Sunny side of home buying

A sales incentive program aimed at luring new home buyers - and saving energy by using solar panel systems - is being offered for the first time in the Valley.

The program gives buyers and potential buyers of new homes virtually free solar electric systems for yet-to-be dwellings that average 2,000 square feet — and the choice of adding the cost of larger solar systems for larger homes to their mortgage.

Until now, buyers added and paid for solar panels and systems to new homes after the homes were built.

VIP Homes of Mesa is joining with Salt River Project and the American Solar Electric of Scottsdale for buyers and potential buyers at several residential communities under construction, including Whisper Mountain and Sonoran Wells in Mesa, Dobbins Crossing in South Mountain and Vaquero Estates in Phoenix.

A 33-lot construction project in Queen Creek, Nauvoo Station, will soon be added to the list.

Buyers of a new singlefamily home, for example, can purchase a 2-kilowatt solar energy system, including rooftop solar panels, at no cost after VIP Homes pays for the equipment and installation expenses and SRP absorbs the additional costs through their Earth Wise Solar Energy program.

State and federal tax credits also are included.

The estimated annual energy cost savings for a 2-kilowatt system is about 20 percent.

For larger homes and 4-kilowatt systems, the total cost to the new buyer would be about $8,000, which could be added to the mortgage, said Victor Petersen, production manager of VIP Homes.

Estimated savings for a 4-kilowatt system is about 40 percent of the annual energy costs.

The program is being offered to all homes purchased through the end of 2006.

“This project will probably be the biggest step we have been able to take because, to date, our efforts have been focused purely on decreasing the need or usage of power in our homes,” said Petersen, who added that his company is the first builder in the Valley to include photovoltaic technology as an integrated feature in homes.

“This will not only add to that but, in certain conditions, it will actually produce a surplus of power.”

So far, 65 percent of the new and yet-to-be homes in the 60-lot Whisper Mountain community have been sold, and six out of 10 of them have and will have solar energy systems installed at no additional costs to the buyers.

Lori Singleton, manager of SRP Environmental Initiatives, said the program will eventually benefit new home buyers who are interested in clean-energy options and in reducing their monthly electricity bills.

“We are proud to be a part of VIP’s commitment to the environment and we encourage other homebuilders to also consider offering solar as an option,” Singleton said.

American Solar Electric Inc. of Scottsdale, a firm that specializes in photovoltaic power systems, was selected by VIP Homes as exclusive equipment provider.

“VIP Homes customers will benefit financially ... and our community benefits from the addition of clean, renewable energy systems in our neighborhoods,” said Sean Seitz, company president.