Integrating solar technology into homes from the beginning can lower energy costs and provide resilience benefits.
For both renters and homeowners, a changing climate and ever-higher utility costs can have financial implications. At the same time, residents face higher risks of extended power outages as utility companies and jurisdictions grapple with rising demand due to extreme temperatures and increasingly severe storms. Solving for affordability, resilience and energy efficiency is in the DNA of Rob Howard, a building science expert and president of Howard Building Science in North Carolina.
Green Builder Media is partnering with Howard on the VISION House Hickory Grove project, a four-building multifamily development with 12 units that will meet the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the homes will be certified to use up to 50% less energy than code-built homes and include solar and storage for energy independence
The homes, which are built at a nearby factory and delivered to the site for completion, will be affordable workforce housing for teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, retirees and recent graduates.
Resilience and Energy Independence
Hickory and other areas of North Carolina face increasingly severe climate risks such as higher temperatures, high winds and flooding from extreme levels of precipitation. To help residents be more resilient to those risks, JinkoSolar is providing high efficiency photovoltaic panels for VISION House Hickory Grove.
“Affordable housing shouldn’t mean compromising on resilience or sustainability”, says Jeff Juger, deputy general manager of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “By bringing our high-performing EAGLE® Modules to the Hickory Grove project, we’re showing how solar can lower energy bills, strengthen independence during outages, and give families peace of mind in the face of extreme weather.”
According to Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data, resilience is an important consideration for renters and homebuyers. While the first thing that comes to mind for consumers in relation to resilience is a home that won’t be damaged or destroyed in a storm, the second is energy independence with the help of solar panels and storage. The third most common element is financial resilience, a home that fits within their budget. Solar panels can contribute to those resilience goals.
Innovative and Durable Solar Modules
JinkoSolar is committed to providing homeowners and builders with reliable, high-performing and aesthetically pleasing solar modules.
“Our EAGLE residential modules are engineered for real-world conditions,” says Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “They combine sleek design with durable performance, even in low light or severe storms, so homeowners can count on long-term energy savings and reliable power.”
The technology of solar panels continues to evolve, with manufacturers consistently looking for ways to make them more efficient and durable.
“With our TOPCon technology, we’re pushing solar efficiency to new levels”, Detrick says. “That means more clean energy from every panel, greater value for homeowners, and a faster path to a sustainable energy future.”
Sustainability Commitment
JinkoSolar’s U.S. manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida, provides local jobs and supports the company’s dedication to delivering clean energy products responsibly and sustainably, making solar solutions more accessible to builders and homeowners across the country. The company is committed to power all their operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
“We want to lead not just in solar performance but in responsibility”, says Ben Millar, director of business development of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “From U.S. manufacturing jobs to our EAGLE Preserve recycling program, we’re committed to making solar cleaner, more accessible, and more sustainable for the long term.”
Solar Power Supports Zero Energy Ready Homes
Integrating solar technology into homes from the beginning can lower energy costs and provide resilience benefits.
For both renters and homeowners, a changing climate and ever-higher utility costs can have financial implications. At the same time, residents face higher risks of extended power outages as utility companies and jurisdictions grapple with rising demand due to extreme temperatures and increasingly severe storms. Solving for affordability, resilience and energy efficiency is in the DNA of Rob Howard, a building science expert and president of Howard Building Science in North Carolina.
Green Builder Media is partnering with Howard on the VISION House Hickory Grove project, a four-building multifamily development with 12 units that will meet the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification and the FORTIFIED Home certification for resilience. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the homes will be certified to use up to 50% less energy than code-built homes and include solar and storage for energy independence
The homes, which are built at a nearby factory and delivered to the site for completion, will be affordable workforce housing for teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, retirees and recent graduates.
Resilience and Energy Independence
Hickory and other areas of North Carolina face increasingly severe climate risks such as higher temperatures, high winds and flooding from extreme levels of precipitation. To help residents be more resilient to those risks, JinkoSolar is providing high efficiency photovoltaic panels for VISION House Hickory Grove.
“Affordable housing shouldn’t mean compromising on resilience or sustainability”, says Jeff Juger, deputy general manager of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “By bringing our high-performing EAGLE® Modules to the Hickory Grove project, we’re showing how solar can lower energy bills, strengthen independence during outages, and give families peace of mind in the face of extreme weather.”
According to Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data, resilience is an important consideration for renters and homebuyers. While the first thing that comes to mind for consumers in relation to resilience is a home that won’t be damaged or destroyed in a storm, the second is energy independence with the help of solar panels and storage. The third most common element is financial resilience, a home that fits within their budget. Solar panels can contribute to those resilience goals.
Innovative and Durable Solar Modules
JinkoSolar is committed to providing homeowners and builders with reliable, high-performing and aesthetically pleasing solar modules.
“Our EAGLE residential modules are engineered for real-world conditions,” says Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “They combine sleek design with durable performance, even in low light or severe storms, so homeowners can count on long-term energy savings and reliable power.”
The technology of solar panels continues to evolve, with manufacturers consistently looking for ways to make them more efficient and durable.
“With our TOPCon technology, we’re pushing solar efficiency to new levels”, Detrick says. “That means more clean energy from every panel, greater value for homeowners, and a faster path to a sustainable energy future.”
Sustainability Commitment
JinkoSolar’s U.S. manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida, provides local jobs and supports the company’s dedication to delivering clean energy products responsibly and sustainably, making solar solutions more accessible to builders and homeowners across the country. The company is committed to power all their operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
“We want to lead not just in solar performance but in responsibility”, says Ben Millar, director of business development of JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. “From U.S. manufacturing jobs to our EAGLE Preserve recycling program, we’re committed to making solar cleaner, more accessible, and more sustainable for the long term.”
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.Also Read