Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments wanted to not only be an upscale apartment
complex, but also one focused on 100% sustainability and eco-friendly
practices.
H.G. Fenton Co. and HES Solar created a groudbreaking solar
design which provides Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments with a 100% offset of
all the entire complex’s energy needs; including all common areas and
tenents’ usage.
Tenents of Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments can now take advantage of netzero utility costs as well a 100% offset of public amenity electricity costs,
reducing rental rates without compromising quality of living. H.G. Fenton Co
is taking advantage of zero common area electric costs which gives them a
more attractive, eco-friendly image.
Mike Neal
H.G. Fenton’s President and CEO
When H.G. Fenton Co. first started their plans for Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments in Scripps Ranch, they decided a long term investment in sustainabilty and eco-living would be a priority.
In addition to energy efficient appliances, the complex features garages pre-wired for electric vehicles, drip-irrigation landscaping, and smart thermostats in each of their 114 units.
While under construction, H.G. Fenton partnered with HES Solar to help make their eco-dreams into a reality. Never before had a project in California integrated Virtual Net Metering (VNEM) into an apartment community such as this. HES Solar was able to create a special metering system (VNEM) which gives each of the 114 units an alotted amount of energy produced by the solar system and meters each individually, as well as the on site amenities.
HES Solar was able to achieve offsetting 100% of Solterra’s energy consumption by installing three different types of solar arrays. Panels have been installed on the complex’s roofs, on a large groundmount near the south end of the property, and atop carport
structures, which also provide shade and protection for tenents’ vehicles.
Utilizing many different facets of sustainabilty, Solterra was able to achieve its goal of creating a luxurious, eco-friendly living environment for its community members. HES Solar helped them attain these objectives by finding a way to distribute energy from the sun evenly among Solterra’s 114 units and common areas and ultimately helping Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments become San Diego’s first Zero Net Energy apartment complex.
Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0) is the incoming law created by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The new tariffs and fees will impact both residential and commercial solar systems built in California.
As this notice is posted in November of 2022, the Proposed Decision from the CPUC outlining the proposed NEM 3.0 terms is expected soon. This comes after a year’s delay. Once the new agreement is finalized and passed into law, there will exist a designation of the deadline under which new systems will continue to qualify for NEM 2.0 rates.
The new NEM 3.0 rates will be designed to lower the value of electricity during the daytime hours, when solar is producing, and increase the value of electricity during the evening hours, when solar homes and businesses purchase electricity. In short, NEM 3.0 will create a “sell low, buy high” proposition to new solar system owners.
To Californians looking to install a solar system on their home or commercial building, the NEM 2.0 rates will be preferred. As of this post, the solar industry does not know the details of how different the NEM 3.0 rates will be from the NEM 2.0 rates.
Please use the HES Solar website as a resource to learn more, and please take our offer to speak with an HES Solar Energy Consultant at no obligation.
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