For the first time, Toll Brothers which builds projects nationwide, will integrate solar into new homes using roof tiles instead of panels. The community, Vista del Verde's the Preserve, a community of 90 homes priced from the upper $600,000's are in the early stages of building.
   

  Instead of placing solar panels on top of the roofs, they will be installed among roofing tiles. Each solar module, made of 14 silicon solar cells, will replace approximately four roofing tiles.Toll Brothers is in partnership with SunRun Inc. and Petersen Dean Roofing and Solar Systems.

According to Petersen Dean, more homebuilders are integrating the solar tiles for their aesthetic potential, but also because the benefits of rack-mounted panels, have higher efficiency and higher rebates for homeowners.

SunRun, a San Francisco based solar energy company that bought the solar panels going into The Preserve, will lease them to homeowners for $42 a month over a 20-yr period, totaling $10,080. Homebuyers don't have to pay for the panels to be installed. Installation costs on average, cost between $20,000 and $25,000.

The monthly payment will cover maintenance costs plus the total amount is lower than what homeowners would otherwise pay in electricity bills for 20 years. Each house is expected to generate 2.5 kilowatts of power. Once all 90 homes are built, the amount of energy saved is the equivalent of taking 500 cars off the road!

When the contract expires, the homeowner may choose from 3 options, 1) buy the system at fair market value, 2) renew the contract with SunRun or 3) have the panels removed.

SunRun will receive a 30 percent federal tax credit for purchasing the solar panels. Petersen Dean will install the solar panels during the last stage of construction.

The amount of energy saved from installing the solar panels on 90 homes is equivalent to 4 million pounds of CO2. That is like taking 500 cars off the road.