Rancho Mirage, CA, May 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Andrew Adler, CEO of Beverly Hills based developer, Alta Verde Group, has a new take on solar options for homes. Simply put, he says, "They're not an option."
The company has positioned its brand over the last several years to augment their renowned architectural projects. Now Alta Verde, which literally means 'tall green', has taken the position that solar on homes needs to be thought of more as a standard appliance. Alta Verde is moving towards including solar arrays in the homes in all three of their upcoming desert projects: Escena Golf Resort and Monte Sereno in Palm Springs and Coral Mountain in La Quinta.
In commencing the first such development in Palm Springs, Alta Verde is partnering with Hot Purple Energy (HPE), the leading Solar Power provider in the Coachella Valley, to provide solar systems with every Alta Verda home in the Escena Golf Resort. The project is a 130 home modernist community on the golf course.
"We were committed to creating a real desert-specific solution towards net-zero living, not merely a 'green wash' of the development, as seen from many other area builders," said Adler. "We asked Hot Purple Energy to team with Poon Design to come up with the most effective and aesthetically pleasing solar energy system for our homeowners. The result is a base system fully integrated into the home that comes with web-based monitoring on your computer or iPad to monitor power generation."
Alta Verde homes in Escena, located off Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino in Palm Springs, are slated to begin sales this summer. The development is a project of Alta Verde Group and Los Angeles architectural firm, Poon Design.
The collaboration of Adler, NAHB Homebuilder of The Year, and AIA International Design Winner Anthony Poon, yielded four spectacular home plans, ranging from 2,200 square feet to 2,800 square feet.
"The thesis of these homes was to bring a strong modern aesthetic that incorporates passive solar features and orientations," said Poon. "These features substantially exceed Title 24 energy conditions through the use of differently designed insulated ceilings and solar installations. All of which can bring energy costs down to virtually net zero, depending on individual usage by homeowners."
The HPE technical team has much to do with the solutions selected. Though solar systems are dependent on the sun, the desert heat can take its toll on components. HPE custom designs its systems for the extreme Coachella Valley climate.
"We use parts and heat mitigation methods designed specifically for extreme desert temperatures, like double-insulated wires and oversized conduit," said Nate Otto, CEO of Hot Purple Energy. "Every little detail affects energy production. In addition, we use SunPower solar panels and inverters, which deliver up to 50% more energy than conventional panels."
Each home will have a standard 2 kilowatt system integrated into the architecture. With the homes' design exceeding Title 24 by at least 15%, this will provide ample power for the average homeowner. Should a buyer require more power production, the system can be expanded. Each home will have a LAN and Web-based solar production and grid consumption monitoring system as part of the standard package.
The savings represent tens of thousands of dollars over time on energy bills. In addition, buyers who close in time to take advantage of current federal tax credits enjoy significant added savings. It only makes sense, with the endless sunny days in Palm Springs, to turn that sunshine into energy to power your home.
"Green stewardship is a top priority in every Alta Verde Group community," said Adler. "It's not only good for the planet, it represents tremendous long-term savings in real dollars for our homeowners. Today we think of solar production as a step we should all be taking towards energy independence. You wouldn't buy a home without a new range for cooking, or without home insulation, and you shouldn't be buying a house in the future that doesn't create power to reduce costs and save energy. It's as elemental as that. The technology is mature, available and reliable."
For additional information regarding Alta Verde Escena homes, please call 310-286-9200.
About Alta Verde Group:
Beverly Hills-based Alta Verde Group is a residential real estate development firm creating elegant homes set in highly desirable neighborhoods. The principals' innovative architectural designs and forward-thinking business strategies have garnered the industry's highest awards, from Builder of the Year and Developer of the Year to Pillar of the Industry. The company, helmed by visionary CEO Andrew Adler, integrates exceptional architectural, interior and landscape design acumen with its depth of experience in all aspects of land acquisition, construction management and sales/marketing to create an ever-growing portfolio of highly successful real estate development ventures. Alta Verde is based in Beverly Hills, with an office in Rancho Mirage, CA. 315 South Beverly Drive, Suite 208, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. www.AltaVerdeGroup.com. 310-286-9200.