The 40 Prado Road Homeless Services Center, a shelter located in San Luis Obispo, serves up to 100 occupants at a time. While it was built in 2018 under the 2013 Energy Code and met energy efficiency standards of the time, it was under the Low‑Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) that the shelter was able to become even more energy efficient, adding a 120‑kilowatt solar system and other energy efficiency measures thanks to California Climate Investments funding. The success at this property—the first homeless shelter to receive funding under LIWP—has paved the way for many similar properties across the state to also receive funding.
The newly installed Solar PV system on the roof of the 40 Prado Road Shelter.
The shelter at 40 Prado Road received over $420,000 in funding to reduce operating costs and building energy use. These installations have a vital impact on the individuals that live and work there. The new solar photovoltaic panels installed at the property are expected to reduce operating costs and offset building energy use by around 46%. Other upgrades included the installation of heat pump water heaters to increase energy efficiency, as well as an insulated recirculation pump for the shelter’s domestic hot water heaters. Recirculation pumps save energy and water by re‑directing cold water sitting in the pipes back to the heater until the desired temperature is reached, then moving it directly to the faucet or showerhead. The recirculation pump alone will save over 32% in energy costs.
While the property is still in the final closing stages of these retrofits, more than 140,000 kilowatt‑hours in energy savings have been achieved so far, along with GHG emissions reductions of more than 67 MTCO2e. This is the epitome of LIWP’s mission: to reduce GHG emissions and generate renewable power while lowering energy expenses for low‑income households in California.
The combined installation of the heat pump water heaters, recirculation pump, and solar photovoltaic system will improve the overall energy and cost efficiency of the property, with the new solar photovoltaic panels providing an estimated $30,000 per year in energy savings. By freeing up funds that would otherwise go towards energy operating costs, these retrofits will give the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO), which operates the shelter, the ability to redirect resources to help more people needing shelter.
Another view of the Solar PV system installed on the roof of 40 Prado Road.
“It’s going to reduce the overall [Operations] budget, and create funding that we haven’t had since 2018 to help support our guests that stay here, and upkeep on the facility in general, and that’s a win,” said Elizabeth “Biz” Steinberg, CAPSLO’s Chief Executive Officer.
In addition to 24/7 services, 40 Prado Road serves as a Warming Center for the City of San Luis Obispo when the weather is cold or wet.