L.A. Times story covers super-efficient new homes

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from Alex Lazo at the L.A. Times, who was going to be writing a story on home builders' ongoing efforts to make their homes increasingly energy efficient.  I gave him an overview of what was going on in the industry, and pointed him in the direction of builders such as KBHome, Pardee, Lennar and others as well as the ABC Green Home in Orange County.

That story was published today:

With the market healing, and with builders trying to distinguish their products from homes they built as recently as six years ago, companies such as KB Home, Lennar Corp. and others are rolling out more options for consumers and increasingly making energy efficiency part of the basic package.

"For new homes, it is becoming more of a standard feature, and the reason is that builders need a compelling reason that somebody should buy a new home rather than a resale," said Patrick Duffy, principal for research firm MetroIntelligence Real Estate Advisors.

In coming years, California guidelines will call for ever more energy-efficient homes, with the goal of having all homes built in 2020 being net zero. For now, net zero remains more of an aspiration for the industry, though experts say builders are increasingly making standard some of the fundamental elements of green design, including more efficient appliances, lighting and solar panel systems...

Click here for entire story.