By: Daniel Zinshteyn

As fuel costs rise, the benefits of solar energy are often touted - but solar power is easier to implement in some places than others.

The construction of a solar community in Northeast Philadelphia displays the benefits of obtaining energy from the sun. But it also highlights the difficulties in applying such technology on a large-scale, such as at institutions like Penn.

Maple Point is a 38-home community of town houses, all of which incorporate a number of sustainable design features, most notably solar-energy panels.

“We have quite possibly built the most energy efficient homes in the city of Philadelphia today,” the community’s builder, Don Bradley, said in a press release.

Bradley received the 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award last month for his work on the project.

The homes are being marketed as having a high value and low energy costs. The homes, which include three to four bedrooms, are priced at $259,900.

Average home prices in Philadelphia average $136,679 for three bedrooms and $317,867 for four bedrooms, according to Trulia, a real-estate search company.

The homes will save the owners up to 80 percent on energy costs, thanks in large part to the presence of the solar panels on the roof, Bradley said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the community will take place on April 5, when the development will become open to the general public.

The project’s expected benefits raise larger questions about solar energy, such as why it isn’t implemented on Penn’s campus.

For starters, officials say solar panels are not cost-effective for major institutions.

“Penn pays a much lower rate for electricity than individuals,” said Senior Facilities Planner Daniel Garofalo, “Putting a [solar panel] on a home would get a quicker return, since the individual pays more for energy. Since energy is cheap for a university, why go solar?”

According to Garofalo, it would take at least 20 years for the University to break even after installing solar panels. Garofalo said that figure was based on estimates that a three-by-five-foot panel costs $600 and could produce as little as $30 worth of electricity per year.

Garofalo added that solar energy is difficult to utilize on campus because there are few buildings that are not shaded by trees and thus consistently exposed to the sun’s rays.

The first major Penn building to have solar panels will be the LEED-certified Horticultural Center at the Morris Arboretum, an off-campus project.

Penn is considering bringing solar energy to campus by making some of its roofs available for privately owned solar panels.

“The supplier and installer would own the panels but use our roofs,” said Garofalo. “A couple of vendors have approached us recently.”

One possible site for such a system would be the Van Pelt library, which has a large, flat roof that is not shaded by trees.

Lisa Hough is more than a Realtor. She’s a certified eco-broker, a Realtor who’s knowledgeable about environmentally friendly homes like some going up in Philadelphia. Slate on the first floor catches the heat from the sun. The floor in the master bedroom is bamboo, a material that can be harvested without killing the plant. The kitchen appliances are all energy efficient. “We’re talking 1,700 square feet. With a finished basement, we’re talking 2,200, comparable to a row home,” Hough said. “You’re looking at 20 to 30 percent better than non-energy star.”

But the real energy saving is not what’s in the kitchen, but on the roof and in the basement. The unit will be heated with fuel oil. Some of the fuel oil will be made with soybeans. Builder Don Bradley, this year’s winner of the Philadelphia Sustainability Award, said the two top panels on the roof will provide solar-heated hot water. “They generate domestic hot water for domestic use like clothes washing, dishwashing, your bathing.” Bradley said. The panels in the lower part of the roof are solar photovoltaic. The sun creates a current that is converted from dc to ac power in the basement. Electric companies will be paying the people who own these homes. “We have produced more power than these houses use and have sold back more energy than purchased,” Bradley said. There are four units for sale right now with 30 more on the drawing board. Neighbors, like Mary Stoltz, are impressed. Just about any Realtor will tell you the housing market is cold, but going green is hot. Don Bradley is betting people who are looking for homes will look at his that are aimed at saving money and helping the environment. Link: Philly Solar Homes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2008

Contact:
Dana Brady
Blackman Brady Communications
267-757-0722
DanaBradyPR@aol.com

COUNCILWOMAN SANCHEZ TO HOST RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT PHILADELPHIA’S FIRST SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD

Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia’s First Solar Neighborhood, Maple Point Solar Town Homes will hold its grand opening, ribbon cutting and open house with honorary host Councilwoman Maria Sanchez. The surrounding community and the public at large are invited to attend and enjoy a neighborhood cookout and tours of the model homes.  The event will be held on April 5, 2008 beginning at 12 p.m till 4:00 p.m.  The address is 751 Maple Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19124.

“I am very excited to be participating in this event.  Maple Point Solar Town Homes is Philadelphia’s First Solar Neighborhood, bringing truly sustainable and affordable living to the 7^th District of Philadelphia,” said 7^th District Philadelphia City Councilwoman Maria D. Quinones-Sanchez who will speak and cut the ceremonial ribbon, opening the homes to the general public for viewing.

“This project has made green homes available to the average consumer.  Maple Point Solar Town Homes are possibly the best value of any new construction in the region ,” said Lisa Hough, Green Realtor, Prudential Fox and Roach.  “These homes will be very comfortable to live in principally due to the passive solar design and tight construction of the homes and we invite the entire community to come out and view the homes and enjoy a great community cookout.”

Don Bradley, builder of Maple Point Solar Town Homes, was recently awarded the 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award recognizing his efforts in leading the way to a more sustainable future.  A life-long resident and native Philadelphian, visionary homebuilder Don Bradley set out over 19 years ago to show the potential for green building with the goal to reduce energy consumption, improve housing affordability, reduce our Nations dependence on foreign energy and improve occupant comfort.

About Maple Point Solar Town Homes - Philadelphia’s First Solar Neighborhood

Maple Point, Philadelphia’s first Solar Neighborhood, is a community of thirty-eight 3 and 4 bedroom town homes, designed and built for performance and energy efficiency.  Maple Point Homes use 70% to 80% less energy than a conventionally built home and offer homeowners great value and affordability while delivering smart, well-built, beautifully designed new homes.

A 10-year tax abatement and opportunities for special ‘green’ financing offer exceptional value for savvy buyers seeking smart, green living or quality new construction in this convenient area of Northeast Philadelphia

Maple Point homes are clustered in a park-like setting, bordered on two sides by Fairmount Park, yet conveniently located just off Route 1 and within 5 miles of I-95. Offering the best of both worlds — a city address with country ambiance - Maple Point is comfortably tucked-away, but convenient to it all.

Maple Point Developers is a national leader in residential solar real estate development.  Don Bradley, founder of Maple Point Developers, is an inaugural Energy Star Builder and among the first Zero Energy Builders in the United States.  He has provided leadership in the solar homebuilding industry, brings 19 years of building excellence to the table, and most recently was awarded a 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award for being a green building pioneer.

If you are interested in learning more about Maple Point Solar Town Homes or Don Bradley visit

www.phillysolarhomes.com or contact Lisa Hough, Pennsylvania’s first certified EcoBroker®, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors® at 610.892.5756 or lhoughrealtor@comcast.net.

Photographs of site and builder and additional information available upon request.  For more information please contact Dana Brady, Blackman Brady Communications at 267-757-0726.

The best time to incorporate green features is during construction, Alan Rushforth said.

“We know how to build houses out of foam and concrete, or structurally insulated panels that use a fraction of the energy of two-by-fours and fiberglass,” Rushforth said. “The builders can do it, but they don’t see demand. Consumers have to demand it.”

The Rushforths point to a new zero-energy development, Maple Point Solar Town Homes in Philadelphia, as a shining example of green design.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

by Kim Sorren, University of Pennsylvania ‘08

Located in Northeast Philadelphia is Maple Point Solar Town Homes, Philadelphia’s first solar neighborhood. The 38 homes that make up this community have been designed to be more environmentally-friendly and cut energy costs, yet also to meet modern needs including comfort and long time durability. According to the Maple Point Developers’ website, their goal is to, “integrate renewable energy and green building strategies, affordable into all our homes and to provide optimal comfort and long term value.”

Maple Point is conveniently located in Juniata, off of Roosevelt Blvd., and borders Fairmount Park. This location offers residents optimal access to the city by means of transit and community resources, as well as access to walking and biking trails. As a site, the Maple Point Solar Town Homes offers the community green spaces, as well as paving methods that promote storm and water infiltration.

Each 3-to-4 bedroom home is equipped with eco-friendly features, both indoors and out, including: a solar electric/PV system, solar hot water, a high efficiency A/C system and radiant baseboard heat firm. As a result, these homes will use 70 to 80 percent less energy as compared to conventional homes. Maple Point Solar Town homeowners will avoid paying seven to eight months of their annual utility bills.

These homes are available for about $259,000, but the savings made on utilities is worth the cost. Furthermore, additional savings can be made, as homeowners will receive a 10-year tax abatement and an interest rate reducing “Solar Mortgage Plan”, which will reduce the home owner’s interest rates by about .5% on their mortgage.

The homes are constructed according to Passive Solar Design. This design strategy uses the sun’s rays as an energy source to provide passive or non-mechanical space heating and cooling. Therefore, crucial to the homes’ design is their orientation due south. As the homes face south, they receive the most possible sunlight, and optimize the production of solar energy. The home’s windows are designed to attract the most sun during the winter months to generate heat, while in the summer, the windows block the sun to allow the home to cool.

The sun furthermore generates solar electricity within the homes as it comes into contact with the 4kW roof mounted Solar Electric/Photovoltaic panels. Through this system, energy is generated from the sun as a clean and renewable source. The system also includes a back-up generator, which can provide 90 to110 percent of the home’s electricity if the utility power goes out.

In addition, the homes are equipped with solar water heating in the form of additional roof-mounted 4’x8’ solar hot water panels and an 80-gallon storage tank. This system uses the sun as a source of free energy to heat water and provide an estimated 75 percent of the home’s hot water needs. This system results in lower energy consumption, costs and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

As a result of the homes’ innovative and green design methods, Don Bradley, the mastermind and builder of Maple Point, has been nominated as a finalist for a 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award. The award is to honor those leading the way to a more sustainable future.

More information about the Maple Point Solar Town Homes can be found at: http://www.phillysolarhomes.com.

To view entire article visit http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20080304_Seven_in_Philadelphia_region_honored_for_environment.html

Posted on Tue, Mar. 4, 2008

Seven in Philadelphia region honored for environment

By Sandy Bauers

Inquirer Staff Writer

A regional tree-planting effort, a youth group that refurbishes bicycles, and a solar-home builder are among seven regional “sustainability innovators” recognized last night by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.This was the second year for the awards program, designed to “celebrate these leaders and encourage more to follow,” said Patrick Starr, vice president of the organization’s southeast region.

Fourteen finalists were selected from 47 nominees representing facets of “sustainability,” from the environment to economic and social justice.

Hal Taussig, founder of the Untours travel business in Media, received the lifetime achievement award. Taussig’s Untours Foundation has given more than $5 million in low-interest loans to economically deprived entrepreneurs locally and worldwide.

Other winners are:

Treevitalize, a regional program through which more than 20,000 trees have been planted.

Wissahickon Charter School, where students - most of them minorities or from low-income families - learn environmental stewardship in urban settings. The middle school helps make 2,000 gallons of biofuel a year.

Neighborhood Bike Works, through which Philadelphia youths reclaimed 20 tons of bicycles last year and refurbished 800.

Philadelphia builder Don Bradley, who specializes in solar and zero-energy homes.

Willingboro Public Library, designed to remediate a brownfield site. It is part of the municipality’s master plan, which showed how a redeveloped building can anchor a diverse town center.

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, a community of 100 people, some with disabilities, in Chester County. It incorporates an organic garden and dairy, solar power, a constructed wetlands wastewater system, and geothermal heating and cooling.

The awards were announced during a ceremony at the Convention Center timed to the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Watch video: Bright Ideas at http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/don_polec&id=5919624

Residents here will be able to avoid paying a utility bill for up to 8 months of the year, thanks to Maple Point’s energy-integrated townhouses that utilize a range of efficient designs including rooftop solar panels that provide for virtually all the home’s electrical needs.

Already, 4 of the 3-bedroom-models are available for around 259 thousand dollars and will be part of an eventual 38 unit development that will back onto Fairmount Park in the city’s Northeast section, and will be Philadelphia’s first solar “neighborhood.” Developer Don Bradley also designs-in solar-heated hot water, furnaces that burn soybean oil, and a range of other green technology that will reduce utility costs by up to 80 percent.

Excess solar power created by the house charges a backup battery system that will not only allow residents to use their toaster oven during a total eclipse, but to sell the power back to PECO to further reduce expenses.

You can visit the model home at 751 Maple Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19124 or for more information, contact Dana Brady at 267-757-0726, Lisa Hough at 610-566-3000 or log onto http://www.phillysolarhomes.com/

 http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=resources/tv_listings&id=5803918

SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD: Philadelphia’s first solar neighborhood has been named a 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award finalist, for its Maple Point 38-home community featuring passive solar design. The design includes a 4kW roof-mounted solar electric array, a solar hot water system, and radiant heat from a bio-fuel boiler powered by PA grown & refined soybean oil. Compared to conventionally built homes, Maple Point expects a 70  80% reduction in energy costs.

Contact: www.phillysolarhomes.com