A screen inside a New Town Builders net-zero home displays energy use and costs. Homeowners can expect to pay nothing in electric and natural gas bills when averaged over a year because their houses’ rooftop solar panels will generate enough extra power to offset utility costs. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Utility bills could become a forgotten annoyance with two Colorado builders launching new models of highly energy-efficient homes.

While net-zero energy homes already are available from custom builders, the rollouts by KB Home and New Town Builders are believed to be the first production-scale models to be offered in Colorado.

Net zero is defined as a home that produces at least as much energy as it consumes.

“The concept is to build super-efficient homes where we can clearly demonstrate energy savings,” said Gene Myers, chairman of Denver-based New Town Builders.

New Town has built a $424,000 net-zero model home at Stapleton and is offering the feature on any of its seven designs at Stapleton’s Central Park West neighborhood. The price is $26,900 more than the same home without net-zero features.

Averaged over the course of a year, Myers said, home owners can expect to pay nothing in electric and natural-gas bills because their houses’ rooftop solar panels will generate enough extra power to offset utility costs.

The 9.9-kilowatt solar array is supplemented by energy-efficient appliances, extra insulation and construction techniques that reduce energy loss.

Projected utility cost savings are verified from audits by a third-party rating agency.

Los Angeles-based KB Home on Friday plans to unveil a net-zero energy model at Bear Creek Meadows in Morrison. In coming months, the feature will be offered at other KB subdivisions in Colorado.

Builders are concerned, however, about the ability of buyers to finance the homes because mortgage underwriters typically do not take into account energy-saving features that boost purchase prices.

As a result, some buyers may not qualify for a mortgage even though their monthly payments effectively would be cut by the lack of utility bills.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has introduced legislation to address the issue.

The Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act, or SAVE, would direct federal mortgage loan agencies to consider expected reductions in energy costs when making loan-qualification calculations.

“The SAVE Act would create a more complete and accurate picture for mortgage underwriting by accounting for added value and energy savings built into homes,” Bennet said. “This bipartisan bill would encourage investments in home-energy improvements and new energy-efficient homes, create more than 80,000 jobs, and save Colorado families money at no cost to taxpayers.”

The bill is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Banking Committee.

“Lenders are not offering energy-efficient mortgages and there is no good reason they are not,” said real-estate consultant Dave Porter of PorterWorks in Stanwood, Wash. “The SAVE Act is long overdue.”

Homebuyers may be slow initially to embrace net-zero energy homes with solar arrays, but then “the Prius effect” will take hold, said John Bringenberg, chief executive at Denver-based SunTalk, a solar-panel installer.

“One day, and it isn’t more than 10 years away, we can be pretty sure everyone will have some solar component,” he said. “A house isn’t going to just sit there in the sun, it will generate electricity.”

Print Email Font ResizeReturn to Top

Like this article? Recommend it () all reader-recommended news

Top Video

Article Comments

.

You must be registered to comment (your comment will be saved for you while you register). It’s quick (it takes about 30 seconds) and we only require your email and name. Comments that include any offensive material are prohibited. By using our site you agree to our terms of use.

1. Use the “Report Abuse” link when necessary (you don’t have to be a member, or be logged in)
2. Keep it clean and respect others don’t use language you wouldn’t use with your parents
3. (link will open in a new window)

More Business headlines MORE MORE BUSINESS HEADLINES HEADLINES