Solar Comes Standard in New Sacramento Subdivision
Solar is increasingly being incorporated in new California housing developments, but the price is usually out of reach for the average person. Premier Homes is building a 95-home subdivision in the Sacramento area where an average priced home will come with solar and energy efficient features as standard. Premier has offered solar as an option in previous developments, but the price tag was in the $500,000 range. Single-family homes in the Sacramento development will range in price from $244,900 to $332,990. The energy-efficient features add $10,000-15,000 to the cost of a home and include: * efficient heating and air conditioning, including Energy Star-rated appliances and windows* tight duct work and R-38 insulation; * on-demand tankless water heater * fluorescent lighting* a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system Premier expects residents to spend 60% less on energy bills compared to conventionally built homes.The homes will conform to the US Department of Energy’s “zero-energy” design and to SMUD Solar Advantage and Advantage Homes. SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), the local utility, is giving Premier $200 per home for advanced energy-efficiency features and about $7,000 per home toward the cost of each solar PV system. SMUD also offered $20,000 to help market the homes. Since […]
