The HUD RAD PCA includes a HUD MAP style, intrusive level analysis of the long-life building systems, as well as an energy audit of the historical consumption of the existing systems in order to determine potential areas of improvement. The HUD RAD PCA incorporates the findings of the Energy Audit and Utility Baseline Analysis, which in turn paints a clear picture of the existing conditions and deficiencies, and potential areas for improving performance and sustainability at a given property. Suffice it to say, the RAD PCA is nothing like a standard ASTM, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae report, or even a HUD MAP report for that matter.

More specifically, the HUD RAD PCA takes an in-depth look at the existing systems, including those which would not typically be assessed at a high level as part of a baseline site assessment, such as elevators, boilers, electrical, plumbing, and fenestrations, to name a few. These items may or may not prove to provide instant energy efficiency improvements and savings, but will need to be addressed in order to “modernize” the property, and extend its useful life, thus making it a viable long term investment.

Conversely, the Energy Audit looks closely at the energy and water consumption of the existing components, provides a payback analysis, and identifies energy efficient alternatives to the existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems. The Utility Consumption Baseline works in conjunction with the Energy Audit by collecting and analyzing utility usage at a property, and includes resident and owner paid utilities for a 12 to 24-month period, which allows for energy benchmarking and potential consumption comparison of the current systems to newer available technologies and higher energy efficient rated systems.

In the short term, the HUD RAD program, in utilizing intrusive assessment techniques, Energy Auditing, and Utility baseline modeling, creates a personalized path to realizing an aging property's potential for energy efficiency, sustainability, and overall improvement. In the long term, the level of scrutiny and higher reporting standards being pioneered by HUD could become the due diligence norm, as other agencies and entities join the green movement.

Lastly, HUD is taking their green initiative a step further…the introduction of the paper reduction act challenged government agencies to try and reduce paper waste. HUD has taken the initiative by introducing the CNA e-tool, which has been released for early review and will be implemented by 2015. The CNA e-tool will allow the related parties to work on preparing the individual components of the submittal on a virtual, real time platform. Effectively eliminating the need for paper reports/submittals, the CNA E-tool brings the “going green” mantra full circle!