SolarCity and Abode Communities Salute Solar Power and Affordable Housing with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarCity®, a national leader in solar power system design, financing, installation, monitoring and related services, is proud to unveil a solar array at Morgan Place, a new affordable housing community for seniors in South Los Angeles. SolarCity will join Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Councilmember Bernard C. Parks, Abode Communities President Robin Hughes and many facility residents in a ribbon-cutting and celebration at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 23.

The 55-unit building was designed for sustainability and community development, combining best practices in green building with an open courtyard, on-site services and ADA-accessible apartments. The building revitalized an abandoned lot in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles, and provides affordable housing to seniors earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of the area median income.

Over the next 25 years, the Morgan Place solar array is expected to offset 2.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide, more than 7,000 pounds of nitrous oxide and 443 pounds of particulates. SolarCity expects the 49.2 kilowatt (DC) system to produce enough electricity to power 75 percent of the common areas in the building. Other green elements of the facility include Energy Star-rated heating and cooling systems, Energy Star-qualified appliances in all apartments, high-performance windows, 100 percent compact fluorescent lighting, optic skylights and recycled-content carpets. While the building was under construction, SolarCity provided a site survey, custom consultation and assistance in the permitting and rebate process, and designed and installed the solar system.

“Morgan Place demonstrates the potential of every roof to become a clean power generator,” said Jim Cahill, SolarCity’s regional operating director in Southern California. “We’re excited and honored to be able to support Abode Communities, Mayor Villaraigosa and LADWP on an environmentally-conscious approach to affordable housing development.”