Green Affordable Housing Development Opens in Oakland

BERKELEY, CA, 19 May 2016 -- A new affordable housing development incorporating several green design features opens today in Oakland. Located in one of the citys most diverse neighborhoods, 1701 MLK is a five-story supportive housing development that includes both Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal (ST) systems designed to generate electricity and heat water. There are ENERGY STAR appliances in all the units, the installed cabinets and countertops are free of harmful chemicals, and drought-tolerant plants are used in the landscape.

Developed by Resources for Community Development (RCD), 1701 MLK offers five studios and 20 one-bedroom units to individuals with income limits between 30% and 50% of the Area Median Income. In addition to safe and affordable housing, the building will provide residents with community room equipped with laptops and a landscaped roof garden where residents can gather and relax.

1701 MLK will allow residents to maintain their self-sufficiency in a safe, thriving residential community that is close to jobs, BART and bus lines, retail, recreation, healthcare and other commercial amenities, said Dan Sawislak, executive director at RCD. We are offering supportive services in collaboration with LifeLong Medical Care so residents who have been without housing can gain stability and live independently.

Sawislak added that the new facility underscores RCDs commitment to sustainable living. RCD builds and maintains properties that use resources responsibly, minimizes waste and harm to the environment, and promotes health and well-being for residents and the community.

According to Jesse Quay of Sun Light & Power, the company that installed the solar systems, 1701 MLK has a roof-mounted PV system that will offset a large portion of the of the buildings common electricity usage and eight solar thermal collectors that will preheat the majority of the hot water needed by the 25 new households. These solar systems are designed to last for many decades, which will help RCD and their tenants save on their gas and electricity bills while providing a more sustainable future for our community and our planet, he said.

Exceeds CA energy efficiency standards
1701 MLK received a very high GreenPoint Rating of 171 points from Build It Green, which is a non-profit organization that promotes energy- and resource-efficient building practices. The new building was rated on well it did on the following categories: energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, resource conservation and community.

In addition to being GreenPoint rated, 1701 MLK exceeds Title 24 energy efficiency standards by at least 15%. The Title 24 energy standards were created by the California Building Standards Commission in 1978 to reduce California''s energy consumption. It addresses the energy efficiency of new and altered homes and commercial buildings.
Quay explained that Title 24 standards are updated periodically by the California Energy Commission to account for improvements in energy efficiency technologies and methods as well as changes to fuel costs.

Community effort
Seven units in 1701 MLK are reserved for individuals who are chronically homeless, while 18 units are for individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Of those, 12 units will be available to individuals with HIV/AIDS. All units are subsidized by the Oakland Housing Authority, which means residents will pay 30% of their household income towards rent.

We have been in the solar business since 1976 and we have seen the growing need for more affordable housing in the Bay Area, Quay said. That is why Sun Light & Power is proud to have partnered with RCD in furthering their commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing for low-income members of the community.

The project received funding from the City of Oakland, Alameda County Housing and Community Development, Northern California Community Loan Fund and Bank of America. Pyatok | architecture + urban design was the architect and the general constructor was J.H. Fitzmaurice, Inc.

About Sun Light & Power
Founded in 1976, Sun Light & Power is celebrating its 40th continuous year of designing and building solar systems in California, a feat unmatched by any solar company in the state. Sun Light & Powers team of engineers, project managers and installers serves a wide range of commercial, nonprofit, municipal and residential clients, with a strong emphasis on the affordable housing sector. Sun Light & Power is one of the first companies in the state to become a Certified Benefit Corporation as well as being the first solar company to be certified as an Alameda County Green Business. For more information, visit www.sunlightandpower.com.

About Resources for Community Development
RCDs mission is to create and preserve affordable housing for those with the fewest options, to build community and enrich lives. We have developed more than 2,200 affordable housing units that serve over 4,200 residents in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. RCD provides complete solutions to community development. We leverage public and private investments in funding, transportation and other infrastructure improvements, and social services to create lasting change for people and communities. For more information, visit www.rcdhousing.org.