Solar electric and hot water panels are out of sight on a side roof at Beverly and Dave Maul’s contemporary home in Bend, Ore. The west-facing glass looks out at mountains and a golf course..
ordinances also vary, so builders and homeowners need to stay up to date. Arizona, for example, has a strong solar access law. “The homeowner associations realize their power is limited in stopping people from using solar,” says Mike Meixner, purchasing manager at Dorn Homes in Green Valley, Arizona, near Tucson. Dorn Homes has expanded its green building philosophy by
offering a Solar Smart option. It includes a 2.8 kW solar electric sys- tem and hot water panels. The homes are designed to be between 50% and 75% more efficient that houses built to standard codes. Again, it’s not the solar panels that make the biggest difference, it’s the building envelope and attention to detail. Features include:
■ Heavy insulation and air sealing. Argon gas-filled windows. ■ Sealed ductwork located inside the insulated part of the home.
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■ Programmable thermostats. ■ Energy-efficient ceiling fans and appliances. ■ Water conserving toilets and plumbing. Coupled with existing federal tax credits, Arizona’s renewable energy incentives go a long way to making solar attractive for buyers, Meixner says. High-end home buyers generally want to in- corporate renewable energy into their projects, he says, but govern- ment and utility incentives are critical, he says. In his market, they give customers roughly a 20% return on their investment. For some custom home owners, though, solar is more than just
part of the package –it’s the focus. That’s fine, from an energy stand- point. But the ongoing saga of a super-solar mansion in Newport Beach, Calif., serves as a cautionary tale. It’s an extreme example, to be sure, but a reminder about the importance of aesthetics in high- end neighborhoods. Steve and Mashid Rizzone recently moved into a 9,000-square-
foot luxury home that is designed to generate all the electricity it needs. To do it, Premier Power Renewable Energy of El Dorado Hills, Calif., installed 168 Sharp solar panels on a south-facing hillside be- neath the home. The array measures 50’ by 60’ and has the capacity to generate 36 kW.
October 2010 GreenBuilder 27
Photo courtesy SolAire Homebuilders
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