Sereno Canyon Promotes “Green” Living with Solar Energy

The luxury Arizona real estate community Sereno Canyon is an ideal residence for people who are looking to incorporate clean energy into their homes.

Wind and solar power have been in the headlines lately because of the recent and growing desire of people, companies and cities to utilize energy without harming the environment. Wind power is less practical for city and suburban homes due to a number of factors. Consider wind power only if you have lots of open land in a rural area that has no local zoning codes or covenants which restrict wind turbines. For families who live a bit closer to civilization, solar power is the way to go.

In order to have solar panels, you’ll generally need full sun without any shade (not even high-line wires) between 9 a.m. and 3p.m. Sereno Canyon is an Arizona gated community perfectly positioned for the use of solar panels. Nestled in the secluded foothills of the McDowell Mountains, the community offers plenty of Arizona sun during peak daytime hours. An increase in consumer demand and new innovations in the solar industry are greatly reducing solar panel installation costs, serving as an added bonus. As a result of using solar power in your home, your residential energy bills will go down also.

Federal and State Governments are offering financial assistance for consumers who want to implement energy efficient technologies within their home. For solar panels, tax credits are available at 30 percent of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 for existing homes and new construction. For more information, visit energystar.gov/taxcredits.

As an added bonus, federal law allows private companies to connect to the grid and requires utilities to purchase any excess electricity. This means that you could sell your extra solar power back to the big electricity companies and make money off your Sereno Canyon property while you are out of town.

The solar industry is growing and will continue to grow into the future. According to a recent report from Linx Consulting, growth for crystalline silicon and various thin-film solar materials is expected to increase from a $2.3 billion market to a $15 billion market by 2015. Solar has already helped to create jobs and boost the economy in states like Arizona that have a large presence of solar companies. As more companies locate to Arizona to capitalize on the vast solar potential available in the state, the value of commercial, residential and government land will increase accordingly. Sereno Canyon’s estate lots for sale are the perfect example of an already valuable piece of land that will gain value as the solar industry grows and expands.

While solar is definitely a step in the right direction, it is just the initial step when examining the grand scheme of future “green” houses. Take for example, Arizona’s first true, certified “zero-net energy” house located in Chino Valley. Created by Tony Graham, director of Yavapai College’s Residential Building Technology Program, the house is a grid-tied residence that generates all its power on-site. Features of the home include airtight insulation of the floors and walls, solar panels, high-performance windows, a heat pump, balanced fresh-air ventilation, and a water-managed foundation, among other things.

While the above example offers insight into the future of clean energy homes, it’s going to take some time before whole communities and neighborhoods incorporate these features into their houses. In the mean time, however, Sereno Canyon has beautiful sites in Scottsdale for you to build your dream green home. For more information, visit www.serenocanyon.com.

Tags: arizona gated community, arizona real estate, beautiful sites in scottsdale, estate lots for sale, luxury real estate