Community HousingWorks Partners with SolarCity and Everyday Energy to Provide Solar Power to Working Families

Community HousingWorks (CHW) has partnered with SolarCity and Everyday Energy to add 2.9 megawatts of solar power to the organization’s affordable rental community portfolio. The new partnership will allow CHW to continue progress on their commitment made to President Obama’s Original Climate Action Plan in 2014 to install more than 100 megawatts of solar power by 2020.

CHW powers common areas with solar energy and provides the benefits of solar power to individual residential units through the use of virtual net metering. SolarCity finances, designs, installs and maintains the 12 new solar power systems. Everyday Energy originated the partnership and provides technical support to ensure compliance with the California Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing Program, coordinates utility allowance adjustments, and facilitates energy audits to provide the maximum positive financial impact to both CHW and their residents. More than half of CHW’s 36 affordable communities have on-site solar power today.

“With Everyday Energy and SolarCity’s support, the majority of our communities will be operating on renewable energy by the end of this year,” said Sue Reynolds, CHW President and CEO. “That means savings for the working families, seniors, and individuals in our communities and savings for our properties. Lowering energy costs enable us to maintain lower rents and dedicate more resources to meeting our mission of helping people and communities move up in the world.”

“This partnership is an excellent demonstration of how clean, affordable solar energy can benefit both renters and developers of affordable housing communities,” said Jesse Jones, SolarCity’s Vice President of Solar Project Development. “Residents are saving money each month with affordable solar power and securing a lower electricity bill for years into the future, helping them take control of costs. Developers like CHW also save money by going solar and can use funds towards improving communities and prices for renters.”

“We are excited to expand our relationship with Community Housing Works, to partner with SolarCity to deliver real solutions for the affordable housing market, and to demonstrate that low-income properties and families really do benefit from solar,” said Scott Sarem, CEO of Everyday Energy. “We have worked hard with our affordable housing clients, the California Legislature and the California Public Utilities Commission to create an offering that makes financial sense for both owners and renters.”