Deep Energy Retrofit: Brian J. Honan Apartments

The Brian J. Honan Apartments, owned and managed by Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation, is a 50-unit affordable property that houses over 100 residents, many of whom have lived there for over a decade. The deep energy retrofit project is focused on enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability for the property’s nine side-by-side 3-story duplex buildings built in 2007, with significant projected energy savings and emissions reductions. The scope of work will result in much improved indoor air quality – critical for this property near the Mass Pike – and thermal comfort, adding centralized, efficient cooling for the first time.

Municipality: Boston (Allston)

Project Type: Deep Energy Retrofit

Year Built: 2007

Year of Retrofit: 2026

Community/Building Type: Nine side-by-side three-story duplex buildings

Units: 50 (all affordable)

Financing Breakdown

• $8 million in MCCB climate retrofit financing
• $9.8 million in other MassHousing products
• Other Sources
  • $2 million Affordable Housing Decarbonization Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
  • $1.6 million City of Boston’s Retrofit Fund
  • $736,000 LEAN funding from MassSave
  • $150,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
  • $60,000 from the Liberty Mutual Foundation
  • $3,000 from the Lawrence Model Lodging Houses Trust
  • $2.5 million Climate Ready Housing Grant from MassHousing, MHP, LISC, and EOHLC
• Additional project financing includes state low-income housing tax credits and Affordable Homes Act resources from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Improvements

• Indoor Air Filtration
• Electrified Heating & Cooling
• Electrified Hot Water Systems
• New Insulation
• Air Sealing
• Rooftop Solar

Energy Outcomes

• 47% modeled energy cost savings
• 51% modeled reduction in carbon emissions
• 62% modeled reduction in energy consumption