New Home Builders plan to go "Green"

New Home Builders have announced that consumers can expect to see more and more green homes in the coming years. On Earth Day this Friday, Meritage Homes will begin offering "net-zero" homes or homes that produce as much energy as it consumes. Prices for the homes will start at $140,000-$160,000 and will be available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas. Meritage already offers a 9 panel rooftap solar-array as a standard feature, but for a $10,000 upgrade your home can have 24 additional panels that will reduce your utility bills to zero.

"Net-zero" properties are very common in Canada amongst large home builders, but this is the first time a corporate builder has been able to make the homes affordable with this kind of efficiency. With $4 a gallon at the pump, and the cost of living only going up you can expect to see a push to build homes that cost less to operate industrywide. “Shiny granite can only go so far to lure buyers from low-price foreclosures," says Nate Kredich of the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council.

Here in Las Vegas, we are already noticing builders going green. Shea Homes, a family-owned builder, has been providing solar powered options with every new home built for years! When the economy was at it's peak every one of their homes had solar panels automatically included, now they give you the choice. Their new active adult community in the Northeast part of the valley is offering it's consumers 3 choices. The "Complete" package, which is included in every home, offers homeowners a home with Energy-efficient gas forced air heating, energy efficient lighting low-flow fixtures that reduce water usage while maintaining a high-pressure performance, low VOC products, and eco-friendly flooring just to name a few. The "Plus" package adds solar-powered attic fans, an electric vehicle charging station, and a WeatherTrak Smart Sprinkler System. When you purchase a home with the "Ultra" option you can expect your home to be EFL Green Certified. Everything you can imagine that can be green has been put in this home. In addition to the above examples, you can expect windows, ductwork, appliances, solar roof tiles, sensor lights, insulated garage doors, and the ventilation system to be optimized for the lowest carbon footprint. Prices range from $147,000-$247,000 for the Complete, $154,000-$255,000 for the Plus and $177,000-$278,000 for the Ultra.

For more information about Shea Homes' new community, or where you can find more builders in the Las Vegas valley offering green options send me a message, I'd be happy to give you the information or show you what's available.