Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot

The Challenge: Rapidly Scale All-Electric Retrofits of Small, Multifamily Buildings

Triple decker homes are three-story multi-family buildings, usually wooden, that were built primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to meet the needs of the region’s growing working-class population. As with many older buildings in Massachusetts, triple deckers overwhelmingly rely on fossil fuels for heating and powering certain appliances. They often lack proper weatherization, leading to uncomfortable drafts and indoor temperatures. Decarbonizing triple deckers dramatically improves their performance and helps Massachusetts move toward its goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To accelerate the pace of all-electric retrofitting of Massachusetts' buildings, we need more examples of how it can be done, insights into best practices, and an understanding of the costs and benefits.

About the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot

In 2020, MassCEC ran the Triple Decker Design Challenge, which called on professionals in the buildings sphere to share their innovative methods for retrofitting triple deckers. The Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot then applied the ideas from the Design Challenge to the real world so homeowners could benefit directly. A total of $700,000 was awarded to owners of market-rate housing, while $1,400,000 was awarded to affordable housing.

Participants received a home visit from the program’s technical consultants (Abode Energy Management and New Ecology, Inc.) to understand opportunities for saving energy and cutting emissions. The technical consultants then developed a "decarbonization roadmap" for each triple decker, recommending immediate improvements and considerations for future upgrades. Participants began implementing the recommended upgrades, with the aim of achieving fully electric hot water and heating systems, electric appliances, and comprehensive home weatherization. Participants also had access to professional decision-making support, which included targeted education, comparison of installation quotes, and reviews of available rebates and incentives.

Once the retrofits were complete, the technical consultants conducted a final site visit to review the measures implemented and discuss opportunities for future decarbonization that were outside the initial scope of the pilot program.