Zero-carbon multifamily development designed for transactive energy

Living EmPower House, which is set to be the first zero-carbon, replicable, and equitable multifamily development designed for transactive energy, recently was awarded a $9 million Next EPIC Grant Construction Loan from the State of California. 

The award will be combined with an additional $5 million in matching funds from the California Energy Commission. Design firm Studio One Eleven, which will design the project, secured a $1 million EPIC Grant for the research phase last year.

The mixed-use/mixed income development features two buildings that include office, retail, daycare, and 238 homes composed of 20% market-rate and 80% affordable units. The design includes a solar array capable of generating 1.39 gigawatt-hours annually and a 2.5 MWh battery storage system for energy independence.

The project in downtown Santa Ana, Calif., is located near multiple amenities. “The project uses cutting-edge energy technologies, tools and construction practices that will allow it to be affordable, equitable, emissions-free, and resilient to climate change impacts and extreme weather events,” according to a news release.

“This project is a replicable example for mixed-use development in the future, which is so crucial especially today when the US power grid is under such stress,” said Michael Bohn, AIA, partner and design director, Studio One Eleven.

The development is described as “prosumer”—a proactive energy consumer that can control the amount of energy consumed via a custom application.