Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA)
Administered by DC Sustainable Energy Utility
If you own or manage an affordable multifamily building in DC with 5+ units where at least 50% are affordable to households earning ≤80% of Area Median Income, AHRA provides enhanced technical assistance and financial incentives to help you retrofit for energy efficiency and meet the District's Building Energy Performance Standards. The program can help you reduce energy costs, improve building efficiency, and access financing opportunities—currently prioritizing buildings 50,000+ square feet that don't yet meet BEPS compliance. Contact DCSEU through their website to determine if your property qualifies for assistance.
AHRA creates retrofit opportunities for authorized implementation contractors, auditors, and performance testing contractors supporting affordable multifamily properties through the retrofit process. Your customers benefit from access to District and Home Energy Rebates funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, making energy-saving projects more affordable while helping properties achieve BEPS compliance. DCSEU maintains a roster of authorized contractors and conducts ongoing education and outreach from Fall 2024 through Summer 2026.
AHRA is a partnership between DCSEU, DOEE, and DC Green Bank deploying Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates funding to retrofit qualifying affordable multifamily buildings failing BEPS compliance. Eligibility requires 5+ units with ≥50% affordable to households at ≤80% AMI (verified through income guidelines ranging $93,050–$175,450 depending on household size in FY 2026). Current funding prioritizes buildings ≥50,000 sq ft; buildings 10,000–50,000 sq ft may qualify later. Program conducts outreach and engagement through Summer 2026.
Program details
- Program ID
- 22776
- Effective
- 10/1/2024
- Last updated
- 8/1/2025
Eligibility
- Sectors
- multifamily residential low income residential
Program summary
This program uses District and Home Energy Rebates funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to retrofit affordable housing in the District.
The Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA) is a partnership between the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and the DC Green Bank. It offers enhanced technical and financial assistance to owners and managers of qualifying affordable multifamily buildings that do not meet the District’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).
To benefit from AHRA assistance, a building must first qualify as affordable multifamily housing. To do this, it must be primarily residential and contain 5 or more subsidized or unsubsidized dwellings.
Additionally, one of the following is required:
- The building must feature restrictions or other covenants requiring that at least 50% of all units are occupied by households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
- The building owner must demonstrate that at least 50% of all units are affordable to households with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the AMI.
AHRA assistance is subject to funding availability and is presently prioritized for affordable multifamily buildings that measure 50,000 square feet or greater and fail to meet BEPS compliance.
The AHRA program will conduct education, outreach, and engagement to property owners and tenants from Fall 2024 to Summer 2026.
For complete income qualification thresholds, rent requirements, and program descriptions, refer to the program website.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- info@dcseu.com
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
