Fort Lauderdale-based Stellar Homes Group doesn’t believe solar power is a luxury amenity; instead the homebuilder will be the first in South Florida’s history to include a PV solar panel system, with a 30-year warranty, as a standard feature in all its new homes.
Each solar panel system has a retail value of $9,160 to $16,128 per home (depending on community), and will be offered standard to buyers without raising prices to offset costs.
“Our 5-kW PV solar panel package, combined with Stellar Homes Group’s additional energy conservation features, is expected to result in an estimated energy cost savings of approximately $81,000 over 20 years. Our homebuyers can choose a solar package to suit their needs and can take advantage of the 30 percent federal tax credit,” explained Stellar Homes Group Vice President Tony Valle.
Stellar Homes Group is currently building new homes, priced from the low $800,000s, in Cavalia Estates in Davie; Velero at Sailboat Bend in Fort Lauderdale; and Boca Villas in Boca Raton, Fla.
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Solar-Ray, headquartered in Orlando, will install the PV systems. Green built and certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition, Stellar Homes Group will include many additional green features as standard in all new homes: passive solar day lighting through positioning of windows and doors to maximize natural light; hybrid water heaters (plus $300 federal tax credit) that deliver hot water 70 percent more efficiently; LED Lighting; low flow shower heads, toilet and sink faucets, Zero VOC Sherwin Williams paint sealants and adhesives and Maxxon’s Underlayment for all floors upstairs that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified meeting the most stringent product emission criteria in the market for healthier breathing air. Stellar Homes also installs three times the required insulation on the exterior block walls. The homes will be electric car-ready, have organic vegetable gardens and will feature upgraded, drought-resistant landscaping.
“Creating beautiful homes in an environmentally sustainable way can be done well by incorporating green practices from the start of the building process. It’s our mission to present a healthier home and lifestyle for today’s families,” added Baum.
— Solar Builder magazine
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