Solar Energy making ultra-green homes possible

According to a report by McGraw Hill Construction, nearly one-third of new single-family homes in the U.S. will be green by 2016.

An increased number of consumers are going a step further and striving for net-zero energy homes that use renewable energy solutions, such as solar power systems, to offset all or most of their energy consumption. Across the U.S., the number of net-zero energy residential and commercial buildings doubled between 2012 and 2014 as cited by the New Buildings Institute.

Experts predict the trend will continue. This is partly because reliable solar has become more accessible and affordable than ever, delivering dramatic energy savings to customers. The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that since 2006, the price to install solar has plummeted by more than 70 percent, and innovative technologies are making solar panels increasingly more efficient. Today there are close to one million solar energy systems operating in the U.S., which in terms of reduced carbon emissions is the equivalent of taking 5.4 million vehicles off the road each year.

“The future of energy is giving customers the power to choose where their electricity comes from, when they use it, and at what price,” said Tom Werner, president and CEO of SunPower.

In Washington D.C. this week at Greenbuild, the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, SunPower will offer an inside look at what will be the industry’s first turn-key home solar energy solution that is wholly designed and built by one manufacturer.

It is scheduled to be available to U.S. customers in 2016. While most companies offer conventional solar systems made with parts from various manufacturers, customers can trust that every major component of a SunPower solar system is created by SunPower and designed to work seamlessly together – from high efficiency solar cells, to panels, to mounting hardware, to monitoring software.

“There is no denying that solar power is now mainstream, and for 30 years we’ve helped SunPower customers stay well ahead of the energy curve with high efficiency solar solutions that deliver clean electricity and significant energy savings,” Werner added. “At SunPower, we believe in changing the way our world is powered. And it’s never been a better time for homeowners to make the change.”