Skip to content
Trellis Trellis
  • Topics
  • Events
    In-person Events
    View All
    • Trellis Impact 25
    • VERGE
    • Bloom
    • GreenFin
    • GreenBiz
    • Circularity
  • Webinars
  • Network
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Subscribe
Download
Resource

Colorado Court Affordable Housing Renewable Energy

December 31, 1969
  • Location: Santa Monica, CA
  • Building type(s): Multi-unit residential, Special needs housing
  • New construction
  • 30,200 sq. feet (2,800 sq. meters)
  • Project scope: 5-story building
  • Urban setting
  • Completed November 2002
  • Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v2–Level: Gold (44 points)

    Located at the corner of a main off-ramp of the Santa Monica freeway, Colorado Court’s highly visible position makes it a gateway to the city. The 44-unit, five-story building is the first affordable-housing project in the United States to be 100% energy neutral. This project is an excellent model of sustainable development in an urban environment, provides a model for private/public partnerships that benefit the community, and promotes diversity in an urban environment through strategically placed affordable housing.

    Environmental Aspects

    Innovative sustainable energy technologies developed for Colorado Court include a natural-gas turbine cogeneration system that generates the base electrical load and provides the building’s hot water needs. Photovoltaics integrated into the facade and roof supply most of the peak-load energy demand. Unused energy from these solar panels is fed into the grid during daytime hours and retrieved from the grid at night as needed. The “green electricity” produced at the building site releases no pollutants into the environment. Prevailing breezes cool the building, which has no air conditioning.

    The building also collects rainwater runoff from the entire city block behind the property and funnels it into a series of underground chambers. The water slowly percolates back into the soil, which filters the pollutants from the water while preventing contaminated water from spilling into Santa Monica Bay.

    More details are available on EERE’s Web site.

    Owner & Occupancy

  • Owned by Community Corporation of Santa Monica, Corporation, nonprofit
  • Occupants: Individual(s)
  • Typically occupied by 44 people, 100 hours per person per week; and 20 visitors per week, 2 hours per visit

    Colorado Court includes 44 single-resident occupancy units for tenants with very low income. The 44 tenants occupy the space for an average or 100 hours per week, and there are an estimated 20 visitors each week with an average length-of-stay of 2 hours.

  • Featured resources

    Scope 3 Emissions Reporting & Where to Start
    Sponsored
    Scope 3 Emissions Reporting & Where to Start
    A Guide to Electricity Purchasing Strategies
    Sponsored
    A Guide to Electricity Purchasing Strategies
    Navigating Sustainable Trade Amid Global Uncertainty: How Businesses Can Embed Resilience in Supply Chains During Geopolitical Shifts
    Sponsored
    Navigating Sustainable Trade Amid Global Uncertainty: How Businesses Can Embed Resilience in Supply Chains During Geopolitical Shifts
    A Tech-Driven Approach to Nature-Based Carbon Capture 
    Sponsored
    A Tech-Driven Approach to Nature-Based Carbon Capture 
    Powering Net Zero: Aligning Budgets, Data and Teams for Smarter Electrification
    Sponsored
    Powering Net Zero: Aligning Budgets, Data and Teams for Smarter Electrification
    The Definitive Guide to Global Energy Attribute Certificates
    Sponsored
    The Definitive Guide to Global Energy Attribute Certificates
    Future-Proof with Sustainability: How Climate Action Builds Resilient, Profitable Businesses
    Future-Proof with Sustainability: How Climate Action Builds Resilient, Profitable Businesses
    Sphera 2025 Scope 3 Report: Forge a Path to Climate Leadership
    Sponsored
    Sphera 2025 Scope 3 Report: Forge a Path to Climate Leadership
    The CEO’s Guide to Next-Level Business Transformation and Resilience
    Sponsored
    The CEO’s Guide to Next-Level Business Transformation and Resilience
    Why North American Companies Need ESG Supply Chain Visibility for a Hyper-Risk World
    Sponsored
    Why North American Companies Need ESG Supply Chain Visibility for a Hyper-Risk World
    Trellis
    Sign in to Trellis Network
    Explore
    • Resources
    • Articles
    • Webinars
    Events
    • Trellis Impact 25
    • VERGE
    • Bloom
    • GreenFin
    • GreenBiz
    • Circularity
    Products
    • Trellis Network
    • Trellis Briefing
    • Events
    • Media Kit
    • Job Board
    About
    • Company
    • Careers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Contact Us
    Follow Us
    • Cookies
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2025 Trellis Group Inc.
    Get real case studies and takeaways straight to your inbox. Learn more

    Stay informed

    Subscribe to Trellis Briefing to receive the latest sustainability news & trends directly in your inbox.
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading