UC Davis Plans the Largest Zero-Net Energy Community in the U.S.

by Matt Smith

The University of California-Davis are planning to build the largest zero-net energy community in the U.S. in the fall. The UC Davis West Village will combine a number of innovative energy-efficient technologies, including a 4 megawatt, high efficiency SunPower solar power system.

The first phase of the project, which will be completed this year, will include apartment housing for 2,000 students, an education center for Los Rios Community College, recreation and study facilities, a village square and neighborhood retail, and 343 single family homes available for sale for faculty and staff. By September of 2011, two of the student-housing buildings, the Ramble Apartments and the Veridian, will be open for new residents.

The project is a collaboration between UC Davis and the West Village Community Partnership, LLC, a joint-venture led by San Francisco-based Carmel Partners with their partner Urban Villages of Denver.

"West Village is a paradigm shift in creating both a great place to live and a model Zero Net Energy community," said Nolan Zail, senior vice president for Carmel Partners, in a press release. "Our guiding principles include environmental sustainability and quality of place. West Village will include housing, recreation and retail options, providing a convenient and eco-friendly lifestyle for students, faculty and staff."

The buildings are all designed to optimize their use of solar energy, and the appliances within are not only energy efficient, but many will also be made from renewable sources. In addition to the efforts made to reduce energy use for the buildings, the community is designed in such a way so that the residents should have little need for automobiles within the community as well.

The entire community's electricity demand will be powered by a 4 megawatt solar power system created by the SunPower Corporation. The system includes rooftop solar power installations and solar canopies in the parking areas.

"The guaranteed performance of high efficiency SunPower technology, which generates more electricity per square meter than any other photovoltaic product on the market, will reliably deliver enough clean, emission-free power to ensure West Village achieves its zero net energy goals," said Jim Pape, president of SunPower's residential and commercial business group, in a press release. "We applaud the aspirations of this unique community, and are confident it will serve as a model for similar developments around the world."

This solar powered system will provide enough power to avoid more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, the equivalent of taking 9,000 car from California of the roads over the 25-year life of the system, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Using aggressive energy efficiency measures and on-site renewable energy generation to meet community energy demand, this holistic approach offers new solutions in the design and construction of large-scale sustainable communities," Zail said.

Reprinted with permission from Green Building Elements