Community Housing Works’ Solara apartments will contain 56 rental units.

A roof-mounted photovoltaic system at the two-story, 56-unit Solara apartments under construction in Poway will supply about 90 percent of the on-site electricity demand by tenants in the seven buildings, reports Community Housing Works, developer of the $16.5 million project for low-income families.

Connected to the SDG&E grid, the PV panels convert sunlight to electricity and “feed the grid” during the sunny hours when energy demand is at its peak, and draw electricity from the grid, as needed, during the evening non-peak periods. Sue Reynolds, CEO of Community Housing, says Solara has the highest percentage of on-site electrical generation of any affordable housing development in California.

The complex was designed for reduced energy demand and will include reflective barriers, low-E double-pane windows, an efficient gas-fired heating and water heating system and high-performance air conditioning. Reynolds says Solara will exceed the state’s tough energy code guidelines by more than 15 percent. Solara, scheduled to be completed in early 2007, also will be the first affordable housing development to use the county’s new “zero utility allowance,” which means the management pays for utilities.

The complex will have eight one-bedroom, one-bath units, 28 two-bedroom, one-bath units, two two-bedroom, two-bath units and 18 three-bedroom, two-bath units. Rents will range from about $388 a month to $1,075 a month.