SCCLT invests in sustainable, energy efficiency renovations and designs to improve the performance of Forever Homes and ensure they are affordable on a month-to-month basis.
Sustainability
The Energy+ Partnership: Advancing Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing
Born from Innovation
The Energy+ Partnership grew out of the success of SCCLT’s 2018 GreenBuild project—an award-winning collaboration that produced two net-zero energy homes in State College.
Building on GreenBuild’s Momentum
Following GreenBuild, a group of partners came together to tackle energy efficiency in existing affordable homes. This team included:
-
State College Borough Planning
-
The HOME Foundation
-
State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT)
-
Pennsylvania Housing Research Center
-
Hamer Center for Community Design
Fueling the Future with WPPSEF
With support from a 2019 grant from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF), the partnership launched a three-year pilot program to upgrade 15 affordable homes in the Borough of State College.
What We Did
🔍 Energy audits identified efficiency opportunities
🔧 Renovations were completed based on audit data
📉 Post-renovation blower door tests measured impact
📊 Data was analyzed to develop energy models and evaluate outcomes
The Results
Explore our series of case studies to see how small improvements led to measurable gains in energy efficiency and utility cost savings.
Energy+ in the Community
🌍 Earth Day 2022: Sharing Our Impact
On April 20, 2022, the Energy+ Partnership hosted a public presentation at 3 Dots Downtown to share results from our energy-efficiency pilot.
Attendees included SCCLT homeowners, local leaders, Centre County Commissioners, community members, and Penn State students.
State College Mayor Ezra Nanes opened the event, highlighting how the Energy+ Partnership supports both affordable housing and climate action.
📍 Case study posters were displayed publicly to engage attendees and passersby with pilot results.
🌿 GreenBuild: Sustainable Homes for Working Families
GreenBuild is a one-of-a-kind project—a newly constructed duplex designed with cost-effective green technology to boost affordability now and in the future.
With support from key partners and individual donors, SCCLT completed these innovative, energy-efficient homes in 2018.
Project Timeline:
-
June 2017 – Ceremonial groundbreaking
-
October 2017 – Construction began
-
May 2018 – Ribbon cutting and community open house
-
July 2018 – Homeowners moved in
Rising energy costs can put pressure on working households. SCCLT and its partners demonstrate how green building technology in affordable housing can reduce utility bills and support long-term financial stability.
In 2018, SCCLT completed GreenBuild, a moderately priced, owner-occupied Zero Energy Ready duplex for middle-income families. These homes combine cutting-edge energy efficiency with affordable homeownership.
Key Partners
-
Borough of State College
-
Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
-
Hamer Center for Community Design / Energy Efficient Housing Research Group
Design & Construction Team
-
Envinity – Principal contractor specializing in sustainable design/build since 2005
-
Henry Architecture & Design
-
Macht Architecture
Green Features of the Homes
🌞 Passive solar design + rooftop photovoltaic panels
🏠 Air-tight, high-performance walls, roof, and foundation
❄️ High-efficiency heating & cooling systems
🌿 Sustainable materials and finishes
🚿 Water-efficient fixtures
🌧️ Rain garden and rainwater catchment system