Solar Neighborhood

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.