Matt is Sustainable Development Manager for National Housing Trust.

National Housing Trust is a mission-driven nonprofit that strives to ensure our nation's rental housing remains affordable and sustainable - a key piece of expanding local economic opportunity. 

Workers who are critical to our communities - like teachers, firefighters, police and other service providers - depend on rental housing for access to quality education, meaningful job opportunities, and healthy neighborhoods with low crime. 

With communities struggling to recover from the economic and foreclosure crises, the need for affordable housing is especially acute. 

To strengthen the communities that we serve, we joined with other community organizations and faith institutions to purchase clean energy at a reduced rate. In partnership with Groundswell, membership organizations of the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation and groups like Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light and CLAIM, we produced a clean energy effort of $5 million.

We bought 100 percent wind-produced electricity at four of our affordable housing properties in D.C. and locked in a rate that will save us more than 25 percent on our bills. We're projected to save thousands of dollars over the course of three years. 

We'll use the savings to help improve the lives of nearly 300 low-income families by reinvesting those dollars into the upkeep of properties and supporting the afterschool programs offered to families through our Resident Services program. 

Preserving affordable housing in distressed neighborhoods, in particular, can revitalize the entire community. 

To read more stories about community members and organizations that have benefited by coming together to purchase energy, follow Groundswell on Facebook.