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Low-Embodied Carbon Housing Program

DEQ received $25.6 million to create the Low-Embodied Carbon Housing Program, as part of Oregon's Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) grant. The Program incentivizes lower-embodied carbon housing production, helping Oregon to meet our climate goals while also addressing the need for more affordable housing.

Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas emissions from resource extraction, manufacture, transport, installation, maintenance, disposal, and recovery of construction materials. Learn more.

The Program will provide rebates to support the development of 940 new lower-embodied carbon housing units in nine communities across the state, incentivizing two key embodied carbon reduction strategies: Reuse and Space-efficient. The Program is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 343,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. This is equivalent to eliminating the estimated electricity use of those same 940 units for the next 75 years.

To be eligible for rebates, projects must utilize one of these strategies and be located in an eligible jurisdiction. 

Eligibility

In addition, projects must meet the following requirements:

  • ​Units will not be used for short-term rentals (<30 days)
  • U​nits must be provided at less than or equal to rent limits for moderate-income projects (120% of the Area Median Income) as defined by Oregon Housing and Community Services​

If applicable, project will comply with federal Build America, Buy America requirements
  • If project (defined as sharing a purpose, place and time) will receive less than $250,000 in federal funding, BABA does not apply
  • If project will be a single-family residence (e.g., detached Accessory Dwelling Unit), BABA does not apply
  • If project is privately owned multifamily AND does not include a publicly accessible community center, roadway, or EV charging station, BABA does not apply
  • If project is privately owned multifamily AND does not include a publicly accessible community center, roadway, or EV charging station AND the project includes a commercial space with public access, BABA may apply (will require EPA review)
  • If project is privately owned multifamily AND does include a publicly accessible community center, roadway, or EV charging station, BABA does apply
  • If project is publicly owned, BABA does apply
Other projects will require interpretation of BABA applicability
For additional information visit BABA website.​​

  • Project will follow a DEQ-approved compliance pathway to reduce embodied carbon of new materials by 10%
  • Please note technical assistance will be provided (by Carbon Leadership Forum) to Applicants to support compliance with this requirement​

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  • Project will complete construction as demonstrated by receipt of Certificate of Occupancy issued by the authority having jurisdiction
  • Certificate of Occupancy must be issued on or before March 30, 2029​

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Administrative resources

Embodied carbon reduction technical resources

Rebate and contact information for each eligible jurisdiction