Real Estate Developments Powered by Solar
Solar powered housing developments are beginning to sprout up across the nation as developers gain more understanding on the eco-impact as well as the popularity among home buyers. Home buyers place high value on solar friendly communities where monthly electric bills are cut by 35 to 70%.
And just where are these prime real estate developments located? To be fair I chose one from the East Coast and one from the West Coast:
Photo Credit: Dominic’s Pics
Florida’s First Solar-Powered City
Florida will see its first solar-powered city break ground in June 2010. Near Fort Myers, the city, called Babcock Ranch, aims to build 19,500 houses and around 6 million square feet of retail, light industrial, commercial, civic, and office space on 17,000 acres of land. The entire development is estimated to cost 2 billion and create 20,000 jobs.
The real estate developer, Kitson & Partners, is working with electric utility Florida Power & Light to build what the utility says will be the world’s largest photovoltaic solar plant in a planned city.
The city will run on 100% solar power and be integrated with a smart grid, which will provide greater efficiencies and allow homeowners and businesses to monitor and control their energy consumption.
The homes as well as commercial buildings will be certified as energy-efficient and built according to Florida Green Building Council standards. The city will be adjacent to a 73,000-acre land conservation called Babcock Ranch Preserve, and over half of the 17,000-acre city will be protected greenways and open space. The layout includes 40 miles of walking paths and bike lanes to create a short commute to work.
The eco-friendly city will also feature sustainable water management, street lamps designed to reduce light pollution, electric car chargers, and green roofs to conserve energy.
California Solar Communities
New solar-powered housing developments are in the works for Vacaville and the Sacramento area and California homebuyers couldn’t be happier. As people become more aware of the green movement coupled with a desire, or necessity, to cut down on their utility bills, they’re seeking homes that are turn-key solar ready.
Vacaville
Meritage Home’s “zero energy” new home community in Vacaville combines solar power and energy efficiency for a “whole house” approach to green design. As a standard feature, each of the 45 homes in the new Encore Community will come with a 2.3 kilowatt SunPower SunTile system, which blends seamlessly into the roof and features the most efficient solar technology currently available on the market.
Other features you can find in the Meritage homes are energy-saving windows and insulation, high-efficiency appliances, tankless water heaters, nighttime ventilation cooling, radiant barrier roof sheathing, SEER 15 air conditioning systems, low leakage ductwork and house envelope, and R-48 attic insulation. The new homes are built to exceed state and federal energy efficiency standards by at least 35 percent and, coupled with the energy efficient features, a homeowner could expect to save up to 70 percent on their electric bills.
Photo Credit: Thomasnet.com
Sacramento SMUD SolarSmart
Homebuilders Homes by Towne and Centex Homes recently joined forces with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to build 462 solar powered, energy efficient homes in the Sacramento area.
SMUD also recently partnered with Lennar Homes to build over 1,200 solar powered homes and Tim Lewis Communities to build another 183.
SolarSmart homes will include energy-efficient HVAC systems, radiant barriers in attics, energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting, extra insulation, and duct sealing. The SolarSmart homes are estimated to cut nearly three megawatts off peak demand as well as lower utility costs for homeowners.
These are just a few of the many solar powered communities being offered by developers who care about their customers and the environment. Starting in 2011 builders will be required to offer solar as a standard feature of new home developments of 50 or more.
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5386XG20090409
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2007/08/californias-prime-solar-powered-real-estate-49592
http://denver.yourhub.com/Westminster/Stories/Business/Real-Estate-Deals/Story~289629.aspx
Posted on April 17th in Solar News by Beth.