SolarCity and KirE Builders, Inc., one of Southern California’s premiere homebuilders, have partnered to offer solar power for all homes in its Black Canyon Estates community, opening last weekend, and its forthcoming Vista Sereno Estates, opening summer 2014.
The arrangement between SolarCity and KirE Builder makes it possible for homebuyers to pay less for solar electricity than they pay for utility bills. Solar will come standard on Black Canyon Estates homes in rustic Ramona, nestled in the foothills above San Diego, and as an option in Vista Sereno Estates, close to the downtown core in charming Lemon Grove.
“At KirE Builders, we have a twist on the American dream—to own a home with clean, affordable solar power,” said Josh Santa, president of KirE Builders. “We are delighted to be enhancing our beautiful new homes with an environmentally friendly feature that not only cuts carbon but saves our homeowners money.”
Solar systems at Black Canyon, a picturesque community of 25 single-family homes on two acres each, will be a standard 3 kW with options to upgrade to 4.5 or 6.0 kW. The installations are custom designed by SolarCity to maximize savings and efficiency. Other standard features in these homes, which will start in the $500,000s, include tankless water heaters, low-E windows, and water-saving plumbing fixtures. Eco-amenities at Vista Sereno, where a collection of eight single-family homes will start in the $400,000s, will also include tankless water heaters and energy-efficient clothes dryers.
“SolarCity and KirE Builders are making it easy for homeowners to take advantage of abundant, clean energy and immediate savings that solar can bring,” said Walter Cuculic, SolarCity’s national manager of Builder Programs. “It’s a perfect fit for San Diego, which enjoys some 300 days of sunshine each year.”
Solar power can enable homeowners to reduce their utility bills each month, and can generate thousands of dollars in savings over time. SolarCity, currently working with more than 100 builders in nine states, provides homebuilders across the country with a range of solar services that include customer assistance, monitoring, insurance and repairs for homebuyers.