Decarbonization & Deep Energy Retrofits in Housing Development

This course examines how community development corporations are leading sustainable, affordable housing development through Allston Brighton CDC's ambitious goal to achieve net-zero energy by 2040. Students will explore the historical roots of CDCs in the Civil Rights Movement and the War on Poverty, understanding how they evolved from grassroots activism into sophisticated developers navigating complex financing tools such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. The course focuses on ABCDC's data-driven approach to decarbonization, driven by the urgency of the climate crisis, resident health concerns, and the mission to normalize deep energy retrofits in affordable housing. Through detailed case studies comparing two contrasting projects. Students will learn how energy audits, strategic partnerships, public policies such as BERDO, and green certification programs converge to make ambitious sustainability goals achievable within budget constraints. The course concludes with emerging frameworks such as decarbonization roadmaps and the "Zero Over