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Delaware
solar power plans
Delaware MSR Coalition Wins MSR's
2004 Zero Energy Building Award
The
Delaware Million Solar Roofs Coalition (DMSRC) was recognized as the Department
of Energy’s (DOE) Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSR) Zero Energy Homes Award
Winner of 2004. The award was made at IREC's 22nd Annual Meeting in Portland,
Oregon, held prior to the start of the Solar 2004 Conference. This was the third
year that IREC's meeting was held jointly with the U.S. DOE MSR partnerships.
More than 110 people were at the annual meeting.
"Given the opportunities for solar in the new residential construction market, I
have often wondered why more MSR Partnerships have not actively targeted
developers/homebuilders in their solar market building efforts," said Stephen
Miller, DOE's Northeast Region's MSRI coordinator.
Partly in response to the State of Delaware’s “Livable Delaware Policy” relating
to energy efficiency and clean energy, the DMSRC, under the guidance of Sandra
Burton of Green Plains Energy and Charlie Smisson of the Delaware Energy Office,
set about the task of promoting this ‘Livable Delaware’ vision by pursuing the
use of solar energy on ENERGY STAR ® buildings.
Over the past 12 months, DMSRC has managed to effectively jump start the Zero
Energy Homes concept within the ‘First State.’ Focusing on education and
awareness building with prolific Delaware developers, DMSRC’s efforts to link
energy-efficient construction with solar energy as a means towards reaching the
goal of “net zero” energy consumption within the region’s new building stock
brought impressive results to Delaware, like:
--A winning message--The Pathway to A Zero Energy Home:Energy Star & Million
Solar Roofs at the heavily attended Delaware Home Shows where the DMSRC
partnered with another EERE program partner and took on the role of title
sponsor (in conjunction with the Delaware Energy Office). As Sandra Burton aptly
described it, “With the significant amount of pre-show and in-show promotions,
the Zero Energy Homes message was EVERYWHERE!”
--Forging Relationship with Regional Developers: DMSRC’s work with Cannon Custom
Homes is a perfect example of the Coalition’s success with local builders. The
Cannon Custom Homes, Pennsylvania’s first-ever new solar home development, is
building an adult (55 plus) active community. Scott Cannon, head of Cannon
Custom Homes, was already an area leader in energy efficiency homebuilding when
DMSRC partner, Green Plains Energy, and the Sustainable Development Fund (of the
Philadelphia MSR) approached him about incorporating solar into the new home
designs. Sandra Burton, of Green Plains Energy, surveyed the development’s lot
plan, and determined that 60 of the 150 units were well sited for solar.
"Leveraging the Sustainable Development Fund’s solar electric rebates for the
area, Sandra worked with Cannon Homes to come up with a 2.2 kW solar system
design for these 60 units," said Miller. Factoring the added costs of the solar
system in a standard 30-year mortgage, Cannon Homes estimates the cost of the
solar system to the new homeowners at a nominal $40 per month (on average). "The
active solar system, in conjunction with the Energy Star windows and appliances
in each unit, allow Scott Cannon to virtually leap towards his goal of
constructing Zero Energy Homes in the Mid-Atlantic region," Miller said.
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