Builder Develops Solar-Powered, LEED-Certified Neighborhoods

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nbc11.com/news/15570825/detail.html

Builder Develops Solar-Powered, LEED-Certified Neighborhoods

POSTED: 9:15 pm PDT March 11, 2008
UPDATED: 9:33 pm PDT March 11, 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose's first solar-powered and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified neighborhoods will open to the public on Saturday.

Bay-area homebuilder Pinn Bros. Fine Homes is developing the communities, which are called Orchard Heights and Falcon Place.

Solar modules will be installed as standard feature on each home, producing a total of 231,000 kWh per year in solar power. The modules will replace concrete shingles on the roof.

[Auggie]

1. K&R -- should be code throughout the southwestern U.S.

[Vincardog]

2. You got that right

[angrycarpenter]

3. We are building a garage with panels on the roof

The man brought them out in a box rolled up. He pulled the plastic off the back and stuck them down. It is the first largeish solar array in the county.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Sounds like Uni-Solar

(Is it?)

[angrycarpenter]

5. I really don't know

They are flexible plastic strips about 12 inches wide by 12 feet long. They stick on between the ribs of a standing seam metal roof. The installer was much too busy to give a lecture on solar. He talked to few people but he was mostly on the roof.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. I'd be willing to bet they're Uni-Solar

http://www.uni-solar.com/interior.asp?id=102
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7686031155306582056

[angrycarpenter]

7. yes that looks like them

pretty cool system. I don't know how long it will take to pay for itself but we have had mostly good comments about it. A few people do not like the long single slope of the roof. The building is in a historic district and even getting the permit for such an out of place structure was difficult.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

8. I want one!!!

n/t

[troubleinwinter]

9. Got a million bucks or so?

I read another article on this. These homes start at $1,000,000 and start at 3,600 sq. ft. Might be nice if some builder would downsize the "Great Entrance Foyer" and leave some space for a vegetable garden.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

10. Sure I do!

Do they take checks? :rofl: