Developer says net zero Salt Lake City apartment high-rise built at standard cost

The developer of a new $16 million, 112-unit apartment building in Salt Lake City say the structure was built to net zero specifications at a cost on par with standard construction—a first for the state.

The developer, a nonprofit called Giv Group, says its structure, dubbed “Project Open,” is the tallest net zero building in Utah. All of the electricity residents use is offset by 3.5 acres of solar panels offsite.

This allowed the project to avoid the expense of rooftop solar panels. The project is said to have achieved a savings of $565 per unit in mechanical and electrical systems. The cost premium for net zero projects is typically 5% to 10% higher than standard construction.

70% of the apartments are affordable units with rents starting as low as $250 a month.