Allston Brighton CDC has made a commitment to pursuing green technologies at our properties to not only reduce the environmental impact of development, but to create healthy homes for low-to-moderate income (LMI) residents. Upgrading the current stock of affordable housing is often overlooked due to the expensive and time-consuming nature of this type of construction. ABCDC’s work towards pursuing Deep Energy Retrofits (DERs) at our existing properties is centered around the goal to bring new technology to deeply affordable and aging housing stock, and to make climate ready housing accessible to everyone regardless of income or background.
ABCDC’s current goal is to decarbonize its entire affordable housing portfolio by 2040, 10 years before the City of Boston’s goal of achieving net zero emissions in all its existing buildings. Electrifying and upgrading our existing buildings is not easy, nor inexpensive, but ABCDC is committed to tackling the challenge head on!
For more information, or to get involved in our green energy work, email our Director of Real Estate Development, Caitlin Robillard, at [email protected]






Deep Energy Retrofit (DER): A deep energy retrofit (DER) is a building renovation that reduces site energy use by at least 40%. While these types of renos generally cost more money up front, they deliver significant long-term benefits. A typical DER project may include electrification of heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, a new highly insulated building envelope, new windows, the use of carbon storing materials, and the addition of on-site renewable energy, e.g. solar panels. The result is a building that is healthier for residents, significantly lowers carbon emissions, and, over time, less expensive to operate.
Spotlight On Hano Homes DER
Hano Homes is a 20-unit rental property, comprised of ten rowhouses on Hano Street in Allston, MA. The building was purchased by Allston Brighton CDC in the early 1980s and has not been renovated since 2003. This rehab will adhere to Passive House guidelines, a performance-based certification earned by dramatically reducing energy use. The Hano Homes DER will include an airtight upgrade of the building’s envelope, electrification of all heating and cooling systems, and installation of rooftop solar panels. These improvements are expected to reduce energy use by 70%!
Once complete, this property will be 100% fossil fuel free, include an on-site renewable energy source, and provide added comfort and safety to families for decades to come. Through this project, ABCDC demonstrate how medium-sized affordable housing projects can achieve significant energy and emissions reductions. This project kicked off in July 2024 and will be completed in May 2025.
Spotlight On Carol Avenue DER
The DER at Carol Avenue Apartments was completed in November of 2024. This property was formerly known as the Carol Avenue Co-Operative and has been an important source of deeply affordable housing since the late 1980’s, providing stable homes in an area where rents have continued to soar beyond the reach of many individuals and households that have traditionally called Brighton home. The redevelopment of Carol Ave. is the most extensive renovation project at the property since the building was built over 110 years ago.
This 15-month renovation project at Carol Avenue Apartments was focused on green, sustainable, and climate-resilient design. Carol Avenue Apartments now has a new roof, all new windows, and additional insulation in the roof and exterior walls. The property was also converted from oil and gas to all electric heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. All new Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) were also installed throughout to provide fresh air, and exterior ducting was added for bathroom fans.
This 33-unit property is now 100% fossil-fuel free, and it will add to the Commonwealth’s renewable energy grid through the addition of rooftop photovoltaic solar panels. The completion of this project will now reduce energy usage at the property by nearly 54%! All of these changes will provide a healthier and more comfortable environment for residents.