Clarum Homes unveils zero-energy homes [E. Palo Alto]

source: Tim Hay San Mateo Times 2003.4.2

EAST PALO ALTO -- In a modest neighborhood bordering the industrial section of town, a group of revolutionary new homes is under construction that should cut utility costs by about 90 percent.

Using solar panels and other technology, the 20 "zero-energy" homes in the Shorebreeze development are supposed to generate about as much power as they use -- and could lead to drastic changes in the way homes are built in California.

"You're looking at the future of energy efficiency in the home-building industry," said Bob Pernell, of the California Energy Commission, at an unveiling ceremony Tuesday.

The single-family houses -- built by Palo Alto's Clarum Homes -- feature solar roof tiles and water heaters that shut down completely when they're not needed. They are environmentally friendly, from their carpets (made from recycled bottles) to their floors (made of bamboo, which regrows quickly compared to more traditional trees harvested for lumber).

Astropower's Roof integrated PV modules are part of the Envirohome.

Tight ducts and foam-wrapped insulation keep the heat in naturally on cold days, and "spectrally selective" glass keeps rooms cool in summer.

Even the landscaping comes into play; drought-resistant shrubs cut down on water use in the yard, according to Clarum's promotional materials.

Shorebreeze residents likely will see a 90 percent drop in what they are used to paying for power and water, said John Suppes, Clarum Homes vice president. The houses are 40 percent more power-efficient than most new homes being built in California, which has the most stringent energy-saving laws in house construction.

Most of the homes are priced at $595,000, and four affordable dwellings will go for $250,000 to $300,000, he said. The two-story, 2,244-square-foot houses stand in various states of completion. So far, none has been sold.

The surrounding neighborhood is mostly made up of older one-story houses, many sporting safety bars on their windows.

"This is just another sign that East Palo Alto is a city on the move," Mayor Patricia Foster said.

Though Clarum Homes has built several energy-efficient homes around the state, Shorebreeze is the first development of its kind. The firm is currently building 257 such houses in Watsonville.

Suppes said construction costs threatened to spiral out of control, but that some of the contractors -- like Astropower, which supplied the solar panels, and Rinnai Corporation, which built the water heaters -- cut their prices to help the project come together.

Clarum also got a $12,000 rebate from Pacific Gas & Electric for saving electricity, he said.

Suppes said his firm's goal was to help bring the cost of energy-saving technology down, so it could be used in all new developments in California.