YORBA LINDA, CA - Toll Brothers, the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, today announced a pilot program to build new homes with solar photovoltaic panels pre-installed at no additional cost to the home buyer. The solar initiative, a partnership between Toll Brothers, SunRun, and Petersen Dean, will help set the renewable energy standard for new home communities by making it easier than it has ever been for homeowners to choose clean solar electricity in their homes.
The partnership between Toll Brothers and SunRun gives home buyers the opportunity to participate in a solar leasing program allowing use of SunRun's state-of-the-art solar equipment at The Preserve for only $42 per month with no upfront cost. The program begins at The Preserve, a community of 90 luxury homes priced from the upper $600,000s, located within the Vista Del Verde master plan of Yorba Linda.
While solar energy use has become increasingly popular, many home buyers are still reluctant to initiate the purchase of solar equipment on their own due to the high upfront costs, and the time and energy involved in the permitting and installation process. The pre-installed equipment at The Preserve is a turnkey step to solar savings, with solar energy use reducing typical monthly energy bills by $50 to $100, depending on usage.
The Preserve, which opened earlier this year, is already over 20% sold, all prior to the opening of its first model home scheduled for completion this September. The community's popularity is due in part to its close proximity to Vista Del Verde's elementary school, golf course and clubhouse. The low annual operating costs also appeal to Vista Del Verde homeowners, where there is no HOA or Mello Roos. The ability to lease solar energy without the upfront expense involved in the purchase of a full system only makes the community's monthly costs more affordable.
"Our new solar program allows homeowners to enjoy renewable energy and significant cost savings, all without sacrificing their lifestyle," said Jim Boyd, Regional President, at Toll Brothers. "And our ability to use The Preserve's solar leasing program as a model for our other communities means that in the future more homeowners will be able to access and afford solar power than ever before."
The advantages of solar energy do not come at a higher cost to the buyer, as SunRun's Power Plan allows future homeowners to purchase solar homes without having to pay a higher purchase price. "SunRun is focused on making home solar power so easy and affordable that it becomes clear to homeowners that this is a better way to get electricity than from the utility," said Lynn Jurich, President of SunRun. "At The Preserve, Toll Brothers is demonstrating how easy solar can be, and without any upfront cost to the home buyer."
The Preserve's new solar initiative offers a unique cost saving opportunity for Yorba Linda home buyers, and the chance to own a renewable energy home in Vista Del Verde for under $700,000. The success of the pilot program will also allow Toll Brothers to consider expansion of solar energy solutions to their other luxury communities, currently being built in 20 states.
The Preserve is a new community of 90 single-family homes, located in the Vista Del Verde master plan of Yorba Linda. The community offers 7 new home designs, priced from the upper $600,000s and ranging from 2,267 to 2,703 square feet. Amenities include the 18-hole championship Black Gold Golf Club, extensive trail systems connecting to Chino Hills State Park and Carbon Canyon Regional Park, two neighborhood parks and the Lakeview Elementary School, all within walking distance. To learn more, visit VistaDelVerde.com
Toll Brothers, a Fortune 1000 Company, is honored to have won the three most coveted awards in the home building industry: America's Best Builder from the National Association of Home Builders, the National Housing Quality Award, and Builder of the Year. Toll Brothers was recently honored to receive the #1 ranking in Fortune Magazine's 2010 World's Most Admired Companies Survey among home building companies.
Source: Toll Brothers