Off Grid and Urban: An Apartment Building that Signals the Future

In an interview with Elisa Wood, veteran energy innovator Steve Pullins, CEO of ResSET,  unveils his latest venture, a highly unusual sustainable apartment building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, set to be entirely off-grid. While foregoing a grid connection isn’t typical, especially for a city building, Pullins maintains it’s time to think of the electric grid as just one of several energy options, not the default.

Called South Town, the project strives to reduce housing costs using several novel strategies, including providing a shared electric vehicle fleet for building occupants. Pullins also designed the energy system based on the kilowatts actually used by appliances — not the generic nameplate ratings — which led to significant energy savings.

Pullins hopes to see the model replicated, a necessity, he says, given that the world’s building footprint will double over the next 40 years, threatening climate goals without radical change in commercial construction.

CHAPTERS

0:06

Introduction to Energy Changemakers

1:25

Off-Grid Living in Urban Settings

3:18

The Multifamily Housing Project

5:23

Addressing Challenges in Energy Supply

8:52

Innovative Approaches to Energy Costs

13:04

Rethinking Energy Resources

16:41

Navigating Utility Regulations

21:04

Electric Vehicles and Shared Mobility

24:18

Energy Efficiency and Affordability

26:20

Transforming Construction Practices

33:17

Advanced Energy Management Systems

34:46

The Future of Renewable Natural Gas

48:21

Building Resilience in Energy Systems

52:02

Demand Flexibility as a Resource

53:38

Conclusion and Community Engagement

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