Florida Solar Grants Boost Residential Energy Efficiency Qualified home owners will be able to recover half the cost of their solar electric and water heating systems, up to a maximum of $20,000, under Florida's Renewable Energies Technologies Grants Program. For consumers interested in photovoltaic cell systems but who have been discouraged by the high price of many energy producing technologies, the grants are “a no-brainer,” said NAHB Green Building Subcommittee Chair Ray Tonjes. Unfortunately, there is only $2.5 million available for the program, Tonjes said, and that is sure to go fast. Rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives are key to increased consumer acceptance of “zero-energy” homes, according to a study released earlier this year by the NAHB Research Center, but the technology is already there. Zero-energy homes (ZEHs) combine energy-efficient design with devices like photovoltaic panels or wind turbines connected to the community’s power grid. With the ability to produce energy and use energy more efficiently overall, zero energy homes aim at producing as much energy as they consume; some communities allow home owners to receive rebates on their electrical bill for the excess energy that is generated. Based on consumer focus groups and Internet surveys, the NAHB study concluded that research and development, “in conjunction with state and federal tax incentives can accelerate and significantly improve the energy performance of the residential sector of the United States.” With incentives in place, the study forecasts that by 2050 zero-energy homes “can reduce the energy consumption of all single-family homes by 19% while, over the same time, the stock of single-family homes increases by 39%.” The study assumed a 30% tax credit in its forecast, a significantly greater incentive than the 10% credit the federal government now offers for certain energy-efficient products for qualified buyers. “Although the relatively slow replacement of housing stock and historically slow diffusion of new technology in the building industry means decades before [zero-energy homes reach] full market potential, aggressive near-term action leads to much earlier market acceleration and energy impact as ZEH builds to its full market potential,” the study said. The implications are clear, said Tonjes. “If we are serious about reducing our reliance on oil, we need to think creatively and we need to come up with incentives that make this technology more cost-effective,” he said. “I know home builders want to do their part, but they need to be able to sell the houses they produce. These rebates are one way to get shorter payback times for technological innovation, and we need to encourage programs like these.” | 
