Photos courtesy of Central City Concern
A new affordable housing development in Portland is tackling critical challenges like homelessness, addiction recovery and climate resilience. Developed by Central City Concern, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Oregonians overcome homelessness, Meridian Gardens will provide housing and supportive services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, while receiving treatment for substance use disorders.
Meridian Gardens is part of Central City Concern’s expanding, community-driven campus. The development will not only provide housing, but it will also include onsite support services and other amenities designed to foster connection and belonging for residents as they navigate recovery.
Energy Trust of Oregon collaborated closely with Central City Concern throughout the design and construction process to ensure Meridian Gardens also met its ambitious sustainability goals. As a result, the building is setting new benchmarks for sustainable and energy-efficient housing in Oregon.
Meridian Gardens features energy-saving technologies like high-efficiency heat pumps, which will provide residents with comfortable living spaces year-round while also reducing energy use. A solar array, supported by a $75,000 incentive from Energy Trust of Oregon that covered more than 60% of the installation costs, is projected to generate more than 63,000 kilowatt-hours annually of clean energy onsite, saving approximately $10,000 a year in utility costs. LED lighting and ENERGY STAR® appliances throughout the building will also contribute to significant energy savings daily.
Additionally, a centralized heat pump water heater system connected to the power grid will even further lower operating costs for Central City Concern. This will allow them to allocate more resources to at-risk residents and ensure access to a reliable, comfortable environment – which is especially important during extreme weather events. All in all, Meridian Gardens is expected to save more than 223,000 kWh of energy a year, or enough to power approximately 21 houses a year.
Meridian Gardens can serve as an example for affordable housing by showing how energy efficiency and innovation can create buildings that both serve residents and help reach climate goals.
“Meridian Gardens represents what’s possible when we apply systems-thinking to building design, bringing together energy, resilience, affordability and community impact,” said Shelly Carlton, Energy Trust senior program manager for New Buildings. “By partnering with Energy Trust, developers can build with climate and energy in mind and help communities address pressing challenges like housing more effectively.”
Energy Trust can help incorporate energy-efficient features from the start. By partnering with us early, developers can maximize budget, enhance comfort and safety, and create lasting benefits for their communities.
Learn how Energy Trust can support your project today—visit www.energytrust.org to get started.