The Jackson Street Village townhomes will be at least 50% more energy efficient than similar buildings, and should set a new standard for energy efficiency in multifamily housing, says Kent Larson, Xcel Energy vice president for Minnesota. Xcel will monitor and evaluate the energy-saving results with an eye to applying the techniques to future construction of similar buildings throughout our service territories.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is also a Jackson Street Village partner through the Rebuild Minnesota program, a branch of the US Department of Energy Rebuild America program. Rebuild Minnesota helps communities choose the best ways to save energy andreduce operating costs by providing financial and technical resources.

"Many low-income families spend a much higher proportion of their annual income on home energy costs than other Minnesotans," says Victoria Rico, program administrator.

The design should also reduce respiratory ailments.

"People living in low-income urban environments have a significantly higher rate of asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses than other Americans,"says Angie Lien, director of the American Lung Association Health House program, a national project based in Saint Paul.

The building's anticipated opening is in February. As many as 100 residents are expected to live in the complex, which includes a community center. The vacant property wherethe townhomes will be built has undergone extensive environmental cleanup and restoration.