Greater Greater Washington
Summary
At a time when energy costs across the country are reaching an all-time high, it’s hard not to hear the ding of a cash register every time you turn on the air conditioning. Whereas just two years ago the cost of utilities in DC was 18% above the national average, this month’s double-digit electric rate hike will continue to eat into people’s budgets, making the overall cost of housing untenable.
However, a new energy-efficient approach to heating and cooling is taking hold in Southeast DC and could drastically cut energy bills, resulting in lower monthly housing costs while also strengthening the electric grid.
Last year’s unveiling of a new affordable housing project at Barry Farm Redevelopment received much fanfare, with the promise of 900 new units and efforts to preserve the area’s history. However, many new and returning residents might not realize that a brand new state-of-the-art HVAC system that serves hundreds of new homes, buried beneath their feet, represents the most efficient way to provide reliable, affordable heating and cooling to entire neighborhoods. The geothermal HVAC system, part of a $2.5 million pilot project funded by the DC Public Service Commission (PSC), uses a closed loop of water-filled pipes to provide highly efficient heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.
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