In 2001, SheaHomes, a new national homebuilding company, built 306 homes called the Scripps Highlands development in northern San Diego. Not just another neighborhood of McMansions, Scripps Highlands marks the first time in the U.S. that a builder has set out to design and construct a development of highly energy efficient homes, also known as “high performance homes” (HPHs). Now, almost seven years later, the development has proven to be a success both financially and environmentally. Set on the lots to maximize the position of the sun, the homes include
In addition, the Scripps Highland development is also the first in the country to use “net metering,” an electricity policy in which homeowners receive retail credit for at least a portion of the electricity their systems generate. Watching your energy meter spin backward is not only exciting from an environmental standpoint, it puts money in your pocket.
What's perhaps most surprising about the SheaHomes venture is that according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL):
the Scripps Highland homes were profitable for the builders while still being competitively priced with the traditional homes in the area ($602,000 for a Scripps home; $615,000 for a conventional home)
the Scripps Highland homes have appreciated at a higher rate than the comparable conventional homes in the area (55% versus 44% from 2001 to 2005)
homebuyer satisfaction is higher for the Scripps Highland homes than for the comparable conventionally built homes
So, the builders are making a profit, people are buying and loving the homes, which are in turn appreciating nicely, and the environment is benefiting—sounds like SheaHomes has launched a trendsetting idea.
To learn more, read "A New Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes: A Comparison Case Study" by Barbara Farhar and Timothy Coburn (Environment, Jan/Feb 2008).
