Eco Factor: Platinum LEED-Certified, solar-powered housing complex.
Living in a solar-powered house is no more a design or a dream, as Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation has unveiled a 3-story housing complex, which is powered entirely by solar energy. Los Vecinos, as the complex has been named, consists of 42 units of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments.
The $17.6 million project has a 1500-square-foot recreation center with an in-house gymnasium, and space to hold classes in finance, computers and how to green your lifestyle. The complex is powered by a 93KW solar array installed by First Solar Inc. Each of the apartments has a few panels hardwired to it so that the owners can directly get the credit.
To achieve the LEED Platinum status the designers had to do much more than simply installing solar panels on the rooftop. They completed the requirements with tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient lighting systems and low water-use fixtures. Since the complex carries just 42 units only eligible individuals can apply for a house in this green complex. The eligibility depends on the applicants’ annual earnings, which have to be between $16,600 and $58,000.
Via: Treehugger
A great start for SD! SD should be completely solar and wind powered, as should most of the southwest.
