ZEN TAKES IT UP A LEVEL
Avalon units can harness power of sun and create their own green energy
Solar energy is expected to sink monthly utility bills at a new multifamily development in Cranston.
The seventh instalment in the Zen series by Avalon Master Builder is Zen Cranston Solar, which opens sales Aug. 8.
Each two-storey unit comes with two rooftop solar panels as a standard.
“It will offset people’s energy load, their costs every month,” says Terra Davidson, Avalon’s sales and marketing manager. “It could run your fridge for 13 months, your dishwasher for 24 months or your washing machine for 48 months.”
Avalon’s Zen developments are in Okotoks, Airdrie, Auburn Bay, McKenzie Towne and Aspen Hills.
The starting price is the $280,000s and the development has 66 units in total. This includes townhomes with an attached garage, stacked townhomes and garden homes.
The garden homes are the only units without solar panels, because they are on the ground level of the development and do not have roof access. First possessions at the complex are slated for winter 2015.
Cranston is a community in southeast Calgary, which is masterplanned by Brookfield Residential. The developer says it’s pleased with the green-minded project.
“We have always appreciated Avalon’s commitment to building energy-efficient homes and fully support this bold move to provide an energy alternative,” says Jessie Seymour, Brookfield’s senior customer relations manager for Calgary Communities.
Along with its solar panels, Avalon also gives its residents the energy-efficient benefits of a tight building envelope, says Davidson.
“We’re big believers that you should build the envelope tighter in order to get the most out of the energy that you do produce for your home,” Davidson adds. “It also makes for a more comfortable living environment. Our homes are draft-free.”
When it comes to the floor plans, function trumps form. Creating easy-to-use spaces is a priority for the builder, says Davidson.
“We always make sure that we take our homeowner’s lifestyle into consideration, that they can get the furniture they want into their home,” Davidson adds. “They want functional floor plans where, when you buy them, maybe your lifestyle is one way but shortly after it’s another and you have lots of flexibility along the way.”
A sales centre for the Zen Cranston Solar is at 442 Cranford Park S.E.
Also on Aug. 8, Avalon’s Zen Ravenswood in Airdrie is set to open two new show homes on Ravenswood View S.E. This includes the 1,126-square-foot Roma and the 1,120-square-foot Cameo. Both show homes have two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms.