News

Meritage Homes to use Echo for solar-powered homes
- Jan. 12, 2011

Homebuilder Meritage Homes has signed a national agreement to use solar power technology from EchoFirst, Inc., for all of its solar-powered communities.

The agreement is to use PVT's Echo solar system, which it said delivers more than twice as much energy as a basic solar photovoltaic system and enables Meritage to build homes that use 70%-80% less energy than a standard code built home.

EchoFirst, Inc., which designs, manufactures, and markets the Echo solar system, said the technology supplements conventional solar electric PV panels with a solar thermal technology that captures the heat from the PV panels.

Echo generates not only electricity, but also hot water for washing and bathing, and thermal energy for home heating and home cooling, said the company, which has its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

The national agreement with Meritage will ensure that homebuyers will realize the "tremendous financial benefits" of Echo's game-changing technology, the companies said

CR Herro, Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Meritage Homes, said: "Last year, in a challenging economic environment, Meritage decided to include Echo as a standard feature in 17 extreme energy efficient communities, and it paid off: many of these communities are selling homes over three times faster than our competition.

"Our homebuyers are looking for a holistic solution to energy efficiency and sustainability, and Echo helps us give it to them. Echo doesn't just generate electricity like a basic PV system, it also helps our homeowners meet their total home heating and cooling needs as well," added Mr Herro.

EchoFirst is currently exhibiting at the National Home Builders Association's International Builders Show this week at the Orlando Convention Center.

"Because Echo delivers more than twice as much energy as a basic solar system, it enables homeowners to generate more of their own energy, and that makes good sense these days," said EchoFirst CEO Vikas Desai. "Additionally, Echo provides fresh air ventilation. Many homebuyers rank healthy indoor air quality as an important consideration in buying a home, and Echo lets builders meet the needs of these buyers."