 Arizona is noted for its warm weather. The state routinely has 100 plus degree days. The Armory Park del Sol development is a historic location that takes advantage of the Arizona sun to power the community. This energy efficient housing in Tucson has gained notable attention for its strategy to gain independence from fossil fuels by using the sun whose name it bears.
Every home in the development is highly energy efficient, using roughly 50% less electricity than an average area home, and qualifying for Tucson Electric Power’s lowest electric rate. Solar hot water heaters and solar electric pan¬els come as a standard features on all the homes. The panels are rooftop mounted on the flat rooftops that are so typical of the area. While these homes boast energy performance way beyond most new construction, John Wesley Miller Companies wanted to push the enve¬lope of home design even further. One of the homes was specially designed and engineered to use zero net energy over the course of a year, a Zero Energy Home! Just like a typical home, the Zero Energy Home is connected to the local utility company. At times the home draws electricity from the utility, and at other times, when the home makes more electricity than it uses, the electricity can be sent back to the utility. This is called having a zero energy effect. The home is expected to use 7,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually, com¬pared with 18,000 kWh for a conven¬tional home in Tucson.
The average homes also have great energy saving features as well. Some have won the community governor’s award. Here are some of the features for each home:
- 4 SEER or better high efficiency heat pumps
- Programmable thermostats
- Dual pane high efficiency windows
- Energy efficient appliances
- All homes are built with a masonry wall super structure which is concrete filled for thermal mass storage and sound-proofing benefits
- The walls are wrapped in insulation and finished with a 3-coat stucco system to create a protective shield from the exterior environment
- Ceiling fans
The homes come with a Tucson Electric Power 5 year guarantee. During the construction process, TEP inspects each home to insure all components perform to TEP Guarantee requirements for energy efficiency. TEP provides reduced residential rates and guarantees the heating and cooling portion of the annual bill. In fact, the average Armory Park del Sol resident pays just $301/year for heating and cooling, according to the community’s website. The homes have the option of upgrading to the net zero energy features, like the premier home, for an additional cost.
Communities like this show how easy it can be to take advantage of a desert climate and leave a minimal ecological footprint. |
