Our projects will be constructed with an innovative patented system that delivers custom buildings from a kit of prefabricated component parts. Sustainability measures are at the heart of the system.  Energy and water use will be reduced by ~50% relative to traditional buildings and capital expenditures for repairs and maintenance will be minimized. The target metric for energy usage is ~0.4w/sq ft.

 

SLI’s construction methodology is less wasteful, more efficient, allows for more accurate construction, and helps us meet our sustainability goals. Being able to construct a building in an environmentally controlled setting allows for closer fits and smaller tolerances, which in turn lead to better insulation, air filtration, and energy efficiency. In addition to that, all of our buildings run on low voltage power, further reducing our electrical consumption. The Forge development model utilizes solar energy capturing methods that fuel both power and hot water production. Paired with that, the project also incorporates greywater recycling systems. This environmentally conscious approach to construction enables access to alternative funding mechanisms that aren’t available to traditionally built buildings, such as PACE funding, Energy Investment Tax Credits, Tax Abatements, State or Federal Rebates and other programs.

 

The scope of energy and water initiatives and solutions in the building may include, but will not be limited to: Cogeneration; Solar thermal; Solar PV panels; Radiant heating; Glazing; Insulation levels; External shading devices; Low flow fixtures (to reduce water heater energy); Energy efficient lighting options; Daylighting and occupancy sensor controls for lighting; Energy recovery; Demand controlled ventilation; Demand management; Peak shaving; EV charging needs; Low voltage lighting; Fuel Cells; and Greywater recycling. In addition, Forge is collaborating with Panasonic to evaluate and select best of class solutions in all of these areas as well as offsite appropriate transit-oriented development strategies and mobility opportunities for residents.

 

Cogeneration and Solar: Through a third party provider, Forge will provide space in TL361 for installation of a closed system cogeneration package. The current plan calls for a relatively small capacity in the 2-3Mw scale. In addition to our very efficient energy design, this will provide power to the building at an even lower cost than utility providers. Waste heat from the facility will provide options for both heating and cooling. In San Francisco, the solar heat panels, combined with waste water heat recovery through the Greywater system, will provide almost all of the heating and domestic hot water energy for the building.

 

We continue to evaluate a number of certification programs including the LEED Standard, the Living Building Challenge, the WELL standard, and others.  While many multifamily developers are increasingly choosing to allocate certification dollars to hardware (e.g. more panels instead of certs), Forge is committed to sharing its metrics, especially with the Impact Investing community, as part of our commitment to building the impact real estate asset class and related capacity.  The effort to engage such stakeholders and to clarify sustainability and impact metrics will continue throughout the course of TL361.