Traditional Neighborhoods, Solar Power and Plug In Vehicles - Oh My!

This post is part of an ongoing series that takes a look at the larger picture.  The trickle down effect.  The Domino Effect.  Whatever you want to call it.  One of my recent posts was 'Who The Heck Cares About Green' and I talked about where I personally believe the Building Industry is headed. 

Recently here in Houston we have seen more of a demand for the Traditional Neighborhood Development.  The ones where in the pictures you see families walking down the streets to go to the Community Park or Couples walking to the local Coffee Shop hand in hand.  The Communities where everything is close together and nearby.

This was partly the result of Gas Prices going up, but it was also sort of that WalMart and Pizza Delivery mentality.  Convenience.  Being able to get anywhere quickly and not take half of your day to go to the Grocery Store and back while sitting in traffic along the way.

Now, one of the biggest things that we will start to hear about over the next year or two are Electric Vehicles and Solar Power.  Why?  Because there are some rather hefty Tax Credits out there for consumers.  $2500-$7500 for Electric (Plug In) Vehicles and 30% with NO CAP for Solar Powered products such as Panels and Water Heating. 

Isn't it funny how those two things kind of go hand in hand?  It's even more interesting that those items are indirectly home related?

How so?  Well, people will obviously be most likely to Plug In a vehicle at their house.  There are also adapters that allow these cars to Plug In via Solar Panels.  Yet another way to take advantage of the Tax Credits available right now.

Where there is a new technology there are Consumers.  Where there are Consumers, there are companies and manufacturers that provide what the Consumers want. 

So where is all of the headed?  To the Builders, the ones that build homes that we buy.  In my previous post I mention how there are so many Green Building Programs available around the Nation.  On most of these, a Builder or Developer will be able to rate a home/community higher by including....Oh...let's say...

The ability for an outdoor charging station for a vehicle at the house or Community Center?  Or Solar Panels or maybe to have a home READY for Solar Panels?

To use a Local example, Land Tejas, a Houston Developer has now said that in a handful of their actively growing Communities that EVERY home built in there will be Solar Ready.  Land Tejas also has the ONLY Community being built in Houston that has Solar on EVERY Rooftop.  Discovery at Spring Trails.

This means that when the home is built it will be wired and ready to go at anytime the Homeowner may decide to install Solar Power.  The builders offer incentives that make Solar incredibly affordable but if a few years from now a Buyer decides to put on Solar...it's ready to go.

Land Tejas also specializes in Master Planned Communities.  The closest thing to a Traditional Neighborhood Development that you can get in Houston with Schools, Shopping and Amenities galore either within the Neighborhood or VERY close by. 

They are the type of Communities where an Electric Vehicle would be a fantastic idea for getting from one place to another.

Not only in Developments such as these, but others across the Nation, this will open doors for Builders to open for some friendly competition with little upgrades such as that nifty Charging Station outside or Batteries for Solar Panels during Hurricane Season in Gulf Coast Regions just in case our power goes out for weeks on end again. 

It's all getting back to the whole Pizza Delivery thing again.  Convenience.  Or maybe even the desire for lower utility bills.  Does all of this sound kind of Far Fetched?  With over 20 Bills Proposed in Texas State Legislation alone for 2009 involving in one way or another Incentives for Home Owners and Businesses to go Solar it probably isn't such a wild and crazy - far fetched plan.

It's not just about being Environmentally Friendly.  Right now I think it is fair to say that it is mostly about creating markets for jobs and a balanced economy in the future.  As it becomes more normal, it very well could be lifestyle.  Kind of like Recycling in many parts of the Nation.  It's just another piece of the puzzle.

**The Canyon Gate Communities offering homes with Solar are Park Lakes, Canyon Lakes West and Discovery at Spring Trails.**