City and First Homes Complete Energy Upgrades at Center Street Village Apartments
November 10, 2026 - ROCHESTER, MN. — The City of Rochester’s Sustainability Division and First Homes have completed energy efficiency upgrades in two apartments at Center Street Village Apartments, combining high-efficiency heating and cooling systems with weatherization improvements to support resident comfort and reduce energy costs.
The project was supported with federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, with First Homes funding additional energy-related building improvements.
Each apartment now has an air source heat pump system with indoor units serving the living area and both bedrooms. The systems provide efficient heating and cooling, replacing existing wall air-conditioning units and reducing reliance on electric baseboard heaters, which remain available as backup heat.
First Homes also invested in window replacements, air sealing, insulation where wall air conditioners were removed and new bathroom fans. Together, these improvements are designed to reduce drafts and energy loss, improve ventilation and maintain more comfortable indoor temperatures for residents of income-qualified multifamily housing.
The heat pump and weatherization improvements are expected to reduce electricity use and associated utility costs. Over the next year, the City and First Homes will evaluate actual savings by comparing energy use and utility costs in the two upgraded apartments before and after installation, taking weather and residents’ heating and cooling use into account. The findings will inform a case study on opportunities to improve energy efficiency in existing multifamily housing.
The City received EECBG funding in 2024 to support local energy efficiency and emissions-reduction initiatives. This project demonstrates how federal investment and local partnerships can improve existing housing while advancing Rochester’s energy conservation and environmental stewardship priorities.
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