Sustainability

Those living or working in affordable spaces deserve all the benefits of efficient, clean-energy buildings — including cost savings and better health outcomes. Because our real estate investments impact communities for generations, we believe in investing in sustainability too.

  • A ground-level perspective of the industrial building with rainbow-colored walls, a white roof, and solar panels on top. Several cars and dumpsters are parked in front, with nearby industrial buildings and streets visible in the background.
Rooftop solar, climate-minded users

Social Enterprise Foundry

The Social Enterprise Foundry is a 45,000-square-foot warehouse in Sun Valley, home to three sustainability focused nonprofits. In 2023, ULC and partners installed a rooftop solar array that offsets the building’s electric use. Working at the Social Enterprise Foundry allows three climate-minded nonprofits and their employees to live their values every day.

  • 100%
    Electric use offset by solar
  • A peaceful outdoor recreational area with a basketball court, picnic tables painted red and blue, and green grass. Trees provide shade, and a single-story building with brick walls and large windows is visible in the background under a bright blue sky.
  • Rows of large solar panels installed on a sloped surface, surrounded by greenery and trees. The panels are angled toward the sun under a clear blue sky. In the background, a fence, trees, and rooftops of houses are visible.

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Geothermal, solar, LED

Oxford Vista Campus

In 2019, ULC transformed energy use at Oxford Vista — a 31-acre ULC campus in Aurora that is home to two local nonprofits and a regional AmeriCorps office. The $3.2 million capital improvement project included a geothermal system, a 440kW solar array, the replacement of the property’s mechanical system, a LED lighting retrofit, and more. Today the campus is solar-powered and the main building is net positive electric — selling surplus energy back to the utility company.

  • $3.2
    Million
    Invested in sustainable energy systems
  • Three people in front of brick building with sign: Tramway Nonprofit Center
Rooftop solar

Tramway Nonprofit Hub

In 2013, ULC installed two solar arrays at Tramway, a ULC Nonprofit Hub in the Cole neighborhood. Tramway houses more than a dozen mission-minded and nonprofit tenants. ULC passes on its energy cost savings to its tenants in the form of lower monthly rent.

  • 12+
    Nonprofits
    Cost savings for 12+ nonprofit tenants
  • The Irving: large white modern building
Coming soon

The Irving

Residents living in the 102 affordable homes at The Irving at Mile High Vista (opening in 2025) will enjoy a fully electric building featuring solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and heat pumps to efficiently heat and cool all the units. Benefits will include lower utility bills and better indoor air quality.

  • 100%
    Electric and solar power
“Just like Denver residents, nonprofits are feeling the rising cost of energy, rent and operations. ULC is using renewable energy to keep community-serving nonprofits focused on their work rather than their energy bills.”
Aaron Martinez | ULC COO
Yellow, orange, red, and white exterior of a modern building

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