Our Commitment to Sustainable Living

Essex communities are well-located throughout the West Coast to offer residents the perks of a sustainable way of living. Access to the local area by foot, bike, or public transportation is a breeze. Nearly half of our eco-friendly apartment communities are considered Very Walkable or a Walker’s Paradise according to Walk Score, and many of our properties include bicycle storage facilities and repair rooms for those who prefer to travel on two wheels.

Increasing demands and use of electric vehicles in California and Washington prompted Essex to install 200 new EV charging stations in 2020. A sustainable alternative for those who need to use their cars, nearly 70 of our communities now include EV charging stations with dedicated parking spaces for residents interested in eco-friendly living. Our newest development, Wallace on Sunset in Los Angeles, CA, partnered with Tesla to provide charging stations for residents.

Multifamily housing is one of the most environmentally sustainable apartment options. Generating renewable energy at our eco-friendly apartments allows us to be less dependent on grid electricity. We recently invested nearly $11 million in solar projects, and we have an active program in place to improve and/or update HVAC systems and lighting. Our goal is to ensure 10% of electricity usage within our control will come from on-site renewable sources to encourage a sustainable way of living for residents.

We have put sustainable living strategies in place to reduce our water consumption, and since 2016, we have spent $3.8M. Our team has installed drought tolerant landscaping, native plant species, and water-and efficient irrigation systems, covering over 332,000 square feet of landscape areas to promote eco-friendly living. In the last two years, we invested $710K on water-efficient improvements and our resident outreach program raises awareness of water usage, water-saving ideas and best practices to encourage a sustainable way of living.