HUD chief tours green public housing “poster child”

In Colorado, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan toured Benedict Park Place, a sustainable mixed-income complex that uses solar and geothermal energy. He was joined by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter. Donovan was quoted as saying “This is really the poster child for what we are trying to do across the country.” The final stage of the $204 million project is the addition of 42 wells for geothermal heating-cooling units. Denver Housing Authority director Ismael Guerrero said that is central to how they hope the development will realize a 60% reduction in utility costs.