Denver Housing Authority’s First-Ever Full Electrification Project

Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), together with its partners, announced the successful completion of Denver Housing Authority's (DHA) first-ever full multifamily electrification project. This pilot partnership resulted in the replacement of gas furnaces and water heaters with energy efficient, all-electric heating, central air conditioning and water heaters powered by heat pump technologies. This project provides central air conditioning for the first time to residents of the 17 units in DHA's Dispersed West Public Housing, replacing AC window units and fans for cooling.

The $661K project, primarily funded by Xcel Energy and the City and County of Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency (CASR), represents a significant step forward in sustainable, affordable housing. Additional support came from the Denver Office of Nonprofit Engagement (D-ONE) under Denver Human Rights and Community Partnerships, demonstrating a broad city-wide commitment to the initiative. Each two-story unit with a basement has been equipped with a new air source heat pump, replacing traditional furnaces, and fully electric heat pump water heaters.

"This collaborative project showcases our commitment to innovative, equitable solutions in sustainable housing," said Jennifer Gremmert, CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado.

"By introducing all-electric systems that offer heating and the addition of cooling, we're not just improving energy efficiency-we're transforming the daily lives of residents. We're excited to build on this pilot's success and explore opportunities to bring similar benefits to communities throughout Colorado."

The electrification upgrades are expected to result in improved indoor air quality, increased comfort year-round, and potential energy cost savings for residents. EOC is providing in-person educational sessions and materials in English and Spanish to help tenants understand and maximize the benefits of their new systems.

Liz Babcock, Executive Director of CASR, emphasized the project's alignment with Denver's climate goals: "In Denver, sustainability and affordability go hand in hand. Efficient, all-electric appliances reduce indoor air pollution and provide cooling for the first time to families that live at DHA Dispersed West Public Housing, which is critical as Denver experiences more extreme heat due to climate change. Projects like this are part of the city's investment in climate solutions that benefit people's lives today and into the future."

Xcel Energy, a major funder of the project through their Demand-Side Management Plan and Beneficial Electrification Pilot, sees this as a model for future developments. Robert Kenney, President of Xcel Energy-CO, stated, "we are focused on helping all customers reduce their emissions with new all-electric and energy-efficient technologies like heat pumps. This project serves as a pilot to understand how customers can collectively reduce emissions at a scale required to meet our own ambitious clean energy goals by reducing greenhouse gases by 25% by 2030, from 2020 levels."

Project contractor GB3 Energy has collaborated closely with DHA, providing comprehensive training to ensure long-term system maintenance. Additionally, EOC is conducting a 12-month utility bill analysis to quantify the project's impact and inform future strategies. This data-driven approach will help DHA optimize utility allowances and explore potential solar subscription offsets, further benefiting residents and the housing authority.

"DHA has been working closely with Energy Outreach Colorado and Xcel Energy to retrofit this income-qualified property with an electric heat pump system that reduces our carbon footprint and serves the needs of our residents," DHA Portfolio Energy Specialist Colin Kraft said. "We are excited to eliminate the use of natural gas at this site, and even more excited to provide central air conditioning to these homes for the first time."