- Bittinger Team Solar Power House
Canton and Plymouth, Michigan Home Buyers: If you are interested in saving money on your energy bills please know that there are home builders out there that are making solar power a viable option for you. We represent several small custom builders that offer Solar Power as an option and can also retro-fit a current house with solar power.
A great example of a large builder that offers Solar Power as a standard option is Victoria Gardens by Shea Homes (a south and south western new home builder). Their pledge to achieve superior environmental performance as well as reducing the cost of home ownership is about to become a reality. Each 3-kilowatt solar power system will lower the homeowner’s electric bills by up to sixty percent, and can result in a carbon footprint reduction of up to forty-eight percent. Not only is this a wonderful savings for the homeowner but also allows them to remain energy independent when electricity rates increase. In addition, this wonderful option yields environmental benefits for the entire community. Each Shea Green Certified Homeowner will be able to track how much power their system is producing, as well as its environmental benefits, all through a Web-based remote monitoring system. For more information about Shea solar powered homes please go to www.sheasuperiology.com/trilogy/
A few local builders are also talking about including solar power in their option mix. It may be a hard sell because buyers shy away from things they are not familiar with. The savings are impressive however and in these economic times when energy is becoming scarce now may be the right time to investigate this alternative to traditional energy sources.
These developments come at a very fortuitous time as just a few weeks ago our government signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which will allow for three things. First, the Solar Investment Tax Credit will be extended for another eight years. Secondly, it will lift the cap on the $2,000 allowance. Thirdly, it will allow the credit to be put toward a homeowner’s alternative minimum tax. In addition to these federal credits, home buyers may also be eligible for state or local credits or rebates.
If you have a solar power house why not leave a comment on this blog and let us get your story out to the public. How much did it cost over traditional systems? Did you get government financial help? Has the savings been worth It?
Many would like to know if such a decision would be right for them.