Vacaville's (CA) First Solar-Powered Community Opens to the Public This Weekend

[jpak]

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR710.htm

Edenbridge Homes, provider of quality built, efficiently planned new homes, is installing PowerLight’s aesthetic SunTile® Solar Electric System in its Ventana community in Vacaville. Edenbridge Homes, by providing solar as a standard in these homes, is constructing Vacaville’s first solar community. The Ventana community will harness California’s abundant sunshine to provide clean, reliable emissions-free solar power. The homes combine energy-efficient design features with solar electric generation to reduce the homes’ electric bills by an estimated 50%.

These homes will be available for purchase in December 2006 and can be seen beginning this coming weekend (December 2nd). Each of the 47 homes features a PowerLight SunTile (2.3 kW) roof-integrated solar system. SunTile solar panels seamlessly interlock with roof tiles and shingles while virtually disappearing into the home’s roofline. The SunTile product also features natural ventilation, enabling the solar array to maintain optimal performance in high temperature climates.

“We are pleased to be partnering with PowerLight —a leader in quality residential solar power systems— to incorporate solar power as a standard feature in our new Ventana community,” said Edenbridge Director of Planning, Tom Simonson. “It is very important to embrace sustainable building practices in our communities. We address homeowners’ keen desire to reduce energy costs while protecting the environment. PowerLight’s solar roof tiles will dramatically reduce our customers’ electric bills, generating significant financial benefits for the homeowner.”

“Edenbridge Homes is providing its customers great value in constructing the first solar-powered new home community in Vacaville. The community offers the satisfaction of living in a home with very low electric bills, powered by clean renewable energy,” said Bill Kelly, vice president of PowerLight’s residential division. “It is a great pleasure to work with Edenbridge Homes, a true leader in homebuilding.”

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[hunter]

1. From the high $400,000's to mid $500,000&#8217;s.

http://www.edenbridgehomes.com/ventana/welcome.htm

What electricity these 47 homes don't use, I suppose will be available to people who can't afford half million dollar houses.

[jpak]

2. The PV system is <6% of the cost of the home

and only <3% after state rebates and federal tax credits.

Here's some PV them po' folks can afford...

/www.bluelinksolar.net/fmain.html

[hunter]

3. Fat lot of good that site is on $9.99/month dialup...

Good thing those po' folks can use the computers in the library.