HUD, CLPHA TO HOST CONFERENCE ON GREEN SOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING
Gathering in Boston to showcase sustainable construction, reducing energy costs, best investments

WASHINGTON - All across the country, public housing authorities are struggling to control skyrocketing energy costs, often accounting for nearly a quarter of their operating budgets. To help cut energy bills and consumption, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) will host "Going Green: Intelligent Investments for Public Housing" an energy conservation conference on July 13-14, 2011 in Boston.

The two-day gathering at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers will showcase methods to make public housing more energy efficient and sustainable in its daily operations, including: cost-effective strategies to reduce energy and water consumption for housing operators and residents; discussions about sustainable construction; and building smarter with the latest energy efficient technology. Attendees will include public housing authorities, private energy sector groups, plus leaders in the green building movement.

"Going green in public housing means reducing energy costs and improving the lives of the residents," said Sandra B. Henriquez, HUD's Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing. "By incorporating energy efficient measures into public housing, we have the opportunity to make a real impact on our environment and in the lives of thousands of families."

Over the two-day conference, attendees will hear from Henriquez, who prior to joining HUD was the executive director of the Boston Housing Authority; Shelley Poticha, Senior Advisor for HUD's Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities; and CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman, who has more than 30 years experience in housing at the federal, state and local levels.

In addition, Jim Hunt, Boston's Chief of Environmental and Energy Services will join landscape architect Tim Duggan from the Make It Right Foundation (www.makeitrightnola.org/) to keynote an afternoon session on the second day. Actor Brad Pitt created the foundation to help rebuild homes in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward that Hurricane Katrina destroyed in 2005. Participants can also see green building firsthand on a tour of Boston's Maverick Landing, a HOPE VI development that incorporated green building practices during construction.

###

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDgov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD.