Colorado Court Housing facts for kids
Colorado Court Housing is a special apartment building in Santa Monica, California. It has 44 homes and was designed by the company Brooks + Scarpa. This building is important because it was the first apartment complex in the United States to get a "Gold" certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This means it's super friendly to the environment!
It's located right where a big freeway offramp meets the city, so it's like a welcoming sign to Santa Monica. This five-story building is almost 100% "energy neutral." This means it produces nearly all the energy it needs, which is amazing for a building in a city! It's a great example of how buildings can be good for both people and the planet.
The designers thought carefully about where to put the building. They made sure it catches natural breezes. This helps keep the building cool without needing much air conditioning. Only a small office area on the ground floor has AC. The windows are also designed to let in lots of light and fresh air. They even have special shading to block too much sun.
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About the Colorado Court Building
This unique building is located in Santa Monica, California, in the United States. It's a five-story apartment building with 44 homes. It also includes special housing for people with specific needs. The building was finished in November 2002.
It covers about 30,200 square feet (2,800 square meters). The U.S. Green Building Council gave it a "Gold" rating. This shows how well it meets high environmental standards.
How Colorado Court Stays Green
The Colorado Court building uses smart technology to be very eco-friendly.
Clean Energy Production
It has a special system that uses natural gas to make electricity. This system also heats the building's water. Solar panels on the roof and sides of the building make even more electricity. These panels help power the building during the day. If the building makes more power than it needs, it sends the extra power to the city's electricity grid. At night, it can take power from the grid if needed. This "green electricity" means the building doesn't cause pollution when it makes its own power.
Natural Cooling and Water Saving
The building is designed to use natural breezes to stay cool. This means it doesn't need air conditioning, which saves a lot of energy.
It also collects rainwater from the entire city block around it. This water goes into special underground areas. The soil then naturally cleans the water. This stops polluted water from flowing into Santa Monica Bay.
Smart Energy Use in the Building
The building's design helps it save energy in many ways.
Clever Design for Airflow
The building has three parts that reach out. This helps catch breezes and lets fresh air flow through every apartment. Most of the windows face north and south. The south side has special shades and solar panels to block strong sunlight.
Powering the Building
The building makes its own electricity using solar panels and a natural-gas powered machine. Together, these systems can create all the electricity the building needs. The city's power grid acts like a backup. It helps balance the power if the building makes too much or too little. The heat from the natural gas machine is used to make hot water for homes and for heating the rooms.
Keeping Homes Comfortable
Apartments stay cool thanks to smart window placement for airflow. The windows have two layers of glass with a special gas inside. This helps keep heat out in summer and in during winter. The walls have recycled insulation that works much better than regular insulation. This helps keep the temperature steady inside.
The appliances are also very energy-efficient. For example, the refrigerators use very little electricity. Light switches have motion sensors, so lights turn off when no one is around. Energy-saving light bulbs are used throughout the building.
Awards and Recognition
Colorado Court Housing has won many important awards for its design and environmental efforts:
- 2004: Featured in an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
- 2003: Won the National AIA Honor Award for Design Excellence.
- 2003: Received the National AIA "COTE" Top Ten Green Building Award.
- 2003: Earned the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, Silver Medal.
- 2002: Was a finalist for the BHS&F World Habitat Award.
- 2001: Won the Westside Prize for Urban Design.
