Clean Energy Savings Take Root in Waltham Public Housing
A Model for Clean Energy in Affordable Housing
Since 1949, the Waltham Housing Authority (WHA) has provided safe, affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Today, under the leadership of the WHA staff and advocacy of the Volunteer Energy Advisor team, WHA is also becoming a model for sustainable public housing.
This summer, members of the Sunwealth team took a trip to Waltham to visit the eight completed solar projects that are part of a growing portfolio bringing clean energy to affordable housing. We were joined by Muna Sbouh, an Impact Officer at the SK2 Fund who came to see Sunwealth’s impact firsthand. The SK2 Fund is a family-run foundation committed to building a more sustainable and equitable world, and we were thrilled to be able to show her the solar projects that organizations like hers make possible.
Five Sunwealth employees are joined by two summer interns and Muna Sbouh, from the SK2 Fund, at the Waltham Housing Authority.
The rooftop of Winchester Crane Apartments was our first stop—home to a 47.6 kW DC solar array that will save the WHA more than $147,000 in lifetime electricity costs and offset around 1,100 metric tons of carbon emissions over its lifetime. Next, we visited Prospect Hill Terrace Apartments, where seven solar systems totaling roughly 100 kW DC span multiple rooftops across the complex. These installations are projected to save over $256,000 and reduce more than 2,300 metric tons of emissions over their lifetime.
Partnership that Powers Possibility
These projects were made possible through Sunwealth’s ongoing collaboration with PowerOptions, a nonprofit energy consortium that helps other nonprofits and public entities reduce the cost and carbon of their energy. Through PowerOptions’ solar procurement program, WHA was able to bypass a time-consuming RFP process and secure a vetted, mission-aligned solar partner in Sunwealth.
Sunwealth owns and operates the systems at no upfront cost to the WHA. Through a Power Purchase Agreement, WHA receives discounted solar electricity, creating guaranteed long-term savings and freeing up more resources for core housing services. The partnership with PowerOptions ensures that public housing authorities like WHA can act quickly and confidently when the opportunity to go solar arises.
Growing Impact
These projects mark only the beginning of our high impact partnership with the WHA. The initial Sunwealth-WHA proposal included 13 projects expected to deliver over $1.2 million in lifetime savings. Since then, the portfolio has expanded to 21 projects with lifetime energy savings now projected to exceed $1.8 million. These projects are powerful examples of how clean energy can benefit affordable housing and the environment.
We are grateful to have this opportunity through the MassCEC’s Clean Energy Internship Program to work at Sunwealth this summer and contribute to their positive partnerships and impact. We loved the opportunity to see firsthand how clean energy is creating real savings for a vital community resource, and how the hard work of the Sunwealth team is making a lasting difference in important communities!
About Sunwealth
Based in Cambridge, MA, Sunwealth is a clean energy investment firm working to change who has access to renewable energy by changing the way we invest in it. Combining deep experience in solar development and finance with roots in community and impact investing, Sunwealth invests in diverse commercial solar projects delivering clean energy and energy savings to communities while providing strong financial returns to investors and community partners. Since 2014, the company has invested over $250 million across 765 community-based solar projects nationwide that will deliver over $150 million in lifetime energy savings to Sunwealth customers. For five consecutive years, ImpactAssets named Sunwealth to its IA50, a leading list of impact fund managers. Learn more at www.sunwealth.com