In a district of Santa Monica, Calif., where the cost of living has skyrocketed, city officials have¬ been seeking ways to help low income people stay in the area. These efforts helped lead to the Colorado Court apartments, an environmentally conscious approach to affordable housing. With two on-site energy generation systems, this complex became the nation's first energy neutral affordable housing project. These two systems are a PV panel system and a natural-gas turbine cogeneration system. In addition, the heat generated as a byproduct of the turbine system helps contribute to the hot water supply and radiator system of space heating.
Another system constructed for the building collects rainwater from the entire block behind the building and filters it through the ground to reduce runoff. Low flow toilets and shower heads minimize water waste.
The design of the parking facilities also strives to contribute to environmentally-friendly practices. For instance, with only one parking space for every four units, residents are encouraged to take public transportation. The facility also designates space for bike storage as well as a station for recharging electric vehicles.
During construction, builders only needed to remove one tree from the area, which they then had replanted. The concrete used consists partly of fly ash, and recycled material makes up all of the carpets. In addition, builders used recycled newsprint for insulation.
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