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In a small city in Rome, New York, a seven-story apartment building called Colonial 2 has been home to low-income seniors for decades.
Just a few years ago, this was in desperate need of updates.
However, recent renovations have transformed buildings into some of the state's most vulnerable housing.
It has highly insulated walls and windows. It is heated and cooled by a geothermal heat pump, and its power source comes from solar energy.
Wisse: “Some of it comes from on-site solar PV production. Some of it comes from … community solar. But the goal is to offset all the electricity used in buildings throughout the year.”
That is Ashley White of the new ecosystem. The nonprofit conducted renovation consultations on the property company’s Rome Housing Authority and the Beacon community.
She said many old apartment buildings need to be updated around the country.
WISSE: “So if we could start from there and reduce the energy use and carbon intensity of these buildings, this would help decarbonize the construction industry in general than new buildings.”
So, she said the project provides an example of how to provide a new living lease for old homes.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
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