Newer homes in the development will have solar thermal systems, which heat a refrigerant in tubes and then piped into a solar water tank to heat the water for the home’s hot water needs. In these cases, a SunDrum Solar systems attach to the backs of the Evergreen PV panels to both collect the heat trapped beneath the solar panels and help cool the panels. And by taking that heat away, the panels operate more efficiently. Scott says his roofer can install the system for about $6,300 per house.

Scott is also starting to do some energy monitoring. His own home has a PowerCost Monitor from Blueline Innovations, which attaches to the power meter and wirelessly transfers the data to the small monitor inside. He also has three thermostat data loggers in the zero-energy home, with data that can be downloaded to a computer.

Scott has heard of the studies about energy monitoring helping people save electricity, but he’s not entirely sold on the concept. His family used their own energy monitor for a couple of months, then interest waned. “If you can tie [the energy monitoring system] into your computer screen, it might be more useful,” he says.

A big help in building these market-rate green homes comes in the form of rebates from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative amounting to more than $16,000 of the $22,000 to $23,000 cost of a typical 3.45-kw photovoltaic solar system. Scott is also getting a rebate for including affordable housing in the mixed-income development. But the builder is proving that you don’t have to spend exorbitantly on a house to have a green one. In fact, these homeowners are eligible for federal and state tax breaks for being green.

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Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is Electronic House's managing editor. he has been writing about consumer electronics, homes and energy efficiency topics for two decades. He is also the co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.