1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 QUOTES from the episode: “Utilities are no longer just incentive providers. They are becoming design partners.” “High performance is not a luxury in affordable housing. It is a necessity for predictable living costs.” “If you want this to scale, it starts with early coordination and shared goals.”&amp;nbsp; In this episode of RESTalk, we head to Tempe, Arizona, where extreme heat, rising energy costs, and housing needs are converging, and where a standout project is redefining what ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction can look like in a hot, dry climate. Bill is joined by Rebecca Smout of Salt River Project (SRP), Joe Keeper of Copa Health, and Jacob Alvarez of Desert Skies Energy to unpack the story behind La Victoria Commons, an ENERGY STAR–certified multifamily development designed with both performance and people in mind. At the center of the conversation is a powerful idea: utilities are no longer just incentive providers; they are becoming design partners. Through early collaboration, flexible program design, and deep involvement from HERS® raters, this project demonstrates how technical rigor and cost awareness can coexist. The team walks through how early modeling, integrated design, and verification helped align multiple programs and certifications while still delivering a practical, buildable project. But the real impact shows up at the resident level. As Joe explains, high-performance construction is not just about energy savings; it is about creating predictable, manageable utility costs for families in affordable housing. Combined with transit access, EV infrastructure, and community services, La Victoria Commons becomes more than a development. It becomes a replicable blueprint for housing equity and market transformation in some of the most demanding climates in the country. Rebecca’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-smout-31a08644/ SRP: https://www.srpnet.com/ &amp;nbsp; Jacob’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-alvarez125/ Desert Skies: https://desertskiesenergy.com/ &amp;nbsp; Joe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-keeper-183aa13ab/ https://copahealth.org/ &amp;nbsp; LaVictoria Commons in the news: https://www.tempe.gov/Home/Components/News/News/18749/ &amp;nbsp; To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US &amp;nbsp; RESTalk http://www.resnet.us/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40945995/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/021c40/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/40945995