SANTA MONICA, CA—A new standard in sustainable, affordable housing design and construction is open. Colorado Court, a 44-unit five-story building is one of the first affordable housing units in the United States to be 100% energy neutral. Designed to not only reduce energy usage, the building will actually return unused power back into the energy grid. Located at the corner of 5th and Colorado off the Santa Monica freeway, Colorado Court's highly visible position makes it a gateway to the city, its commanding,solar-paneled exterior contributing a major urban element to Santa Monica*s street-side aesthetic.

From conception to construction, rigorous "green" standards and specifications for everything from materials to energy-saving strategies, right down to the building process itself was implemented.

The flagship project, is the result of a unique artistic collaboration. Architects Pugh Scarpa Kodama (PSK) worked closely with the City of Santa Monica, the Community Corporation of Santa Monica, and a team of expert consultants to design a structure that will offer an unprecedented quality of living for its residents. Colorado Court will also become an inspirational model for future affordable housing developments nationwide.

Innovative sustainable-energy technologies developed for Colorado Court include a natural gas-powered turbine/heat recovery system that generates the base electrical load and services the building's hot water needs as well. A solar electric panel system integrated into the facade and roof will supply most of the peak-load energy demand. This unique co-generation system will convert utility natural gas to electricity in order to meet the building's power needs. This same system also captures and uses waste heat to produce hot water and space heating for the residents throughout the year. The unused energy from these passive solar panels will be returned to the grid during daytime hours and retrieved from the grid at night as needed. PSK notes that the "green electricity" produced at the building site will release no pollutants into the environment. Colorado Court's energy conservation systems have been designed to pay for themselves in less than ten years. Projected annual savings in electricity and natural gas are estimated to be in excess of $6,000.

An apartment in Colorado Court will be more than just energy efficient-it will be comfortable and livable, even elegant. Though small-375 square feet maximum-each of these single units have ten-foot high ceilings, which create a sense of airy spaciousness. Small details such as florescent lights, which automatically turn off when one leaves the room, are both convenient and energy saving.

Not content with implementing "hard" green technologies for sustainable living, PSK pushed their energy-efficient strategies even further. They created a Green Addendum--specifications that will act as a guide for the building's actual construction, as well as the materials used.