Efficiency Navigator Providing Free Improvements for Affordable Apartment Housing
For Immediate Release
March 31, 2026
The City of Madison, the City of Fitchburg, and Sustain Dane announced at a news conference this morning that applications are now open for Efficiency Navigator in 2026. Efficiency Navigator is a city-sponsored initiative that provides energy efficiency, health & safety, and other upgrades to small- and medium-sized apartment buildings. These upgrades save energy, reduce operating costs for owners, and lower energy bills for residents.
Those in attendance included City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, City of Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, Madison Alder Sean O'Brien, and Fitchburg Alder Joe Maldonado; as well as representatives from Sustain Dane, Elevate, and the 2025 cohort of Efficiency Navigator participants. The news conference took place at a building on Petra Place on the south side of Madison that participated in the program in 2025. The building received attic insulation, air sealing, rim joist insulation, ventilation and new windows, along with other health & safety improvements. Altogether, these upgrades are estimated to save $1,283 per year on utility bills and cut carbon pollution.
“Building upgrades provided by the Efficiency Navigator make it easier to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer while also lowering energy bills," said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “I'm grateful to our project partners and, especially, to program participants for showing that providing healthy, affordable housing and taking climate action can go hand in hand."
“Efficiency Navigator demonstrates that smart housing investments can deliver real benefits for our residents and our environment," said Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta. "By upgrading older buildings and improving energy efficiency, we are reducing emissions, lowering energy costs for families, and making our homes healthier and more comfortable. It's a practical step toward a stronger and more sustainable Fitchburg."
Participation in Efficiency Navigator is open to unsubsidized multifamily housing with rents that are affordable to households at or below 80% Area Median Income. Selected buildings receive free technical assistance and building upgrades that help save energy and improve indoor air quality, such as better insulation and air sealing; improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; water softener tune-ups or replacement; and recommendations to improve home health (e.g. reducing asthma triggers).
“We understand that people who have lower incomes often pay a higher proportion of their income on utility bills, and are most impacted by climate change," said Sustain Dane Executive Director Claire Oleksiak. “Efficiency Navigator is supporting affordable housing and climate resilience."
The gathering was also a celebration of program achievements. In 2025, Efficiency Navigator in Madison and Fitchburg improved affordable housing for approximately 200 residents including 28 children and 24 seniors. Efficiency Navigator worked across 128 units in 20 buildings. These buildings received 75 energy efficiency upgrades and 28 health & safety improvements in total. As a result, the energy bills for each building are an estimated $700-$900 less per year. In partnership with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, Efficiency Navigator optimized three existing water softener units and replaced two old, inefficient units with new efficient models to reduce chloride (salt) entering the district's sewer system.
"We have been very pleased with our experience participating in the Efficiency Navigator Program, and we believe that it is an effective way of helping address the challenge of providing affordable housing in Madison." said Peter Tan, Madison Efficiency Navigator participating building owner.
Apply to Efficiency Navigator
We strongly encourage applications for buildings where utility bills are a challenge for residents, and for those that house children, seniors, or otherwise vulnerable populations.
Additional assistance for energy efficiency improvements for single and multifamily housing is available from Focus on Energy as well as several programs made possible by the Inflation reduction Act. For a summary, see this guide to federal funding shared by the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change.