Westwood-based KB Home will be launching the first all-electric, solar- and battery-powered microgrid communities in California.
The homebuilder has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy; SunPower Corp.; the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine; Southern California Edison; Schneider Electric; and Kia to test 219 energy-efficient new homes at KB Home’s Oak Shade and Durango communities within its Shadow Mountain master plan in Menifee.
All of the energy-smart homes at these communities will be equipped with smart technology and a backup battery, plus community microgrid connectivity. These features combined will provide a self-supporting energy system that powers a specific neighborhood with a community battery and has the capability to operate independently during a grid outage.
Additionally, the new homes will feature innovative technology — with advanced home design and certifications — that will enable owners to decrease energy usage by 40% and most likely will also lower energy costs.
Homeowners can switch to battery energy use in case of an outage and disconnect from the grid to help ensure the home’s essential energy functions continue to operate.
All homes will be wired to be smart-charger ready. Additionally, some homes in the communities will be testing bidirectional electric vehicle chargers, which, during a power outage, enables the electric vehicle to be plugged into the home’s power plug and becomes another source of energy.
Homeowners will also be provided with app-based monitoring and control to track their energy usage and storage. These home and community features can help lower homebuyers’ carbon footprint and conserve natural resources.
