affordable homes, most of which are for older residents. The project will electrify heating and hot water and upgrade the electrical systems to make the buildings solar ready. Energy efficiency measures will include new windows, building envelope improvements, and roof and insulation upgrades. The project expects an energy use intensity reduction of between 51% and 62%.

North of Boston:

• Harborlight Homes will receive $2.68 million in funding for its Turtle Woods project in Beverly, which will retrofit 67 affordable homes. The project will electrify heating and install a 100 kW solar system. Energy efficiency upgrades include new windows and building envelope and insulation improvements. The project anticipates about $30,000 in annual energy savings.
• Lynn Housing Authority Development Group will receive $880,000 for its St. Jean Baptiste project in Lynn, which will retrofit 24 affordable homes. The project will fully electrify heating and hot water, and install an 81,806 kWh solar system that will provide 58% percent of the electricity used at the current site. Energy efficiency upgrades include improvements to the roof, walls, new windows, an ERV system and LED lights. The project aims to meet Enterprise Green Community standards.
• Neighborhood Developers will receive $840,000 for its 110 Ocean Avenue project in Revere, which is a new construction project that will add 56 affordable homes. The project will feature all electric heating and hot water, right sized to meet the high-performance envelope, include a 90,000 kWh rooftop solar system, and meet the Specialized Stretch Code. Resiliency features include moving the mechanical systems out of the flood plane. The project aims to recycle at least 50% of construction waste and will use cross laminated timber for caron sequestration. The project will include high performance windows, walls, and roof.
• New England Homes for the Deaf will receive $1.74 million for its The Waterhouse project in Danvers. The new construction project will include 93 affordable and 23 market rate homes. The project will feature all electric heating and hot water, and plans to include 8 EV chargers and a 205.3 kWh solar system. Energy efficiency measures will include high performance walls, building envelope, roof, window, and air infiltration technologies. The building will meet PHIUS and DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes standards.
• North Shore Community Development Corporation will receive $720,000 for its The Residences at El Centro project in Salem. The new construction project will add 48 affordable homes. This project will be all electric, including heating, hot water and an ERV system. A solar system installation is proposed. The project plans to pursue Passive House certification.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing will receive $7.76 million for its Fairweather Apartments scatter-site project located in Beverly, Danvers and Peabody. The project will retrofit 194 affordable units in the three senior housing communities. Existing baseboard heating and hot water will be replaced with ultra-efficient heating systems. The project proposes a solar system on each building, which will together total 207 kW and reduce emissions by 50%. All three buildings will feature Passive House-level energy efficiency. Energy costs will be reduced from $2.16 to $1.29 per square foot per year, and the project expects a 50% reduction in emissions.
• Visiting Nurse at Highland will receive $5.48 million for its 186-190 Highland Avenue retrofit project in Somerville. The project will update 137 units of housing for older residents, 107 of which are affordable. It will include a geothermal ground source heat pump system for heating and also electrify hot water. The project will install 120 kW of solar across the three sites, provide a 76% energy savings and reduce carbon emissions by 75.8%. Energy efficiency upgrades include improving the building envelope and walls, and new windows and roof.

Southeastern Mass.:

• Bushwood 545, LLC will receive $2.64 million for its 545 Main Street project in Falmouth. The project is an adaptive reuse of a historic former nursing home that will retrofit 67 units, 34 of which are affordable. The project will electrify all heating, hot water and kitchens, including the commercial kitchen, and install a 110,000 kWh solar system. Energy efficiency upgrades will be made to the building envelope and LED lights will be installed.
• Hebrew Senior Life will receive $1.4 million for its 338 Canton Street project in Stoughton. The new construction project will create 96 affordable homes for older residents. The building will be all-electric, install a 246 kW solar system, meet the Specialized Stretch Code, and aims for Passive House certification and DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes standard. The project expects energy costs 37% lower than an average new construction building.
• Planning Office for Urban Affairs will receive $750,000 in funding for its Attleboro Family Center project in Attleboro, an adaptive reuse project that will retrofit 50 emergency family shelter units. The project will fully electrify heating, hot water, and cooking appliances; include an ERV system; and upgrade the building envelope, including a new roof, windows, exterior walls and insulation. The project will also include a 99,368 kWh solar system for onsite energy generation.
• The Community Builders, Inc. will receive $780,000 for its Cloverleaf project in Truro. The project is a new construction, two building, 43-unit mixed income project (35 units affordable, 8 market rate). The project will be all electric for heating, hot water, and cooking. Roof mounted PV solar on the buildings will generate 190.75 kW, or 76% of the projected energy consumption. Six parking spaces will have EV chargers and 27 spaces will be EV ready. The main multifamily building will meet Passive House certification, and nine townhouses will meet the Specialized Stretch Code.

Metro West:

• Metro West Collaborative Development will receive $705,000 for its 5 Auburn Street project in Natick. The combined adaptive reuse and new construction project will update or create 32 affordable homes. The project will fully electrify heating and hot water. The new building have a solar system for onsite energy generation, and the project will add EV charging. The building will be designed to meet the Specialized Stretch Code. Energy efficiency upgrades to the existing building include new insulation and upgraded windows.
• Needham Housing Authority will receive $2.98 million for its Linden Terrace and Seabeds Way projects in Needham. Linden Terrace is a new construction project that will create 76 affordable homes. The project will include all electric heating and hot water, and plans to include a solar system and EV chargers. The project will reduce impervious surface areas to assist with stormwater management, and is aiming for Passive House certification. Seabeds Way is a retrofit project that will upgrade 46 affordable homes. The project will electrify heating and hot water and expects to see a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency upgrades include building envelope and insulation improvements.

Western Mass.:

• Valley Community Development Corporation will receive $450,000 for its 27 Crafts Ave. project in Northampton, a new construction project that will create 30 affordable homes. The project will include a ground source heat pump system to electrify heating, cooling and hot water. The geothermal system will be built to connect to City Hall and its annex to create a thermal micro grid. The project will include a 12 kW solar system with battery storage and will add EV charging, which will be open for public use. The building will seek Passive House certification.
• Way Finders will receive $480,000 for its 213 Chestnut Street project in Holyoke. The retrofit project, which will update 12 affordable homes, will electrify heating and hot water. The project plans to include a 16 kW solar system and expects to reduce energy consumption by 71% and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 47%. Energy efficiency upgrades include new insulation and Energy Star Certification.

Additional Information

Private parties, non-profits, municipalities, or other public entities are welcome to apply for the funds.

DOER accepted grant applications for the third round through January 31, 2025. Program Opportunity Notices for possible future rounds of applications will be available on COMMBUYS and a link will be posted here.

DOER’s Affordable Housing Decarbonization Technical Assistance Program provides no-cost support to property owners of affordable housing as they transition to efficient, electrified buildings. Technical assistance is available to help private parties, non-profits, municipalities and other public entities successfully apply for grants and move forward on their journey to decarbonize affordable housing.