Would you live in a net zero solar powered home? Just what does that mean?
Zero Energy Homes are popular among home buyers
For construction companies, homeowners looking to save money and the solar industry, net zero solar powered homes are good news all the way around. First, they address a sagging housing market that is slow to recover. This is because they help homeowners save a ton of money by producing as much energy through solar panels as is required to run the household. That adds up to savings of about $2000 per year for the average home!
Finally, for solar power companies net zero solar powered homes help demonstrate to the public the efficiency and practicality for turning to this renewable resource. That means more sales of solar panels in the future!
Building net zero solar powered homes
New home construction companies around the United States are getting into the net zero solar powered homes market.
In Tuscon, Arizona, you can get a zero energy home starting at $140,000, constructed by Meritage Homes. Solar panels are included in the price. You can also find Mertitage Homes net zero energy homes in California, Nevada, Colorado and parts of Texas.
Beyond Meritage Homes, other builders are looking to lure buyers with net zero solar powered homes. Dell Webb in Phoenix Arizona includes solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades in its Sun City communities.
If you are looking for a home in Southern California, KB Homes includes solar panels on the rooftop at no additional cost in some of its communities.
Perhaps not surprisingly, you can find solar powered homes in Florida, as well. Shea Green Certified Homes are constructed with a standard 3 kW solar panel system.
We love how home builders are tapping into solar power to help sell homes and save homeowners money!
Tags: home solar, KB Homes, meritage homes, net zero, net zero homes, solar home, solar-powered homes, zero energy home
May 10th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Great article, Stephanie. My wife and I just broke ground last Saturday on a net-zero home in Seattle. We decided to use a custom builder, but it looks like our building costs are about in line with what you mentioned in the article and what Meritage mentions on their website. Our 1,900 square-foot, two-story house will be about $190,000 for the house itself, plus about $30,000 for a 6kw solar panel array (of which we’ll get about $9,000 back the first year as a federal tax rebate and about $8,000 over the course of the next decade from Washington State).
We’ve been extremely pleased with Ted Clifton at zeroenergyplans.com, who designed the house for us and is overseeing construction.
For anyone who’s interested, we’re blogging about our experiences building a net-zero house on a tight budget at zerohouse.wordpress.com.
May 10th, 2011 at 10:13 am
That is great news, Eric! I used to live in Seattle, and can imagine that there are some good contractors you can work with there. I will check out your blog and follow your progress. How exciting! Stephanie
October 17th, 2011 at 2:21 am
In this information useful for being made to ensure the home make being used meet the industry standard for energy and environmentally with friendly.