| SMUD Partners with Treasure
Homes to Build Zero Energy Homes
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has partnered with
Treasure Homes to build 32 super-efficient homes with solar power roofs.
SMUD and local builders have worked together to develop the Zero Energy
Home (ZEH), which features the latest in energy efficiency equipment,
tighter building standards and solar roof tiles to generate electricity.
The combination of energy efficiency and solar power can reduce annual
energy bills by as much as 60 percent. The homes at Treasure’s new Fallen Leaf @ Riverbend community in North Natomas, Calif., will include a 2-kilowatt solar system as a standard feature. The 32-home community is designed for first-time, entry-level and first move-up homebuyers. The solar system includes solar panels with a low profile design that can be attached, without traditional racks, directly to the house framing to minimize roof penetrations. Each home also features the latest energy efficiency features including appliances, windows, lighting, HVAC (including low air infiltration), a 90 percent efficient furnace, ducts buried in attic insulation, a tankless water heater, fluorescent lighting in all permanent fixtures, and third party inspections to ensure the homes have minimum air leakage and duct leakage. Altogether, the solar system and advanced energy efficiency measures are designed to reduce the homes’ energy use by as much as 66 percent and a homeowner’s combined monthly electric and gas bill by as much as 60 percent. All homes will meet SMUD Advantage Home as well as the ENERGY STAR Home program requirements and exceed California’s Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards by 24 percent. SMUD is working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and ConSol, a leading building energy consultant, in designing the Fallen Leaf ZEHs. SMUD has also partnered with another builder, Morrison Homes, to offer these homes at prices close to those of homes without built-in solar power. SMUD is a national leader in the development and implementation of solar or PV (photovoltaic) technology. SMUD leads all publicly owned utilities in the United States with more than 9.3 megawatts of installed solar panels on area buildings, homes and on parking structures and in numerous arrays. SMUD is now emphasizing customer-owned solar energy systems installed atop homes and businesses. SMUD has set goals of 10 percent renewable energy in its mix by 2006 and 20 percent by 2011.
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