Mercy Housing will use $376,750 in grant funding from The Walmart Foundation to launch a nationwide effort to improve the use of energy at its existing affordable housing properties and require developers to use a variety of “green” design elements in all future properties.

The grant from The Walmart Foundation will supplement government and other philanthropic funding to help Mercy Housing launch a nationwide Environmental Stewardship Initiative. Mercy Housing will use $296,750 from the grant to conduct internal and third-party energy audits at 233 properties and implement a sustainable development policy. The remaining $80,000 will be divided among Mercy Housing’s eight regional offices for local implementation.