Solar-Powered Apartment Complex: The Future of Housing?
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio 
on 07.19.07
Solar-powered single-family homes are so yesterday. Sure, we appreciate the many owners who have become their own utility company (many times even putting their excess solar energy in the grid). However, when it comes to the other factors of smart housing, single-family homes can't hold a candle to multi-family units. Not only does an apartment or condo complex use much less land (and therefore much less infrastructure) than single-family homes on a per unit basis, it creates the density needed to support communities where walkability and public transportation are top notch. That's why we love when multi-family units start powering up with the technologies gaining traction in single-unit residences.
This all brings us to the SOLARA, the recently opened apartment complex in Poway, California that claims to be the first fully solar-powered apartment complex in the state. The SOLARA includes 56 apartment units and office space within walking distance of services, shopping and public transportation. Southern California + green building + apartment name in all capital letters - you might think this is more green housing for the wealthy. You would be wrong.
The SOLARA is owned by the San Diego based non-profit Community HousingWorks, which developed the project in order to provide green affordable housing. The 56 units will provide green housing options and a pedestrian-friendly environment to a new set of individuals and families in Southern California. When all is said and done, the SOLARA claims to have the "lowest carbon footprint of any apartment complex in California, 95 percent lower than a conventionally powered community." That deserves a big old TreeHugger thumbs up. ::Global Green via Apartment Therapy LA
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They're just a few miles from where I live! I was just delighted when I first saw the construction signs talking about it being a solar powered community of affordable housing. And you're right about the location. Vons and Henry's (owned by Wild Oats) just across the street, playground just across the parking lot.
I hope it's a model for many more communities.
Considering how much I pay for electricity these days for a tiny apartment, these kind of energy features are gonna become big draws. Landlords will be able to work the expense into higher rents, and the homeowners may still have lower expenses.
Capital letters! NOT capitol letters!!!
Capitol is only used when refering to the capitol building. Capital is used in all other cases.
Thanks.
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SF: Noted and fixed, thanks for paying attention.
Im located in Dallas Tx and unfortunately we do not have anything even close to this. I have taken it upon myself to make my apartment as enegy efficient as possible. The electric company Stream has hiked their prices and its crazy what I have been billed. I replaced every single light bulb with LED lightbulbs 5watt, 3 watt and 1.5 watts each, and use a solar pannel in my patio linked to 2 - 12v batteries to power couple of led lamps inside at night time. I have intalled outdoor solar lights in my patio to keep it lit at night. I have also unpluged everthing I am not using and reconnect a device if I need it. I am switching my PC for a Laptop that can be re-charged via my solar pannel. Sure I have spent about 500 bucks on this but I have paid 300 to the energy co in just 2 months and I have had enough of that. I wish Texas was more like California and was moving forward with solar energy for apartments soon.