More consumers are interested in energy-efficient homes and designs. If you are in the market for new construction with a focus on energy efficiency, you should check out the latest Rob Rice Homes community, Skyview Estates in Tumwater, Washington.
Skyview Estates is a community on the forefront of transitioning to a renewable energy source through solar panels.
Rob Rice Homes is forward-thinking by adding solar panels to their latest homes as a standard feature. (And yes, solar panels work in our Pacific Northwest climate! In fact, these panels capture energy 365 days a year, even when it’s cloudy and the system is paired with micro-inverters to help combat any shading from trees or other houses.)
The rooftop solar panels offset energy costs, reduce the environmental impact of your home, and contribute to “energy independence.”
Other energy-efficient features of Skyview Estates homes include:
- Electric heat pump, which offers both heating and cooling in conjunction with an electric forced-air furnace.
- Electric hybrid heat pump hot water tank, which uses less energy to heat household water. Another feature of this hot water tank is it can be programmed for your customized use. It can be set if you are on vacation, it won’t heat water during that time; if you have house guests, you can increase the capacity, so it knows you need quick recovery; and if you shower at the same time every day, you can program it for that, as well.
- Low “E” vinyl-wrapped windows, keeping in the heat and cool air, which, again, lowers your utility bill. Rob Rice Homes design their homes to use the largest windows possible, which allows for more natural light and less dependence on light fixtures.
- Engineered hardwood flooring in some models. This engineered wood product uses less solid timber to manufacture and therefore conserves natural resources.
- Energy efficient kitchen built-in appliances.
- Water-saving toilets and fixtures.
- LED lighting throughout.
Best of Both Worlds
When you tour a Skyview Estates home, you might be surprised to find a natural gas range and fireplace considering there are solar panels.
Rob Rice Homes has designed these homes to be enegy-conscious yet consumer-centric by combining the best of both worlds.
Many homebuyers are specifically looking for homes with gas ranges. They prefer this over electric ranges for the benefits of controlling temperature and even heat distribution. Another feature of having a gas range and fireplace is during a power outage, you’ll still be able to cook and get heat from the fireplace.
Cooking with gas only represents a very small percentage (less than 3%) of natural gas usage in the home. The bigger users of natural gas are natural gas furnaces (using 29%) and water heaters (consuming 69% of the household natural gas) according to the US Energy Information Administration’s 2015 report.
Rob Rice Homes provides what consumers are looking for and replaced the largest natural gas users (the furnace and water heater) with with efficient, electric models.
(But if you really don’t want the gas range, it is built with an electrical outlet and ready to swap out with an electric model.)
Floor plans!
Skyview Estates offers seven floor plans: one-story and two-story homes ranging in size from 1944 square feet to 2591 square feet.
You can see the current plans here at https://robricehomes.com
The plans and finishes are modern yet inviting, elegant but approachable, and beautiful and practical.
Search homes for sale in Skyview Estates here.
Where is Skyview Estates?
Skyview Estates is located in Tumwater, Washington off of Littlerock Road near AG West Black Hills High School. This location is close to all the Tumwater and West Olympia amenities including shopping, schools, restaurants, and freeway access.
Interested in having a brand new home in Tumwater? Contact me today! I’d love to show you the latest homes with the most efficient features in today’s market.
Great info on these energy efficient homes and how rooftop solar works in the PNW.
🙂 thanks!