New Case Study on Increasing Water Efficiency and Reducing Cost in Affordable Housing

A new case study from Enterprise Community Partners and Elevate Energy, which draws upon lessons learned from the Chicago Water-Efficiency Pilot, shows that affordable multifamily housing providers can mitigate the impact of increased water rates by using comprehensive water-efficiency strategies. According to a survey of 14 different properties in metropolitan Chicago, implementing the recommended upgrades and smart investments in water efficiency would generate savings so substantial that they pay back their initial costs in less than three years, with the average five-year savings exceeding $20,500 per property, or 22 percent of total water and sewer costs. The findings suggest that water-efficiency efforts can help ensure financial viability for housing providers, and the study recommends that multifamily housing providers, government agencies and philanthropic organizations invest in comprehensive water-efficiency strategies to accomplish more financially stable properties.