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Like many on the Central Coast, our home uses a mix of fuels to heat and cool the air, heat water and cook food. The energy efficiency “bones” of the building are sound - having completed a gut remodel of the 50-yr old structure a decade ago, so our electricity costs have generally been low. Too low to make installing solar PV cost effective.
At In Balance, we often work with our affordable multifamily housing clients on ways to help them qualify for a variety of tax credits from both state and federal government programs. One in particular, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) provides incentives that help fund affordable rental housing developments for low-income Californians. It is governed by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) and includes incentives for incorporating sustainable building practices in multifamily housing projects.
We hear too often of the disconnect between architects and builders, between what’s drawn and what’s built, between what’s intended and what results. An easy and efficient means of bridging this disconnect is the building of mock-up assemblies for architects, builders, owners, and developers to review and approve before plans are finalized and construction begins. I’ve been using mock-ups on our job sites since we began building higher performing homes, and not once have they ever proven a waste of time. In fact, just the opposite.
