Building for resilience and long-term value with self-generated power.
In our electricity-dependent world, being without power for an afternoon or a night can seem impossibly frustrating – and is life-threatening for people who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity. After Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, most households were without power for one to two weeks. For some, in difficult to reach locations and where infrastructure destruction was worse, power was not restored for several months.
The devastating experiences shared by Asheville residents, while terrible, also make the area ideal to demonstrate improvements in building science, materials and products that can strengthen homes and make them more resilient, durable, healthy and affordable for the long term.
Green Builder Media and Alair Asheville | Red Tree, a member of Alair Homes, North America’s largest custom home building and renovation franchise, are partnering to build VISION House Asheville, a custom home in the Beaverdam community, to showcase the future of residential building. Among the innovative building product companies that support this demonstration project is JinkoSolar, one of the largest global module manufacturers with an established presence in the U.S. Its residential panels combine high-power output, efficiency and durability with a premium all-black aesthetic designed to complement modern homes and enhance curb appeal.
“At JinkoSolar, we're committed to making solar energy more accessible and practical for homeowners,” says Ben Millar, director of business development at JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “VISION House Asheville is a great opportunity to show how solar can be integrated into high-performance homes while connecting with builders, developers and homeowners who are helping shape the future of residential construction.”
A Values-Based Focus
VISION House Asheville is designed around three pillars: wellness architecture, resilience andvalue per square foot™, a metric that provides insights for home buyers and owners about generational sustainability. Value per square foot integrates multiple elements that impact long-term affordability, including sustainability, decarbonization, water and energy conservation, wellness, comfort, resilience, equity and investment, into measuring what a home is worth. The value per square foot metric provides a long view of the true worth of a home instead of looking only at the upfront cost as is measured by price per square foot.
The value per square foot concept was generated by trends identified by Green Builder Media’sCOGNITION Smart Data™ surveys. A key finding in a recent survey is that 92% of consumers consider long-term costs such as energy, maintenance and insurance when making a decision to buy or remodel a home.
“Solar helps homeowners lower their energy costs, reduce emissions and add long-term value to their homes.” Millar says. “As homes become more electrified, solar will continue to play an important role in making them more efficient and resilient.”
Homebuyers looking at the total cost of ownership and the opportunity to build equity what is typically their most valuable asset are likely to view solar power and storage as an essential component to manage energy use and increase their home’s resilience.
“JinkoSolar has been involved with Green Builder's VISION House projects for nearly a decade,” Millar says. “We value the role these projects play in showcasing practical, high-performance homes and how solar can contribute to long-term energy savings and resilience.”
Home Resilience and High Performance
The climate-ready construction of VISION House Asheville features durable materials capable of standing up to intense storms, extreme temperatures and power outages.
“JinkoSolar offers a range of high-efficiency solar modules that are well suited for high-performance homes like VISION House Asheville,” says Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services at JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “Our products are designed to deliver reliable, long-term energy production while complementing modern home design.”
JinkoSolar’s products at VISION House Asheville will work in concert with an array of energy efficient systems, appliances and building materials.
“Projects like VISION House Asheville highlight what's possible when innovative building practices and clean energy technologies come together,” Detrick says. “We're pleased to be part of that conversation and to collaborate with others who are focused on building more energy-efficient, resilient homes.”
Climate-Ready Construction Includes Solar Panels
Building for resilience and long-term value with self-generated power.
In our electricity-dependent world, being without power for an afternoon or a night can seem impossibly frustrating – and is life-threatening for people who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity. After Hurricane Helene hit Asheville in September 2024, most households were without power for one to two weeks. For some, in difficult to reach locations and where infrastructure destruction was worse, power was not restored for several months.
The devastating experiences shared by Asheville residents, while terrible, also make the area ideal to demonstrate improvements in building science, materials and products that can strengthen homes and make them more resilient, durable, healthy and affordable for the long term.
Green Builder Media and Alair Asheville | Red Tree, a member of Alair Homes, North America’s largest custom home building and renovation franchise, are partnering to build VISION House Asheville, a custom home in the Beaverdam community, to showcase the future of residential building. Among the innovative building product companies that support this demonstration project is JinkoSolar, one of the largest global module manufacturers with an established presence in the U.S. Its residential panels combine high-power output, efficiency and durability with a premium all-black aesthetic designed to complement modern homes and enhance curb appeal.
“At JinkoSolar, we're committed to making solar energy more accessible and practical for homeowners,” says Ben Millar, director of business development at JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “VISION House Asheville is a great opportunity to show how solar can be integrated into high-performance homes while connecting with builders, developers and homeowners who are helping shape the future of residential construction.”
A Values-Based Focus
VISION House Asheville is designed around three pillars: wellness architecture, resilience and value per square foot™, a metric that provides insights for home buyers and owners about generational sustainability. Value per square foot integrates multiple elements that impact long-term affordability, including sustainability, decarbonization, water and energy conservation, wellness, comfort, resilience, equity and investment, into measuring what a home is worth. The value per square foot metric provides a long view of the true worth of a home instead of looking only at the upfront cost as is measured by price per square foot.
The value per square foot concept was generated by trends identified by Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data™ surveys. A key finding in a recent survey is that 92% of consumers consider long-term costs such as energy, maintenance and insurance when making a decision to buy or remodel a home.
“Solar helps homeowners lower their energy costs, reduce emissions and add long-term value to their homes.” Millar says. “As homes become more electrified, solar will continue to play an important role in making them more efficient and resilient.”
Homebuyers looking at the total cost of ownership and the opportunity to build equity what is typically their most valuable asset are likely to view solar power and storage as an essential component to manage energy use and increase their home’s resilience.
“JinkoSolar has been involved with Green Builder's VISION House projects for nearly a decade,” Millar says. “We value the role these projects play in showcasing practical, high-performance homes and how solar can contribute to long-term energy savings and resilience.”
Home Resilience and High Performance
“JinkoSolar offers a range of high-efficiency solar modules that are well suited for high-performance homes like VISION House Asheville,” says Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services at JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “Our products are designed to deliver reliable, long-term energy production while complementing modern home design.”
JinkoSolar’s products at VISION House Asheville will work in concert with an array of energy efficient systems, appliances and building materials.
“Projects like VISION House Asheville highlight what's possible when innovative building practices and clean energy technologies come together,” Detrick says. “We're pleased to be part of that conversation and to collaborate with others who are focused on building more energy-efficient, resilient homes.”
Learn more at Jinko Solar.
By Michele Lerner, Associate Editor
Michele Lerner is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author who writes about real estate, personal finance, and business.