Sustainable home living is coming to Western Massachusetts thanks to Rural Development Incorporated (RDI) and the Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Wisdom Way Solar Village is nearing completion, the end product will be 20 low- to moderate-income duplexes. These Zero Net Energy Homes are being built near the center of Greenfield each feature solar paneling for both energy and hot water. In addition to the environmental focus, two of the homes will remain under RDI ownership to be rented out to people with physical disabilities. The homes are equipped with meters that let the owner know how much energy they have produced and used over the course of the day as well as how much CO2 has been saved by not using fossil fuel-based energy.
These homes are designed to save money too. Owners can expect to pay $2,500 less each year for energy than owners of conventional homes, according to the builders. “If the families who buy these homes and live in them are reasonably conservative in their energy use, they will not pay an electric bill over the course of the year” says Anne Perkins, Director of Homeownership Programs, RDI.
Tags: environment, greenfield, massachusetts, rdi, rural development incorporated, society, zero net energy home