In late July, Wesley Housing received a $19,500 Net-Zero Energy Project Design Assistance grant award from the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). This grant is funding early design assistance for 1 Hawaii Ave as it pursues the viability of net-zero energy.
Early, integrated design is essential to enable buildings to achieve deep energy efficiency, but can be difficult to fund through existing project budgets. The funds awarded for the 1 Hawaii Ave project are being used to conduct a feasibility study that will help identify cost-effective strategies that can be incorporated into the design and determine if the building can achieve net-zero energy.
The study, expected to conclude in September 2019, will advance the design team’s understanding of different strategies for heating and cooling, envelope details, domestic hot water, plug loads and other considerations to dramatically reduce energy demand.
Aligning with Mayor Bowser’s pledge to make Washington, DC carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050, the development project team is committed to exploring net-zero energy options. Further, Clean Energy DC requires net-zero energy standards for all new construction and major retrofit projects by 2026. In the seven years remaining until this deadline, the design and construction industry must actively pursue strategies to dramatically reduce energy loads and optimize on-site renewable energy.
Not only does a new building create the opportunity for more affordable homes, it also presents the opportunity to simply make a better building, one that – through smart design and construction choices – improves the health and well-being of its residents and significantly reduces the building’s overall environmental impact. WHDC is honored to receive this funding and is very eager to deliver this project.