When summer comes, Southern Nevadans are used to $300 energy bills. Having that bill cut in half will soon become a reality for one green neighborhood.
Summerlin's Villa Trieste community -- a collaboration between the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó Center for Energy Research, Pulte Homes, and NV Energy -- will employ the most advanced approach to energy cost-savings in residences in the Desert Southwest as well as an affordable option for green-conscious consumers.
Continued population growth in the Desert Southwest has led to a strain on the region's electrical grids, resulting in higher residential energy costs, and in some cases, electricity overloads and blackouts. The 185-home community aims to reduce this strain by more than 65 percent.
Their homes combine energy-efficient features and smart grid technology, including:
Energy-Efficient Construction
- Roof-integrated solar power system
- Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
- Environments For Living certification -- a program that helps builders construct homes with improved ventilation, thermal systems, HVAC equipment, air pressure balancing, and water conservation measures
Advanced Metering and Distributed Generation
- Advanced meters provide real-time energy use data that will reduce meter errors, isolate outages, and lower costs
- Centralized battery storage at the substation level will draw energy from homes during off-peak hours for use during peak periods
- Generated solar power will reduce electricity drawn from the electrical grid
Consumer Gateway
- Demand response reduces energy use by allowing utilities to adjust the home's energy output and high-use appliances when needed during peak hours
- Improves electrical grid reliability and homeowners receive financial incentives relative to level of participation
Affordable Efficiency
The homes are currently being built and sold in northwest 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp. After the first homeowners move in, research will continue with the goal to reduce peak energy consumption by more than 65 percent compared to a typical new development:
- 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó researchers will monitor home performance against simulation models and modify as necessary to achieve maximum efficiency
- Photovoltaic (solar) system performance will be monitored and adjusted to achieve peak demand offset
- Homes with varying technologies will be compared for performance characteristics
The partnership received approximately $7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the community of homes.
