Feb 21 2008
Concordia Homes, one of the southwest’s leading homebuilders, today announced the launch of Sommerset Community, the first solar-powered residential development in Nevada to feature GE ecomagination-certified solar products, as a standard on every home.
Located in Henderson, near Las Vegas, Sommerset Community will debut in March and feature innovative, high-performance solar-powered homes that meet standards inspired by GE’s ecomagination Homebuilder Program.
The ecomagination Homebuilder Program is a blueprint for environmentally friendly homes that helps residential developers and builders deliver homes that are more efficient in their energy and indoor water consumption than conventional homes. The program is a collaboration between GE and Masco Contractor Services Group, which is a world leader in the manufacture of home improvement and building products.
Every home at Sommerset will include a roof-integrated GE Energy Brilliance™ solar electric system. These systems are designed to supply years of maintenance-free operation and seamlessly blend into the profile of the concrete roof tile. Each system will generate approximately 4,400 kilowatt-hours per year.
In addition to the solar panels, each home at Sommerset will feature a GE SmartCommandTM EnviroDashboardTM — an interactive display that provides homeowners with current and historic feedback on electricity and indoor water consumption. Energy-efficient GE and GE ProfileTM ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances and GE’s advanced lighting package are also incorporated as standard features in the package.
“It is a pleasure to be part of such a dynamic, energy-conscious approach to home building. Along with providing Henderson an environmentally friendly community, we’re excited to provide buyers with affordable homes that will save them money through lower energy bills,” said Gidget Graham, president of Concordia.
“With the use of the GE Energy Brilliance solar electric system and the Masco Environments for Living Certified Green construction, using the California Home Energy Rating System index, a 2,700-square foot home may see its average electric bill be reduced by 60 percent,” noted Graham. “Thanks to these innovative systems and Nevada Power’s net metering, consumers may experience a month where they generate more power than they consume and obtain a credit.”
“GE is delighted to work with forward thinking home developers like Concordia to bring the benefits of solar energy to homeowners who are concerned about energy costs and a cleaner environment,” said Victor Abate, vice president of renewables for GE Energy. “We are convinced that solar energy will play an important role in the future of the global energy market and it is an integral part of our company’s renewable energy portfolio.”
Solar power is among the renewable energy technologies that play a key role in ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water. Under ecomagination, which was launched in May of 2005, GE will invest $1.5 billion annually in research in cleaner technologies by 2010, up from $700 million in 2004.