The Challenge: Rapidly Scale All-Electric Retrofits of Small, Multifamily Buildings
To accelerate all-electric retrofits of Massachusetts' buildings, we need real-world examples of how it can be done, insights into best practices, and an understanding of the costs and benefits. Through the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot, MassCEC will build upon the lessons learned during our Triple Decker Design Challenge to demonstrate cost-effective decarbonization strategies for these locally common multi-family buildings. The Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot will showcase examples of all-electric retrofits and reveal additional insights. The results will inform efforts to rapidly scale all-electric retrofits of small multi-family buildings in the coming years.
About the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot
The Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot offers technical support and incremental financial incentives to implement high-efficiency, all-electric retrofits of triple deckers, as well as performance monitoring to document the results. The Pilot offers two tracks: one for owners of Affordable Housing triple deckers and one for owners of Market Rate triple deckers. Both tracks offer incentives for retrofitting existing units or adding an additional all-electric unit.
MassCEC is pleased to have under contract New Ecology, Inc. (NEI) and Abode Energy Management as technical consultants for this pilot. The technical consultants:
- Assist with program design and participant recruitment
- Conduct assessments of existing building conditions
- Provide technical support for building retrofits
- Test and analyze the efficacy of recommended weatherization approaches
- Conduct performance monitoring
Affordable Housing: $160,000; Market-Rate: $70,000-$125,000 depending on project scope
Affordable Track: Closed; Market-Rate Track: Closed
Funding Schedule: Affordable Housing
- Incentives available for retrofitting existing units and adding an additional all-electric unit.
- MassCEC accepted applications on a rolling basis, starting on January 19, 2022 and ending after the fourth review deadline on March 3, 2023.
Process Step |
Timing |
|---|---|
Application period opens |
January 19, 2022 |
First review deadline |
March 4, 2022 |
Second review deadline |
June 4, 2022 |
Third review deadline |
December 2, 2022 |
Fourth review deadline |
March 3, 2023 |
Building assessments and implementation of projects |
Spring 2022 - 2023 (may extend if necessary) |
Who's Eligible: Affordable Housing
Applicant must be the owner of a triple decker that meets one of the following criteria to demonstrate that it is affordable housing:
- A deed restriction that explicitly states the development has reserved the unit for households earning eighty percent (80%) or less of SMI. If the restriction is not explicit, Applicants will need to provide an alternative form of verification.
- For housing shelters, a letter from the Executive Director or another individual with signatory authority stating that the property is used as a housing shelter.
- Other forms of documentation as determined by MassCEC on a case-by-case basis.
The triple decker building must have been built before 1970.
For full Program details, please refer to the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot Program Manual, below.
Apply: Affordable Housing
Application Process: Affordable Housing
This program is currently closed. The following information is provided for reference only.
Applications were accepted on a rolling basis via an online portal. Copies of the application materials are provided here for reference only.
For full Program details, please refer to the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot Program Manual.
Application Materials: Affordable Housing
Funding Schedule: Market-Rate
- Incentives available for owners of market-rate triple deckers implementing all-electric retrofits of existing unit and adding one or more additional all-electric units.
- MassCEC accepted applications on a rolling basis starting on December 7, 2022, until all participants were selected on March 2, 2023.
Process Step |
Timing |
|---|---|
Application period |
December 7, 2022 to March 2, 2023 |
Building assessments and implementation of projects |
Spring 2023 - 2024 (may extend if necessary) |
Who's Eligible: Market-Rate
Project Sites must be a typical New England triple decker, defined as a detached three-story, multi-family, wood-frame building consisting of three units with similar floor plans. Project Sites must also have been built before 1970 in order to be eligible for the Pilot.
The Pilot is not intended for the following:
- A single unit in a triple decker building;
- Affordable housing triple deckers; or
- Triple deckers built after 1970.
For full Program details, please refer to the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot Program Manual, below.
Apply: Market-Rate
Application Process: Market-Rate
This program is currently closed. The following information is provided for reference only.
Applications were accepted on a rolling basis via an online portal. Copies of the application materials are provided here for reference only.
For full Program details, please refer to the Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot Program Manual.
Application Materials: Market-Rate
Triple Decker Retrofit Pilot Webinar
Learn about the Affordable Housing track
Recorded February 9th, 2022
Learn more about pilot goals, timeline, eligibility, and more.