The Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania has provided funding for the Commonwealth’s first “green” affordable housing development, specially designed for energy efficiency and with earth-friendly materials.

Petersburg Commons, a $2.1 million project located in Penn Township, Perry County, Pa., consists of 14 energy-efficient, townhouse-style units, targeted for purchase by first-time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes.

It was developed by the Perry Green Building Housing Corporation, part of the Housing and Redevelopment Authorities of Cumberland County.

The project benefited from a $1 million linked deposit provided to the Perry Green Building Housing Corporation by The Sustainable Energy Fund, an Allentown-based, non-profit, private organization dedicated to renewable energy, clean energy technologies and energy conservation.

Through a creative financing arrangement, The SEF helped Perry Green Building Housing Corporation to secure a very low interest rate on their construction loan, thus significantly reducing interest charges and total construction costs for the project.

The homes were designed to be, at minimum, 50 percent more energy-efficient than similar, conventionally built housing – and are likely to exceed that with proper homeowner maintenance, according to the Office for Planning and Architecture of Harrisburg, architect for the project. Homeowners can expect to realize the most dramatic savings in heating costs, specifically: between 85 and 90 percent.

“The SEF was proud to support this project and hopes its success will spur similar projects throughout Pennsylvania,” Dr. Rex A. D’Agostino, SEF President and Executive Director, said at the ribbon-cutting celebration for the homes held in early June. “The energy-efficient design means these homeowners will significantly reduce their energy costs and usage. It proves that going green really can help save green.”

“Support from SEF was crucial to this project’s success,” said Jack Berger, Special Assistant for Project Development for the Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority. “It allowed us to allocate more resources towards the greening of the project by reducing expenses for construction loan interest.”

In addition to using high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, the homes feature an innovative “windowed cupola” roof design that allows the sun’s rays to filter in to provide heat in the winter or create a chimney-like airflow to facilitate ventilation throughout the townhouses in the summertime.

Each unit also is equipped with Energy Star certified appliances, as well as energy-efficient light fixtures and water systems.

With a “green” building design that meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership Energy Efficient Design criteria, Petersburg Commons also is environmentally conscious.

Local sources for building materials were used wherever possible, thereby reducing energy required for transport to the site. Recycled products were heavily used, and construction waste was significantly minimized: more than 75 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfill disposal through scrap product recycling or re-purposing for alternate uses.

Each home is simply but attractively landscaped using earth-friendly materials. Roofs are constructed from high-recycled content steel and should last 100 years.

Petersburg Commons is among the many clean energy initiatives supported by The Sustainable Energy Fund. Founded in 1999 by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, The SEF promotes, develops and invests in clean energy initiatives to benefit residential, commercial, institutional and industrial customers within the PPL energy service territory and beyond.

For more information, visit: Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania website.

6/23/2006