Trilogy by Shea Homes Teams With BP Solar to Offer Free Solar Power on New Homes
August 7, 2008
Trilogy™ by Shea Homes, the first builder to roll out a national solar offering, has chosen to work with BP Solar, a global leader in solar energy. Trilogy will offer free solar power systems on new homes as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of homes in all of its Shea Homes Active Lifestyle™ Communities across four states.
The BP Solar Home Solutions® systems are estimated to reduce the homes’ electric bills by up to 60% per home, in addition to the approximately 30% energy usage reduction Trilogy homes already achieve with the Shea Green Certified™ standards for home building. Each home will be equipped with a 3-kilowatt solar power system, which helps provide security against electric rate increases, allowing consumers to hedge their future risks in the volatile energy markets
“With the addition of solar in a home, we’re no longer just efficient users of electricity, we become producers. Integrating a solar system into a home during construction is less expensive than adding it later, making solar more accessible and affordable than it’s ever been,” said Rick Andreen, president of Shea Homes’ Active Lifestyle Communities. “Trilogy homes pass the true test of a ‘green’ home by integrating a mix of energy-saving and energy-generating devices that deliver immediate and long-term benefits for our customer.”
Solar systems will be free through August 31st to new homebuyers in Trilogy communities in Arizona, California, Florida and Washington. After August 31st the systems will be available as an upgrade option. Homeowners will be able to track how much power their system is producing, along with its environmental benefits, via a Web-based remote monitoring system.
"Creative business partnerships are helping to transform the American residential marketplace with homes that combine energy efficiency with solar power,” said DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander A. Karsner. “These homes will help transform the built environment into healthier, more prosperous and sustainable communities that reduce our carbon footprint, enhance our energy security and contribute to the fabric of a cleaner, more efficient America."
To maintain a consistent and visually appealing look for its high-end resort communities, Trilogy chose BP Solar’s EnergyTile and Integra® systems. The EnergyTile roof-integrated solar electric system emulates the shape of common flat concrete tile roofs, making it one of the industry’s most aesthetically pleasing solutions for tile roof applications. The Integra system offers a low-profile installation, enhancing the look on asphalt shingle roofs.
“We’re proud to be Trilogy’s exclusive solar provider as they become the first national residential builder to introduce solar across all of their communities,” said Mary Shields, global vice president of marketing for BP Solar. "We are pleased to see that home builders around the country increasingly see the value that solar brings to their homes as well as to their homebuyers."
BP Solar’s installation partners for the Trilogy communities have long experience in the roofing and solar fields and are trained by BP Solar on the proper system design and installation processes. Installers working on Trilogy homes include:
American Solar Electric, Inc. (http://www.americanpv.com/) in Arizona
OCR Solar & Roofing, Inc. (http://www.ocrsolarandroofing.com/) in California<
Puget Sound Solar LLC (http://www.pugetsoundsolar.com/) in Washington
SunWorks Solar Systems, Inc. (http://sunworkssolar.com/) in Florida
Shea Green Certified homes are built with a combination of the most important and cost-effective standards for green residential building set by LEED, National Association of Home Builders, and Environments for Living®.
In addition to solar power systems, standard features in Trilogy’s green homes include solar attic fans, blown-in insulation from recycled cellulose, wood from sustainable forests, framing techniques that use up to 10% less wood and save 5.5 trees per home, leak minimizing construction via sealed ducts and penetrations, satellite/weather-controlled irrigation systems, Energy Star-rated efficient appliances, dual pane low-e windows and motion and occupancy sensor lighting.
Additional details of the Trilogy BP Solar promotion are available at sheasuperiology.com for details on the Trilogy BP Solar promotion.
greentechmedia.com |
