Lennar made the announcement at its upscale, all-solar development in the Milano housing community in Danville. Three other projects in San Ramon slated to open this year will be solar-powered.
"Our marketing platform is that everything is included," said Peter Beucke, vice president of the Bay Area division of Lennar. "So every home in Milano will come with a solar package. ... It's now a standard inclusion in our homes."
Milano looks no different from many other high-end developments in the Tri-Valley. It comes with standard maple cabinetry, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and homes larger than 3,000 square feet. But along with the roof-integrated solar electric system, it comes with an interactive digital electrical system, a 46-inch Sony Bravia flat-screen HDTV and a home automation system that controls things such as security, music, the thermostat and lighting. Also included are a pest-control system and an irrigation system that won't water if it's scheduled to rain. Prices for the homes on Wednesday ranged from $1.3 million to $1.5 million.
Putting solar energy into luxury homes is nothing new. Most of the solar systems integrated into new homes occurred in the higher-end markets of the East Bay and San Francisco. Ventana, Edenbridge Homes' solar community of 47 homes in Vacaville, is one of the few solar projects that feature moderately priced homes, from $400,000 to $500,000, in the Bay Area.
"We've got to make solar accessible and affordable for home buyers at all income levels to be successful here," Hochschild said.
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Developer makes solar power standard by Barbara
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