Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and Honeywell to Upgrade More Than 700 Homes and Buildings, Reduce Energy Costs

Backed by Stimulus Funds, Energy Conservation Program Will Improve Resident Comfort While Cutting Utility Bills

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May 21, 2010, 01:00 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced plans to implement an energy-efficiency and facility renewal program to help the housing authority mitigate utility costs, upgrade its facilities and reduce environmental impact for its scattered site properties. MPHA will use an $11.65-million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund this program, which is expected to reduce energy costs by more than $1.5 million annually through a variety of facility improvements.

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The program will impact 725 sites across the city ranging from single-family homes to multi-family buildings comprised of up to five units, nearly half of which were constructed prior to 1950. Conservation measures will include installing energy-efficient windows and appliances, replacing outdated furnaces, boilers and water heaters, and upgrading thermostats. MPHA and Honeywell will also work with the Center for Energy and Environment in Minneapolis to weatherize and seal building exteriors to reduce the loss of warm and cool air.

"We are excited to work with our residents to make energy improvements to their homes, while at the same time contributing to the economic vitality of our community," said Cora McCorvey, MPHA executive director. "This agreement not only creates jobs and contributes to our environment, but the improvements will help preserve our properties for future generations."

The program is expected to reduce the housing authority's annual electricity consumption by approximately 2.8 million kilowatt-hours, enough energy to power 140 homes per year on average. It also will cut carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 2.5 million pounds annually. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing almost 188 cars from the road.

"The MPHA program will have a positive impact on the community at large," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. "By using stimulus dollars to fund the energy improvements, MPHA can trim utility costs, improve comfort for residents and reduce its environmental impact."

Honeywell is currently completing upgrades under a prior agreement with MPHA, one of the largest projects of its kind for a public housing authority. The work will impact more than 40 highrise buildings and 700 single-family residences, and will pay for itself by reducing utility expenses by an estimated $3.7 million per year throughout the 20-year performance contract.

In addition, MPHA and Honeywell anticipate that nearly 250 tradespeople will be employed during peak construction of the work in progress. The housing authority and Honeywell will also provide residents with opportunities to serve as paid educators and ambassadors, helping other residents understand and use the energy-saving strategies tied to the program.

Improvements under the stimulus-backed program and previous agreement are expected to be finished by spring 2011.

Honeywell is a global leader in energy and environmental services, working with organizations to conserve energy, optimize building operations and further renewable energy sources. The company has helped almost 30 public housing authorities improve their facilities while reducing energy consumption and costs.

About MPHA

The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) owns and manages 5,875 public housing rental units throughout the city including 41 high-rise apartment buildings, 728 scattered-site (single-family) homes and 184 town home units in the Glendale community near the University of Minnesota. The agency administers approximately 5,000 Section 8/HCV rental assistance vouchers, and operates two home ownership programs for both public housing and Section 8 program residents. The federal government rates MPHA's public housing and Section 8/HCV programs both as national "High Performers" for overall operational performance. The nine-member board of commissioners is appointed by the mayor and city council and the Executive Director is Cora McCorvey. For more information, please visit: www.mphaonline.com

About Honeywell

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions: www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.

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SOURCE Honeywell