Standard’s Renovation of Fort Chaplin Park Apartments in Washington, D.C., Added Significant Environmental Sustainability Upgrades

Washington, D.C.–Standard Communities received the annual Green Initiative Excellence Award from Multi Housing News for Standard’s commitment to environmental sustainability while it expanded and preserved high-quality affordable housing at Fort Chaplin Park Apartments in Washington, D.C.

Fort Chaplin Park Apartments is a 549-unit affordable apartment community located on 16.6 acres in Ward 7 of Washington D.C. Standard completed a $33 million renovation of the property that included a 1.28 MW solar photovoltaic system, the largest community rooftop solar array in D.C., and a new LEED Silver 15,000 square foot Community Center.

“Standard takes a holistic approach to integrating sustainable practices into our transactions. The major sustainability upgrades completed at the Fort Chaplin benefit the residents and the community. We’re extremely proud of the impact that we’ve made,” said Scott Alter, Co-Founder and Principal of Standard Communities.

“We estimate that these upgrades save residents almost 50% on electricity and over 30% on natural gas costs each year,” added Mr. Alter.

The solar photovoltaic system at Fort Chaplin Park spans 45 buildings and generates more than 1.5 million kWh of energy annually. It offsets emissions equivalent to 1,021 metric tons of CO2 annually, which is equivalent to 17,337 trees grown for ten years. Compared to fossil fuels, the amount of CO2 reduced by the solar array is equivalent to burning nearly six railcars of coal. Standard Communities, a Better Building Challenge and Energy Star Partner, together with SaveSolar and New Columbia Solar, equipped Fort Chaplin Park Apartments with the new solar energy system under Washington, D.C.’s innovative Solar for All program.

D.C.-based Chief Strategy Officer at Standard Communities, Joe Ouellette, said “Standard’s commitment goes far beyond the typical brick and mortar aspects of affordable multifamily development. The sustainability improvements at Fort Chaplin Park results in hundreds of low and moderate-income households enjoying more than $2 million in energy cost savings over the life of the system, equaling approximately $500 a year per resident.”

Fort Chaplin Park has been praised by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for the expansion  and preservation of affordability as a result of Standard’s investment in the community, which is now preserved as 100% affordable housing for at least the next 30 years.

Based in New York and Los Angeles, Standard Communities has a national portfolio of over 11,800 apartment units, including approximately 10,800 affordable and workforce housing units, and has completed more than $3 billion of affordable housing acquisitions and rehabilitations nationwide. Standard Communities strives to cultivate long-term public and private partnerships to produce and preserve high-quality, affordable, and environmentally sustainable housing.

 

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