A housing development being built in the Verde Valley is the first in Northern Arizona designed to run off solar power.

Homes in the Grey Fox Ridge in Cottonwood are being built to run off this energy.

Marc Avery, a real estate agent, said developments like this are needed to lure buyers away from less expensive homes.

Avery said he and the builder did not know the development was the first one in Northern Arizona designed to use solar power and were surprised when they were told.

He said the homes already had green amenities, and Energy Star was able to decrease electric bills 26 percent from the average home.

Avery said homes in the subdivision will be tied in to the Arizona Public Service grid and can use the energy stored there to power homes.

“We can have a zero bill or at least a 50 percent reduction [in costs],” he said.

Each home is equipped with 10 solar panels on the roof, and homeowners can add additional ones if desired.

He said one of the best parts about the project is the power received from the sun is stored for future use.

“It makes an awful lot of sense,” he said. “It’s very energy efficient.”

The real estate agent said the subdivision had been thought about for more than a year, and mentioned there has to be motivation for home buyers to pay more for a similar house. He added the motivation cannot be found anywhere else in Northern Arizona,

“Only in the process did I find out that were no other projects in Northern Arizona like what we were proposing,” he said. “I think it should be the rule, not the exception.

Brandon Anderson, manager at a solar panel store, said solar panels last at least 25 years with little maintenance. He is not surprised someone decided to build homes with these specifications.

“Someone had to be the first to do it,” he said. “You can get credits with APS, so you can make money.”

Anderson said savings in electricity for normal homeowners living in Grey Fox Ridge is between 50 to 70 percent.

Bill Bullock, builder of Grey Fox Ridge, said it makes perfect sense to use the sun for energy rather than relying entirely on electricity and gas companies.

He added Arizona with its daylight is a prime state to use the sun as an energy source.

“The technology is here,” he said, adding people no longer have to be rich to afford the equipment needed for solar power.

According to SolarOne, a $5,000 to $7,000 investment saves three to four times this amount over the next 10 years due to free electricity.

Michael Maresh can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail mmaresh@larsonnewspapers.com