Located in a suburban office park zoned for dense mixed-use development and defined by a roundabout and central Theme building. The project will replace two underutilized office buildings and surface parking lots.

The vision of The Living EmPower House is to create the first Off-grid, zero carbon, affordable, replicable, scalable, and equitable multifamily development that is designed for transactive energy. After securing a $1 million EPIC Grant for the research phase last year, the project team has now been awarded a $9 million Next EPIC Grant Construction Loan with an additional $5 million matching funds from the California Energy Commission.

Sustainability takes center stage with a robust solar array, generating 1.39 megawatt hours of electricity annually, providing thermal shading and visually celebrate the commitment to renewable energy. The 945-kilowatt solar roof reduces power by 22% and with 2.5-megawatt hour battery storage allows the project to operate independently from the energy grid during peak demand times. Residents will be able to control energy usage via user friendly “apps” to reduce costs.

The north building has lower density in response to the adjacent small scale residential neighborhood and consists of three bars with the west facing facade’s single loaded corridor acting as a “solar shield” shading the other two bars. The denser south building has several large portals that capture prevailing winds and views with a lushly landscaped interior court – “cooling oasis”. Building materials and colors are light to reflect heat. The development stands as a beacon of inclusivity, offering a blend of 20% market-rate and 80% affordable housing, creating an environment where diverse individuals and families can thrive.

Not only is the development centered around creating a strong internal community but will support the evolution of a walkable interconnected neighborhood linked to jobs, retail, transit, health care, and schools.