Where’s the Country’s Largest Solar-Powered Affordable Apartments?

Why, in Richmond, of course, at least according to Sun Light & Power, a 32-year-old solar installation firm that installed a $7 million solar system on the roof of Crescent Park Apartments. No less than 24 buildings and 378 family apartments will run on solar, saving the occupants money and sparing the environment. The project helps the city of Richmond, which has been working hard to overcome its image of violence and crime, meet almost 20 percent of its goal for usage of solar power.

EAH Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in San Rafael, gets the credit for this innovative idea. And if the idea of affordable shelter costs is attractive to you, but you’d like to get out of your apartment, here’s a list of price drops in Hercules, a town just up Interstate 80 a ways from Richmond, an easy commute to SF. (Solar panel roof photo: kamaru.)

1050 Canterbury, Hercules: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,293 sq ft. Nice hefty price drop: to $315,000 from $375,000. It’s a single-family dwelling. However, the listing bears the dreaded phrase, “Needs TLC,” so consider yourselves warned.

178 Oxford Street, Hercules: 3 bedrooms/2 baths, 1,293 sq ft. Price dropped from $359,500 to $347,000. This one needs only “light TLC,” and has a wood-burning fireplace.

127 South Wildwood, Hercules: 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths, 1,413 sq ft. Healthy price drop, from $299,900 to $254,900. Unlike the preceding two houses, this one’s a condo. On the bright side, nobody’s calling it a fixer-upper. In fact, it’s in immaculate condition, the listing tells us.

149 Ben Lomond, Hercules: 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths, 1,507 sq. ft. Was $409,900, now $395,900. This one looks really cute in the photos. One bedroom window looks out on a big ol’ tree, there’s a sliding glass door to what looks like a patio and the place looks well kept up.