Satellite Affordable Housing Associates: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners commit to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Since 2016, Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) has improved energy performance by an average of 1.7% each year.  This is equivalent to a cumulative improvement of 5.5%, accounting for the varying lengths of time properties were included in SAHA’s portfolio. Energy savings have been achieved by implementing solar hot water systems and replacing major building systems at properties, in addition to a focus on building LEED certified properties. 

Multifamily property owners often face challenges in gathering whole building data for properties with large numbers of individual tenant-paid utility accounts. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, partners can demonstrate progress towards their savings goal by reporting two types of data: (1) whole-building energy use, including tenant-paid utilities, for at least 30 percent of their portfolio; and (2) owner-paid receipts (common areas only) for the remaining share of their portfolio. Satellite Affordable Housing Associates' portfolio consists of 60 properties and more than 2 million square feet, with whole-building data (both tenant-paid and owner-paid receipts) available for 96% of their portfolio.

This graph breaks out the portfolio's energy performance for properties with whole building energy use vs those with owner-paid receipts. Satellite Affordable Housing Associates has achieved 1.7% savings in properties with whole-building data and 1.9% in properties with owner-paid receipts. 

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all facilities can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy.  Satellite Affordable Housing Associates has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 6% at 20 of its properties. There are 24 properties that have experienced an increase in Source EUI. These properties have been targeted for future energy efficiency improvements.

Property-level energy performance metrics, including EUI and percent improvement to date, are critical to track progress over time and identify opportunities for additional energy savings. Satellite Affordable Housing Associates' portfolio consists of properties with a wide range of baseline EUI values, most of which are from 0 to 200 kBtu/sq. ft. The majority of properties have shown energy improvement since 2016. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.