The sun is a vital source of energy that is not burning out anytime soon, and Stellar Homes Group (SHG) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, plans on utilizing it.
For all new construction moving forward, SHG will include photovoltaic solar panels from Solar-Ray, Inc.
Stellar Homes Group will provide photovoltaic solar panels in new construction.
The first round of properties to rely on solar energy to offset energy costs is in Cavalia Estates located in Davie, Valero at Sailboat Bend in Fort Lauderdale and the Boca Villas in Boca Raton. The waterfront units in Valero at Sailboat Bend do not come standard with solar panels, but are solar panel-ready should the homebuyer want to add the panels to the home.
“We are marketing to forward-thinking buyers, and the reason being is, this day in age the buyers, at least in South florida, are forward thinking people,” said Tony Valle, vice president of Stellar Homes Group.
The value of the solar panels range from $9,160 to $16,128. The geographic location of the installation determines the price tag for the solar systems. It is estimated that homeowners will save anywhere from $350 to $400 per month on energy costs. Homes in the three communities listed above all teeter right around $800,000.
“Fortunately, solar panels these days — I equate it to an LED TV: Five years ago you went to buy a 60-inch TV and it was $8,000 and now you go in to the store and it’s $1,800,” Valle said. “Cost has come down, so you get a return on your investment in less than ten years.”
Homebuyers are given the option as to which solar system they want installed. The choices range from the 5Kw, 7.5Kw and 10Kw PV solar systems. They will also be able to take advantage of the federal solar tax credit.
This tax credit allows homeowners to deduct 30 percent of the total cost of the eligible solar system from their federal taxes as Investment Tax Credit (ITC). If no taxes are owed, the filer may roll the credit over to the following year.
Stellar Homes Group will feature other energy saving applications in its new construction. Extra insulation will be installed in the exterior block walls and electric-car hook-ups will be available in homes. Organic gardens are also included as a standard on properties, and the lawns are drought-resistant.
The 80-gallon Bradford White hybrid water heaters utilize an otherwise downside of the South Florida heat. The heaters actually use the heat from the garage to warm the water, saving on energy consumption. These also allow for a $300 federal tax credit.
One of the biggest perks Valle touched on was the inverter, which is located in the garage, that is fed by the PV solar system. The inverter is the bridge between the accumulated solar energy from the panels and the home.
Should the power go out in the house during a storm or hurricane, the inverter acts as a back-up battery for the house and feeds only the home. Whereas the inverter also pumps the extra energy back into the grid, in the case of a power outage it remains dedicated to the home to prevent the line from being hot when utility workers are assessing the problem.
Between the hybrid water heaters, photo voltaic solar panel systems and the added insulation, Valle thinks buyers will more than get their money’s worth.
“Those three things alone will get your electric bill down to $50 per month for a 4,000 square foot house,” he said.
“To me, that’s a beautiful thing.”
