2821 El Camino Real

Fair Oaks Commons is a LEED Platinum project located in Unincorporated San Mateo County, California. The project provides affordable housing in 67 studio and one-bedroom units with many units reserved for veterans and those with special needs. The project is centrally located, infill, compact and walkable with access to transit earning close to the maximum number of points for Location and Transportation. The team took a deep dive into water savings, exceeding California’s already progressive code for all plumbing fixtures including UHET toilets at 0.8 GPF. The maximum number of points were achieved for energy usage. High efficiency water heaters were coupled 23 SEER minisplits providing unrivaled efficiency inside the units. Windows were fine-tuned to the local climate to find SHGC values that kept the unit warm in winter and cool in summer. A large 43 kW photovoltaic system sits on the roof. Air sealing was also a primary focus where the enhanced compartmentalization credit was earned. All paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants were reviewed and verified. In many cases, California and LEED standards were greatly exceeding such as in the zero VOC paints used. The maximum number of regional priority points was awarded as the design team focused on what made sense to their local climate. Fair Oaks Commons is a lesson in what project teams can achieve when they take a holistic approach to sustainability and tackle every option available to them head on.