California-based production builder Olson Homes is the latest to jump on the solar bandwagon, offering the feature standard on homes in its new Oakgrove Walk community. The 66 homes, which range in size from 1,570 to 1,872 square feet, will also exceed the state’s rigorous Title 24 standards by 15 percent and incorporate other sustainable technologies including Energy Star appliances, low-VOC interior paint, and energy-efficient tankless water heaters.
At least six of 10 largest U.S. home builders–led by KB Home–include PV in new construction, according to supplier SunPower Corp.Two California towns are mandating installations, and demand for the systems is expected to jump this year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The energy-generating systems are seen as the next big new-home amenity in some markets, leading Bloomberg/BusinessWeek to dub them “the next granite countertops.”
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Los Angeles, CA.
