Long Term Asset Management Planning for Housing Security and Climate Stability: A Case Study of Decarbonization Roadmapping for Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation’s Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing Portfolio

Abstract

a Boston-based multifamily affordable housing provider pursuing net-zero emissions by 2040, this project develops a mechanism and framework for portfolio decarbonization roadmapping of existing residential housing assets. The research links decarbonization planning to equitable long-term asset management by aligning efforts of emission reductions with housing affordability, capital needs, financial capacity, climate adaptation, accessibility compliance, and resident engagement. Grounded in real-world constraints faced by mission-driven affordable housing organizations, the study draws on practitioner interviews, scenario planning, multi-criteria decision-making, and ABCDC’s experience with recent retrofit projects to develop actionable planning tools. The research produces adaptable property-level decarbonization planning dashboards that inform a dynamic portfolio-wide energy projection and tracking dashboard, providing user-friendly, datadriven mechanisms to support organizational decision-making. Through iterative scenario analysis, the thesis explores a combination of Zero over Time (ZOT) and Simultaneous Energy Upgrade (SEU) strategies for ABCDC’s portfolio in order to balance energy, regulatory, cost, and logistical factors. The research also introduces a prioritization mechanism for portfolios facing resource constraints and develops resident engagement frameworks to promote equitable and participatory decarbonization planning processes. The thesis contributes a practical bridge between technical decarbonization modeling and long-term asset management planning while identifying key implementation challenges, including funding constraints, data limitations, and knowledge transmission barriers. Although reliant on a single case study, the framework developed through this thesis offers transferable insights for affordable housing providers seeking to disrupt the reinforcing cycle between housing insecurity and climate instability.