Builder: Owners See The Benefits Of Solar Energy

Even with the crushing Arizona sun, the electric meter at the home of Stephanie Feil in Rio Verde Foothills revolves so slowly that most did not pass on Wednesday. Until the air conditioning started working. At that time began to turn back.

Feil is one of the residents of Scottsdale who got permits for solar power, a figure which rose from 1 in 2001 to 28 in 2007. The city has issued five permits this year.

Solar electricity is a good thing because it adds equity to your home, make money and save the owner that their environment is friendly, said David Rinehimer, president of Barcelona Homes, the builder of homes built home Feil. Rinehimer has included solar energy as something common in their homes six years ago, one of the features that includes call themselves “green builder.”

Including solar panels in the costs of the house makes you feel the money they save in the accounts from day one, Rinehimer said.

“People do not do this alone,” said Rinehimer “We said, ‘Let the evidence.”

The owners get credit for energy companies and tax credits when they install solar systems. Therefore, the approximate $ 40,000 of the systems houses Rinehimer ended up being something like $ 17,000.

After that, the energy is obtained automatically when the solar panels generate enough energy, and take the rest of the network at night or at other times when the sun does not generate enough heat to power the home, said Rinehimer .

And when it generates an excess of energy, mainly sold to the company, which paid as a credit on electricity bills.

Feil and her husband did not seek specifically the home green, but are satisfied with the outcome.

They used to pay $ 400 in his former home of 2,600 square feet. This house of 4,680 square feet cost $ 70 in April before the credits.

“We still do not believe that is true,” said Feil.

Solar energy can also cause the property value increases. The value varies, but the houses can easily go up about $ 25,000 of equity for every $ 1000 saved in costs, said Jim Sexton, a Scottsdale real estate agent who works frequently with Rinehimer.

While most builders are embracing green concepts, it is still difficult to persuade them to offer solar energy as a common feature in their homes, said Anthony Floyd, Program Manager for Green Building Scottsdale. In fact, Floyd was surprised to learn that Barcelona had that feature and did not know any builder to do so.

Floyd believes that not many builders include solar options, and is easier to do the easier way.

But most builders have no regard to solar energy as a better option, he said.

“When taken into account as an option, most people choose not to solar energy,” says Floyd.

Some green building concepts, such as double glazed windows, insulation is placed below the ceiling instead of under the attic entrances covered with shadows and bathrooms with double chain offering different amounts of water for liquid versus solid waste, have become common in recent years, said Floyd.

This increases energy efficiency, which is good – and also one of the reasons why Scottsdale has recently raised its standards for what counts as “green building” so that the builders have to go further to win the category Green said.

Scottsdale and other groups moved in encouraging solar energy between 2001 and 2002. That was when the Maricopa Association of Governments adopted the Standard requirements for solar permits, which most cities have adopted, a move that allows the builders know the requirements, said Floyd.

And Scottsdale adopted guidelines for integrating solar panels into the building design rather than associating then address things like that should have roofs to get as much sunlight, how high would be the equipment on rooftops and different types of panels and paints that can make the panels look like a normal roof.

“If not integrated, it seems more like a team. And people do not like to see the team. ” Floyd said. “Solar energy can be beautiful.”

While the guidelines are voluntary Scottsdale and MAG, Floyd said he believes have helped to encourage an increase in the Scottsdale homes for solar energy in the following years.

And although Rinehimer not think that many more builders begin to offer solar energy as a common feature until the economy is on the rise, he hopes to one day join the builders. “I think what really is going to last green,” said Rinehimer. “It is not just a fashion, the prices are funneled.