SMUD, D.R. Horton Sign Deal For 187 Solar Homes

November 20, 2007 – Vol.12 No.35

SMUD, D.R. Horton Sign Deal For 187 Solar Homes.

In the agreement, Sacramento Municipal Utility District will provide funding to buy down the cost of solar and energy efficiency equipment in all the homes. Groundbreaking has begun and models are being constructed by homebuilder D.R.Horton in the Provence neighborhood in Natomas, California.

Residents of these SolarSmart homes may save as much as 60 percent annually on their electric bills through the energy-efficient features and the solar roof tiles that generate electricity. The energy efficiency measures include efficient HVAC systems, radiant barriers in attics, added insulation, duct sealing and energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

Community wide the homes are expected to shave nearly 276 kilowatts off the peak, and reduce carbon emissions that are equivalent to taking 90 cars off the road or planting 143 acres of trees.

The homes are also rated Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDÆ) ratings system.

The deal with D.R. Horton is the fifth SMUD has signed with builders in 2007 to construct SolarSmart homes. In August, SMUD signed deals with Homes by Towne to construct 355 SolarSmart homes and with Centex homes to build 107. In May, SMUD and homebuilder Tim Lewis Communities signed a deal to build 183 solar-powered homes in three communities. In March, SMUD announced a partnership with Lennar Homes to build more than 1,200 solar homes, which represents the largest solar new homes partnership in the United States. Photovoltaic systems will be built into 1,254 new homes in 11 communities.(11/19/07)

Links:

Sacramento Municipal Utility District
http://www.smud.org

D.R.Horton
http://www.drhorton.com

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No