 One of the signs that times are changing is that major home builders are now starting to make homes that are green and sustainable. The building market is quickly shifting toward green development. D.R. Horton, founded in 1978 by Donald R. Horton, is a home builder company that became a Fortune 500 company and was ranked as the largest homebuilder as a result of the number of units sold in the United States since 2003. The company is now starting to make changes in the ways homes are being built in some developments.
In 2007, D.R. Horton built their Provence homes in the Sacramento area. The purpose of this development was to show that sustainable homes can also be attainable homes. The community will eventually build span out to 187 homes offered in three different floor plans, constructed with the latest solar and energy saving technology. D.R. Horton will also qualify as the first Sacramento-area production homebuilder to qualify for silver certification granted by LEED.
Provence homes also qualify for Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) SolarSmart program, which awards credits to homeowners on their utility bills if their solar systems produce more energy than they consume. They will have the opportunity to qualify for a one-time $2,000 tax credit for the solar program. SMUD provides incentives to buy down the cost of the PV systems and provide rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades. These rebates and incentives, along with tax credits, will make solar electric systems a more reasonable option for more homebuyers. The community benefits as well. Less electricity will be needed to serve the homes, especially at peak demand times, like hot summer days, when power is most expensive. Solar power in Provence homes is generated by all-black SunPower solar roof tiles which blend seamlessly into the tile roofs. They are manufactured by solar industry leader SunPower Corporation. SunPower makes the highest efficiency solar cells on the market today. Their solar power systems at Provence include technology that allows homeowners to monitor their solar power output and overall electric usage online through SunPower's Web site.
The houses aren't just solar powered, but also have a whole-house approach by offering better indoor environments. D.R. Horton's Healthy Home Advantage program employs design recommendations from a number of organizations, such as the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Indoor Air Package Program. The result is a home design that combines special framing techniques, improved insulation and duct work, air pressure balancing, moisture control and air filtration to achieve superior durability, greater comfort, lower utility costs and indoor air quality levels that exceed outdoor air quality. The company invested a lot of attention into the air filtration and ventilation systems in Provence homes. EnviroCitizen.org is encourages to see companies such as D.R. Horton taking green home building to the next level and making eco-friendly, solar powered homes accessible.
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