Colorado Developers Lead the Way on Affordable, All-Electric Housing

This case study by RMI examines how developers in Colorado are implementing all-electric, affordable housing projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower long-term costs, and improve resident health. Through examples like Oxford Vista, Kestrel, and 30 Pearl Street, the document demonstrates that avoiding fossil fuel infrastructure can offset higher upfront costs for electric systems, providing a scalable model for sustainable urban development.

• Colorado developers are adopting all-electric designs for affordable housing because they offer climate benefits, operational simplicity, and cost savings by avoiding the installation of gas infrastructure. These systems are noted for improving indoor air quality, reducing asthma rates, and providing low-income tenants with access to efficient technology.
• The Oxford Vista project in Aurora, Colorado, converted a 150,000-square foot former school into affordable student housing for over 250 tenants using an all-electric retrofit. The campus utilizes a 440 kW solar panel array and a geothermal variable refrigerant volume (VRV) system, resulting in electricity use that is nearly 92 percent lower than the national average per square foot. The transition to ground source heat pumps led to estimated savings of $20,000 in gas, $40,000 in electricity, and $15,000 in maintenance.
• The Kestrel development in Louisville, Colorado, provides 71 senior apartments and 129 family townhomes for residents earning no more than 60% of the area median income. Because the land was previously undeveloped, the Boulder County Housing Authority avoided gas infrastructure costs by installing mini-split heat pumps and a high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system.
• The 30 Pearl Street complex in Boulder consists of 120 all-electric units for individuals and families earning 30 to 60 percent of the area median income. The design reduced venting requirements to increase efficiency and lower energy bills. The site is located near Boulder Junction, a regional transit hub serving the Denver metro area.
• State and local policy in Colorado is shifting toward the phase-out of natural gas in the building sector. Denver has announced a Net Zero Implementation Plan to support all-electric buildings through enhanced incentives to meet climate targets.

APA

RMI (2021). Colorado Developers Lead the Way on Affordable, All-Electric Housing. https://rmi.org/resources/colorado-developers-lead-the-way-on-affordable-all-electric-housing/

Chicago

RMI. Colorado Developers Lead the Way on Affordable, All-Electric Housing. 2021. https://rmi.org/resources/colorado-developers-lead-the-way-on-affordable-all-electric-housing/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Colorado Developers Lead the Way on Affordable, All-Electric Housing |date=1 April 2021 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/colorado-developers-lead-the-way-on-affordable-all-electric-housing/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2021colorado, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Colorado Developers Lead the Way on Affordable, All-Electric Housing}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/colorado-developers-lead-the-way-on-affordable-all-electric-housing/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }